We begin with a look at our text for this week:
- Jesus, being omniscient, knows full well the cultural baggage that Matthew would have brought with him as he begins his journey as a Christ follower after having served as a tax collector in that culture. And yet, He called him anyway.
- He not only called Matthew as one of His own disciples, but Jesus, and His disciples, openly consorted with him at his home, among many other tax collectors and sinners (Hamartolos: one devoted to sin). Matthew invited these people to come and get to know the Christ Who was in the process of changing Matthew’s life.
- The disciples were asked why Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, a type of fellowship that was not practiced among conservative Jews.
- Jesus responds with three emphases: the sick, mercy, and sinners.
What mattered to Jesus were people and their relationship to God. At times, He fellowshipped with people the religious saw as undesirable. Christ calls us to do the same and there will be a price connected to marketplace ministry.
Consider the following questions.
- Who are the tax collectors of our day, those who almost certainly bring baggage with them into the church when they become an active follower of Christ?
- In marketplace ministry, if you keep the focus on the spiritually sick, those who need mercy, indeed the sinful, what might be your results?
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