“MATTHEW’S CONVERSION” (Mt 9:9-13; Lk 5:27-33)
April 27, 2004
Prayer Meeting Notes
Int. The worst problem with the “gospel” that is being preached today is that it fails to confront the sinner with the reality of his sin.
1. Even the most conservative churches are filled with people who claimed to be saved, yet live like heathen.
2. Bible colleges today condition their graduates to never question anyone’s profession of faith.
I. SIN NEEDS TO BE DWELT WITH FROM THE PULPIT TODAY.
A. WE HEAR MUCH ABOUT HEAVEN BUT LITTLE ABOUT HOLY LIVING.
1. Preachers tell folk that God loves them, which is only a half-truth.
a. Imagine Noah telling folk in his day, “Smile, God loves you.”
2. Any profession that doesn’t altar one’s life-style is a bad profession.
B. TODAY’S PREACHING MAKES “SIN” A SIDE ISSUE INSTEAD OF THE MAIN ISSUE.
1. Sin is the reason Jesus came into this world. (Mt 1:21)
2. Simon Peter understood the sin question. (Lk 5:8) “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man. O Lord.”
3. Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners. (1 Tim 1:15)
4. Job understood the question of sin. (Job 42:6) “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
5. Isaiah understood the question of sin. (Isa 6:5) “Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Glory.”
6. Matthew understood the question of sin. (Mt 9:9-13)
C. CONSIDER OUR LORD’S REASON FOR COMING INTO THIS WORLD.
1. To save sinners. (James 1:15) “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
2. To save helpless sinners. (Rom 5:6-8)
3. To save hurting sinners. (Jer 8:21) "For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me."
a. Those that are hungry (Mt 5:6)
b. Those that are thirsty..(Jn 4, and 7:39)
c. Those that are weak. (1 Cor 9:22)
1. (1 Cor. 9:22) “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
d. Those that are broken in spirit. (Isa 57:15)
1. (Isa 57:15) “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
e. Those that are weary of sin.
1. (Job 3:17) "There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest."
D. OUR LORD’S MESSAGE WAS A REBUKE TO THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS PHARISEES.
1. They, like many today, trusted in themselves, that they were righteous..
II. THE BIBLE REVEALS THAT OUR LORD RECEIVES SINNERS ONLY.
A. THE MIRACLES IN MATTHEW DISPLAY HIS POWER TO SAVE. (Nine are given)
1. His power over sickness. (The Leper, Peter’s Mother in law & the multitude) (Mt 8:1-17)
2. His power over nature. (The Stormy sea) (Mt 8:23-27)
3. His power over demons. (Two men possessed) (Mt 8:28-34)
4. His power over death. (Ruler’s daughter) (Mt 9:18-26)
5. His power over blindness (Two blind men) (Mt 9:27-31)
6. His power over dumbness. (Possessed with a devil) (Mt 9:32-34)
B. MATTHEW’S CONVERSION FALLS IN AMONG THESE MIRACLES.
1. His conversion takes place right after a mighty miracle designed to show His power over sin. (Sick of the palsy) (Mt 9:1-8)
2. Consider our Lord’s sovereign call to Matthew. (Vr. 9)
C. MATTHEW ACCOUNT ONLY RECORDS TWO WORDS—“FOLLOW ME”
1. (Luke 5:28) adds: “And he (Matthew) left all (Everything) rose up, and followed Him.”
2. This statement in (Lk 5:28) reveals a great deal about Matthew’s conversion.
a. Consider the nature of Matthew’s conversion.
b. He would pay a great price, perhaps a greater price than any other for his following Jesus.
c. The fishermen could always return to their nets and fish again.
d. But a tax collector who left was finished, because the next day, Rome would have someone else take his place.
e. He did not say, “I’m coming Lord, but, I could finance this whole operation if you would let me just grab these bags of money before I go.
D. MATTHEW WAS A VILE SINNER AND EVERYONE KNEW IT.
1. By the standards of that day, he was considered the worst that Capernaum had to offer.
2. He was employed by Israel’s oppressor, the Roman Government. (He was a Publican)
3. He was a tax collector, squeezing tax dollars from his own people
Ill. Florida politicians want to property and selling it to tax producing companies, like Walmart, Holiday Inn, etc.
4. Publicans would buy franchises from Rome, given them the right to collect taxes in a certain town or locality.
5. As a result, they were considered traitors to their own people.
6. The Jews could think of no one more offensive than a tax collector.
7. Matthew had hired himself out to Rome by whom his own people were held in bondage.
8. Such a move made him considered to be the worst kind of turncoat and renagade.
a. A regular Benedict Arnold, if you please.
E. ROME REQUIRED EACH PUBLICAN TO COLLECT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE.
1. Anything over this amount; they were allowed to keep for themselves.
Ill. Our State Police have been accused of giving out more tickets toward the end of the month, to meet their quota.
2. In order to keep their tax collectors happy and productive, Rome supported them in the wildest excesses and abuses.
3. They had a free hand to overcharge people and extort all that they could get by with from their fellow citizens.
4. A smart Publican could become very wealthy in a short time.
5. All this would be done at the expense of his oppressed brethren.
Ill. Much like tax payers in America.
6. Little wonder that they were regarded with such contempt by the Jews.
F. PUBLICAN WERE SO DESPISED BY THE JEWS THAT THEY WERE BARRED FROM THE SYNAGOGUES.
1. They were regarded no better than an unclean beast or swine.
2. They were not allowed to be a witness in any court of law because they could not be trusted.
3. They were known as flagrant liars, and classified as robbers and murderers.
G. MOST JEWS DID NOT BELIEVE IN PAYING TAXES TO ROME AT ALL.
1. Looking back to the O. T. Theocracy, they believed only God should receive their money.
2. This was why the Pharisees tested Jesus, attempting to bring Him into disfavor with the people by asking him if it was right to pay tribute (taxes) to Caesar. (Mt 22:15-22)
a. (Mat 22:15-22) "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. {16} And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. {17} Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? {18} But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? {19} Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. {20} And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? {21} They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things (Tithes and offerings) that are God's. {22} When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way."
H. MATTHEW HAD AUTHORITY TO COLLECT TAXES ON ALMOST ANYTHING.
1. This included import- export taxes, bridge taxes, harbor fees, and road-use taxes.
2. This included any cargo being hauled on the roads.
3. This included even private letters if business was conducted by mail.
4. His office was probably located at the North Port of the Sea of Galilee.
5. This was a main route from Damascus to the Orient, thus, taxing everyone going east and west.
6. This would include the productive fishing industry of the Sea of Galilee.
I. NOTICE THAT MATTHEW WAS SITTING AT THE TABLE. (Lk 5:)
Int. SOME PUBLICANS DID NOT SIT AT THE TABLE.
1. Concerned about their reputation, some stayed out of the public eye by hiring others to collect taxes for them.
2. Those that cared less about public reaction, sat at the table themselves.
3. The Rabbis did not believe repentance was possible for one such as Matthew..
4. One could imagine the reaction then to the words of Jesus then to such a person, “Follow me.”
J. MATTHEW WAS PROBABLY ALREADY UNDER CONVICTION
1. His immediate response to our Lord’s call is good evidence of this.
2. He would have hardly responded in such a hurry apart from such conviction.
3. He was no doubt with our Lord’s rigorous demands for discipleship.
a. (Mt 8:18-22)
III. CONSIDER THAT OUR LORD SAT DOWN AND ATE WITH PUBLICANS AND SINNERS.
A. NOTICE THE BANQUET MATTHEW PREPARED FOR JESUS.
1. Like most young converts; he was concerned about his friends knowing Christ.
2. (Lk 5:29) reveals that Matthew (also known as Levi) held the banquet in his own home, and Jesus was the honored guest.
3. This banquet was attended by the most notorious people possible.
4. Matthew invited the only people that he knew —thugs like himself.
5. His friends were thieves, blasphemers , prostitutes, con artists, swindlers, and other tax collectors-----the riffraff of society.
B. THE PHARISEES (OF THEN AND NOW) WOULD SAY THAT JESUS SHOULD NOT ATTEND A BANQUET WITH SUCH DEGENERATES.
1. Consider how they branded our Lord for such action.
a. They called him a friend of Publicans and sinners. (Mt. 11:19)
2. They thought that if he were really the Messiah; he would have had dinner with them.
3. Notice that the Pharisees waited outside until the banquet was over to ask the questions. (Mt 9:11)
4. Notice that our Lord overheard their questions and gave them an answer. (Mt 9:12-13)
a. He compared sinners to sick folk that needed a Physician.
b. A doctor can be expected to visit the sick; so a FORGIVER OF SIN should be expected to visit people who are sinners.
c. He then rebukes them for their ignorance...(Vr. 13)
5. This phrase was used in the rabbinic writings to reprove students who were ignorant of something that they should have known.
a. It was like saying, “Go back through the books and come again when you’ve got the basic information right.
C. OUR LORD’S THIRD ARGUMENT FLOORED THEM. (Vr. 13-b)
1. (Lk 5:32) adds the words: “To repentance”
a. (Lk 5:32) “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
2. (Lk 18:9) “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves, that they were righteous and despised others.”
3. Jesus was saying: “You say you are righteous... then I have nothing for you.”
IV. NOTICE OUR LORD REFUSING THE RIGHTEOUS.
A. THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS FOR SINNERS ONLY.
1. The opposite of this is refusing (those that are righteous in their own eyes)
2. Actually, “There is none righteous.” (Rom 3:10)
3. If one feels secure without Christ, of all men, he is to be pitied.
4. Frightening indeed are the words, “I did not come to call the righteous.” (Mt 9:13-b)
B. THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS A MANDATE FOR REPENTANCE
1. Repentance was our Lord’s first message following his baptism. (Mt 4:17)
2. Repentance was the first message that John preached. (Mt. 3:2)
3. Repentance was the message preached at Pentecost. (Mt 2:38; 3:19)
4. Repentance was the central theme of Paul’s preaching. ( Acts 20:21)
5. Repentance was the theme of Paul’s first days of preaching. (Acts 26:20)
a. All to many are joining our churches today who have never repented.
CONCLUSION: The only ones that qualify for salvation are sinners..
1. Sinners converted by the Holy Spirit of God will turn from sin. (Jn 6:62)
2. The Salvation of sinners was the primary reason for our Lord’s coming to this earth. (Lk 19:10)
3. For those who are self-sufficient today; our Lord has nothing for you but coming Judgment.