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Matthew
The man, the tax collector, the disciple

Lawrence Martin

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Attempt to replace any record facts or records.

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Matthew
The man, the tax collector, the disciple

The disciple matthew was living in the city of Capernaum, by the lake of gennesart. Which is were Jesus migrated to after his rejection from the people of Nazareth. At this time of the second century it also was the home of a group of christan exorcist that went by the name of minim. Who were believers in exorcism. In fact they believed exorcism could be used to cure all. There belief included the belief of the mere fact that the existence of bad and evil in the world that it could not be created by god. The exact location of the city is not completely known. The city was ultimately one of three that jesus cursed saying that it was completely evil. Because of the different religious fasits one can only imagine the amount of controversy and tension that was a part of the everyday life of the jews living there. Add to that the fact that they were once again and oppressed people who no doubt insome regards where feeling that they’re god had abandon them once again. The many Christians zealots considered themselves more or less jews none the less. however their beliefs caused them to be prohibited from the temples and in some cases excommunicated all together. Keep in mind also that this was a city where jesus performed many miracles, be it healing of the sick, and lame or the driving out of evil spirits. For example the man with the unclean spirt (mark 1:21-28),the paralytic (mark 2:1-12), and so on, he also held many dicussions, one recorded in (mark 9: 33-37) who is greater. The city of Capernaum has all the ingredents of being a wonderful and great place with the inclusion of the tribe of levi. The bible decribes matthew as matthew levi, many theologians belive it is meant to state that he was of the tribe of levi. Who were not included in tribes given land during the defeat of canaan.
They where given the duty to serve as the priests of the nation of isreal. They are descendants of levi, who was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, his mother was Leah. As was indicative to the given order of the tribe of levi they were of the more educated people of isreal. So matthew was ideal as the sought after of members of the jews who were used by the romans as tax collectors. However the occupation it slef was far from being a desireable or popular one among the jewish people. One, it was thought for a fellow jew to assume this job was to betray his nation. Also many of the techniques implored by a large amount of the tax collectors were considered hideous. They range from extorion, to oppsing taxes on virtually everything possible. They’re popularity was so low that they were place in the same caterory as drunkards, robbers, prostitues and sinners. Tax collectors made money by keeping the difference in the amount they where ordered to collect. without being watched or sensored by any organization led to many of the wrongful acts of cheating and so forth. At this point we will exclusively take consideration of matthew. The bible doesn’t show reckonition of him having a family but is more then likey that it was so. In looking at matthew as a man, first we must acknowledge that he like the other heads of jewish families of the time was faced with the responsibility of providing food, shelter and clothing for his family. We must also give acknowledgement that being levi he was well familar with the words of god’s will and the many cautions he relayed to his people. However in unisiom with that we must remember that they had not long returned from exile in Babylon only to be occupied and under complete control of the romans. In this case the term occupied is used bedcause in a sense they were not complete slaves. They could own their own homes, flocks and the normal possessions included and needed in life. With this being so per family their exsistance depended greatly on monetary values. in that it was needed to aquire the substance needed to live and to pay taxes. It would not be a stretch to thnk a man such as matthew seemingly with what is a apparent higher then average intelligence to that of most jews in or around Capernaum that the position of tax collector would be appealing in the sense of providing for his family. The taking of such a job for the possible money and the aquiring of wealth was in direct opposition to god’s word “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”(1 tim 6:10). More then likely the hardships endured in babylonia and returning to isreal and being under influential rule of the romans, matthew and many of the jews felt that in turn with the happening of the past decade that god no longer favored them as his people. No matter the direction you take on this subject, matthew more then likely chose the money and wealth offered as being a tax collector was or would be a greater benefit for him and his family. Insuring that none of the hardships that were present in Capernaum were not to be endured by him and his family. For you see the location of Capernaum was ideal in that it was located along a prosperous trade route, however its size and the factor of its religious unrest didnothing to make it attractive to the many travelers enough so to create sufficient economic growth. It would be easy to entertain the notion that after time and the growth of his personal wealth that matthew used less faith in god and more in his wealth status. Believing that the things he would facing would no doubt be easily overcomed with the use of said wealth. We would however be at error if we did not acknowledge the profession of tax collector wasn’t the only one used in this manner, for also the position of scribes and Pharisees were sought for their wealth and political staus. We know that the views of tax collector from fellow jews were anything but desirable, that in turn doing his job brought him in contact with all the hatred, and fustrations felt and expressed by the jews. One needs not to find it hard to think that even death threats and talk of harm to his family were a part of the hazards he encountered daily. How he handled things of this nature is not mentioned, more then likey his being mortal it cause the same thoughts, concerns and heartaches which would be similar to the ones we would have . Looking at his situation from a present day point of view we all can find many similar situations in todays world, maybe even in our more personal lives, and or the lives of family members and close friends. Even today we are aware of the significance of the role money plays in a persons life. Still so many belive or have the understanding that it is all that is needed for them to survive. That with money they have the world and that it is full of endless possibilites. In doing so they lay aside the salvation and the reward fof residing in god’s kingdom on earth and in heaven. Imagine being in the postion matthew was, no doubt he knew of jesus’s arrival in Capernaum. And knowing who he was being called. Did it cause him to begin to question his in actions in seeking the things he did, or the way he lived, was the wieght of his heritage begining to bare down on him. At home was he starting to view his comforts and that of his family differently? Had the thought of renewing his faith occurred to him, knowing to do so would mean giving up the luxuries he and his family enjoyed. Just to think how wonderful and unnerving it had to be for matthew to know that his and his families fate was about to change. The bible tells us (matt. 9) that jesus just departed from a country called gergesen when immediately a paralytic was brought before him to heal, were he had one of his many confrontations with the scribes, where as he sought only to depart to his house, it is then he saw matthew sitting in his tax office, and spoke “follow me”. think of the number of times we have searched or sought out directions and someone replied “follow me” think about how before hearing those words the helplessness and sense of being lost you felt, only to be immediately relieved when you heard those words. Surely it wasn’t any different for matthew. For no doubt even with the prosperity tht he and his family had, there had to be a certain feeling of awakening. From being of the tribe of levi knowing, his ancestors whee the keepers of the temples. Awarded the honor of protecting and moving the many sacred artifacts of the temples. Knowing god’s covenant with the people of isreal. that those words relieved him. That the ultimate feeling of god’s mercy and grace held him. Realizing at that moment, in one moment, that his life, the way he lived, the way he had before hand proudly felt and presented himself was blasphemous in the eyes of the lord. Also that simply giving ones self to god’s service no matter how big or small the request is in which god calls still carries and gives the same amount of salvation. The experiences of matthew’s life, from his chosen profession until his sanctification in christ is a marvelous example of never being far from the grace of god. Matthew the disciple in his reconnection with god at the heels of the son jesus christ without any doubt was marvelous. Being a witness to all of his miracles, to learn the ways of god from the mouth and hands of his son, there could be nothing more special. To be at the beginning of the spreading of the word , to see the marvelous things recorded in the new testament of the bible as they happen. Imagine, being charged in matt 10: 1 “and when he called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”, matthew thinking to himself, me who once was spoken of as being no better than a drunkard. Matthew is a living testament to the fact that no matter the course that your life has taken , no matter the kind of untruths thrown at you, no matter the deepths that satan tries to convince you that you have sunken, that god still has a need for you and has wonderful plans for you in the making of his kingdom.

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