Levi son of Alphaeus AKA Matthew.
The next Character is Levi son of Alphaeus AKA Matthew. Yes, that Matthew who wrote the first gospel in our Bibles.
“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me! ” So he got up and followed Him.”
What do we know about Matthew? He was a tax collector. This would make him a traitor in the eyes of most of his fellow Israelites. There was a certain group called “The Zealots” that was particularly against Israelites being tax collectors. Jesus picked one of them to be his disciple too, Simon.
“Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot,”
More on him in another post.
Second, we learn Matthew was hospitable.
“While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him.”
So while he may have been hated by his fellow countrymen his fellow tax collectors and other low-lives liked him. He may have been wealthy because of collecting too much tax. Then he was able to host great feasts or parties. Which made him likable for people could gather at his house and forget about their troubles for at least the night.
Why can’t we as the church be that way with our homes too? We should be likable characters because we have the joy and hope that lives in us! This is how the early church functioned and multiplied during the first years of Christianity. Why can’t we get back there? We have been burdened down by work for 5 days a week. We have a public worship on Sunday, maybe twice. We give up one more night a week for church again, then in the remaining day and four evenings, we have to fit in grocery shopping, housework, and family time. Some of us may disappear to the bar a few nights a week just to get away and forget about our troubles for the night. How can we unbusy our lives so that we can be a beacon of light to our neighbors and friends?
“Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.”
“Give beer to one who is dying and wine to one whose life is bitter. Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty and remember his trouble no more.”
Proverbs 31:6-7 HCSB
“Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.”
“Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.”
1 Peter 4:8-10 HCSB
“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous money so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings.”
Lastly, Matthew used his house to let people get to know Jesus. Jesus and His many disciples and followers were welcomed along with his normal friends. He did not find Jesus and neglect his friends, but he invited his friends to meet Jesus too.
Here is a fine line we must not cross. It is one thing to invite your friends to Jesus, but it is another thing to have your friends lead you down sinful paths again. Rather we should separate ourselves from the situations that we know are wrong but invite our friends into places that will give them positive encounters with Jesus and his followers.
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