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Matthew Joins The Group
Matthew Joins The Group
Matthew 9:9-10 9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He *said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him. 10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.
Jesus already had begun selecting those who he would commission as apostles – authoritative representatives to one in authority. We do not know all the background to all of these that were chosen, but what we do know is enlightening!
Peter, Andrew, James, and John fishermen. Simon a ‘zealot’. Now Matthew, a tax collector working with Rome. Add to this, once Matthew is called, Jesus and all of the disciples shared ‘table fellowship’ with not only Matthew but other tax collectors and ‘sinners’ – those that were labeled such by the Pharisees and Jewish leaders. Such ‘table fellowship’ simply was not done in the day and age. You only did so with those of the same status (or if you were lucky, those in a higher social status group).
Being a disciple of Jesus cut across many different social status levels, AND they accepted one another as a ‘brother’ in the LORD. They had to lay aside their prejudices that they had grown up with. They had to be willing to stand against the social mores of their friends, family, and society. They were to not only ‘accept’ one another they were to LOVE ONE ANOTHER: And they DID!
Such is still true as disciples are from all nations, all social levels, all ethnic labels, men and women. They were to be ONE with one another, even as Jesus and the Father are one (cp. John 17:11). Do you think there were moments of difficulties with this? Do you think that sometimes they had to swallow their pride? Whatever such problems they faced, they did it.
NOW, this same principle has been delivered to US. “1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:1-4
In this day of anger, “tribalism’, political division, social snobbery: how are you doing?
Hugh DeLong
