“MATTHEW: A MAN OF AUTHORITY”

Many of you folk noticed my grandson Christopher, two weeks ago, when he and his sister Kalee sang with this Grandpa. Now standing a half a head taller than me, some of you have watched him grow up as he has visited us each summer. We have watched him move from very short hair to shoulder length hair back to his short hair this time around. Chris has demonstrated to all those who know him that he is turned off by competition, whether in table games or watching sporting events. Chris will only watch a game on TV if it is to be courteous to you because you want to watch it. This past August, he, on three specific occasions, told me in words, “Grandpa, I can’t stand being like everyone else; I have to be different!”

Well, sometimes people have the courage to be like Chris. Yet, more often, people who desire to be different keep such feelings deep inside. They go through the motions, of being like everyone else, outwardly, so they don’t stand out. Perhaps you’re here today and if the truth were told; you really would like to be apart from the “way people expect you to be”. In reality, every individual on this little planet called Earth is different. Yet, in each person’s culture, individuals face an oppressive pressure from others of their specific group. We call it “PEER PRESSURE”. This force in society can border on slavery, at times, as it dictates and shapes folks into what the group approves and disapproves of.

Today, we begin our study of the Disciples of Jesus with a look at such a nonconformist. He had two names as we will see. The first was his given name of Levi. The Lord gave him the name Matthew. His call by Jesus is recorded for us in three of the gospels. Since each on of the accounts has an ingredient the other two did not include we will look at each of them to find our three points on this Apostle.

I.) MATTHEW 9:9-13.

Notice the phrase we have highlighted in these verses. In verse 9 we read, “Follow me he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” Here we find an emphasis that stands out. After reading this first section of Scripture you will later on see how much more simple and direct this account is than the one in Mark or in Luke. Matthew is a humble, simple, unassuming person. He does not want to bring special attention to himself. God, the Holy Spirit inspires him to write this information about his call, yet he does not give out a fact that had profound implications on his need to be different. In the other two passages we will see this morning he is referred to by his given name: Levi. You probably remember that one of the sons of Jacob was Levi. This was the lineage of the Tribe of Levi, who was assigned to be the priests of Israel and its worship. Any man, in biblical times, who had the name Levi was from this priestly tribe.

Before you wonder why that is significant: keep in mind what the profession of this man was. He was NOT a priest. He was a tax collector under the Roman puppet governor, Herod Antipas. Tax collectors were in a position of authority granted by the “evil Roman Empire”. Yet, the Jewish populace had no tolerance for these “traitors” to Jewish independence. This issue was even more intense than that. The tax collectors were not given a commission or salary for their work. They were given permission to add, to the taxes of the common folk, their own individual fee to pay for their services. Some were completely mercenary in their charges and got rich at the expense of their constituency. We see this with Zacchaeus, mentioned in Luke 19, when he says to the Lord following his conversion, “Look Lord! Here and now give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, (which I add, he undoubtedly did) I will pay back four times the amount”. (Verse 8)

If you think Matthew’s family was thrilled to have him known as one of them, think again! He lived in Capernaum, in the province of Galilee. The citizens there would have known Levi from his childhood. Now, they would have ignored him and stayed as far away from him as possible. Only when it was tax season would they even talk to him. He was different. He was very humble because the pain and hurt of being so rejected by family and former friends ran deep. Self confidence and feelings of acceptance would be foreign to this new disciple. It is not only that he tried to downplay his unbelievable alienation from his own culture; but he changes after his time in the Lord’s band of disciples. He devotes his entire gospel to convincing the Jewish population that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. Therefore, the only focus on his account is centered on the Lord and not himself. He did not lash out against those who judged him for what he did. They never took into account who he was; only what he did. They couldn’t see past their own prejudice against ANY tax collector. Perhaps you can identify with this man’s ordeal of pain and hurt socially. Christians, who are nonconformists certainly can! This is never an issue about fundamental spiritual truths but the trappings which certain folk place on others to insure conformity. Way too often church people impose a whole style of tastes that MUST be adhered to for one to be accepted in their group. But we move on.

II.) MARK 2:14-17.

Once again, I have highlighted another phrase. We read in verse 15, “For there were many [tax collectors] who followed him”. You do not have this fact recorded in the other two gospels.  Matthew was not only a humble, regular Jewish man with no preconceived notions of grandeur; he is yet a man who is decisive. This disciple knew the tax collector crowd. He was one of them. He saw the impact Jesus was having on his peers and he didn’t dilly-dally around. When the Lord gave him the call, Levi got up and followed. There is no mention of waiting till he balanced the ledger. He did not ask the Lord fifty questions before making a commitment. The Lord issued the call and Matthew responded. That is simple and direct, as our first point showed us; but, it also was decisive. Who knows exactly why this new disciple made the choice to become a rebel from how he was raised. We do know that he recognized the power and authority Jesus brought to his peers and he had to have it as well. There is nothing wishy-washy about this man.

As for church historians, we are told by Iraneus that Matthew preached the gospel among Hebrew people, wherever they could be found. Clement of Alexandria claims Levi did this for fifteen years after the Lord’s ascension. Eusebius maintains that before going into other countries, as a missionary, this disciple spread the word about Christ in Hebrew. Once again, Matthew shows a decisiveness when it comes to serving his Lord and Master. He understood that his fellow Jews needed to get out of their “strait-jacket tradition” and to get into following the true Messiah: Jesus of Nazareth. His gospel is organized with a Jewish perspective. It stands first among the four gospels in the scope of Jesus’ teaching; particularly his claims of being Messiah. There are more parables in Matthew’s gospel than in the others.

For those of us who desire to be decisive, to be direct in our approach to life and preserve our individuality under the Lord, there is much to enjoy in getting to know Matthew. Matthew has obviously listened to his peers talk about Jesus. When the Lord calls him, Matthew has already determined his action. He has analyzed the situation and is ready when the time comes to act on what he has observed.

III.) LUKE 5:27-32.

This time our phrase of focus is found in verse 29. Here we read, “Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house.” It appears that Matthew was wealthier than the other disciples. The emphasis is on a “great banquet”. It wasn’t Chinese take-out. He wanted to host his fellow tax collectors and the Pharisees who would only have walked into his house because they were curious about Jesus. This meal was for the whole town of Capernaum. I have been to this quaint little seaside village. I have seen the smallness of its ruins. But, Matthew knew his culture and the hang-ups of the pompous Jewish establishment. He wanted to reach them with the news of his Lord. He was committed to reach the lost. For example, in Mark, Luke and John (the other three gospels) we read of Jesus’ teaching about the “kingdom of God”. Matthew knew that Jewish people do not mention the name of God. Therefore when he writes of Jesus’ teaching he used the phrase “kingdom of heaven”. That’s completely Jewish in its thrust.

Add to this that the organization of his gospel reflects his evangelistic outreach to Jews. Matthew includes more of the details of the Lord’s teaching than the other three gospels. He records whole chapters of parables, primarily concerning the Kingdom. He is committed to conveying the exact message of the Lord. But Matthew adapted his message to the audience he was trying to reach. And thus, this maverick disciple, this nonconformist, shaped his ministry to reach those who spent their lives reviling, rejecting and judging him. He conformed his message so they could “get it” in their preferred style of learning. That exhibits the humility, simplicity, warm personal care we see in his sensitive yet decisive eyes.

If you are a nonconformist Christian, take heart from Matthew. Be yourself but bring with it humbleness instead of a chip on your shoulder. If you are an individual who savors your own distinctiveness, realize that it is not to establish division from other people but to use such differences to bring your Lord into others’ lives. If you have been hurt by others who offer rejection of you, be like Matthew and draw your acceptance from the Lord. Simply put: be humble, be decisive, be an active witness for Jesus!