When Jesus speaks, destinies shift. In Matthew 9, His words didn’t echo in a synagogue—they were spoken at a tax booth.
He wasn’t calling the religious elite.
He wasn’t choosing the morally perfect.
And He looked at Matthew, a man labeled a traitor and a thief, and said,
“Follow Me.”
And everything changed.
Who Is Jesus Interacting With?
- Matthew, also called Levi, a tax collector.
- A room full of “sinners” and outcasts.
- A group of critical Pharisees.
- Jesus’ disciples, watching and learning.
What Jesus Said: Matthew 9:9–13 (NASB)
9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting in the tax office; 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 began dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Now go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
A Simple Call, A Radical Shift
Jesus didn’t give a lecture. He didn’t demand that Matthew first clean up his life.
He simply said: “Follow Me.”
Action Step: Don’t wait until you’re “good enough.” If Jesus is calling you, drop your excuses and walk into your new life.
From Tax Collector to Apostle
Matthew was despised by Jews. Working for Rome, he profited by exploiting his own people.
But Jesus saw more than a job title. He saw a heart ready for transformation.
Action Step: Your career, your past, your reputation—none of it disqualifies you. When Jesus calls, your history becomes His platform.
Jesus Eats with Sinners
At Matthew’s house, Jesus reclines with outcasts, not the righteous.
The religious leaders are appalled. But Jesus is not after image—He’s after hearts.
Action Step: Make room at your table. Be willing to bring others closer to Jesus through connection, not condemnation.
The Pharisees’ Judgment
Instead of celebrating transformation, the Pharisees criticized association.
They asked, “Why does your teacher eat with these people?”
Jesus flips the question.
He came for the sick—not the self-satisfied.
Action Step: Don’t let a religious spirit creep in. Grace is for the messy. And healing starts with honesty.
“Go and Learn What This Means…”
Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6:
“I desire compassion, not sacrifice.”
He’s reminding them—and us—that external religion is worthless without internal mercy.
Action Step: Show compassion today. Don’t just go to church—be the Church. Love the ones others avoid.
The Mood of the Scene
- Personal.
- Confrontational.
- Redemptive.
- Joyful for the broken, offensive to the self-righteous.
Jesus disrupts expectations. He didn’t come to fit in—He came to bring the kingdom to the unlikely.
What This Means for Us in 2025
In a world obsessed with image, credentials, and religious boxes, Jesus is still calling people from unlikely places.
- The single dad working night shifts.
- The former addict now rebuilding.
- The overlooked mom raising future leaders.
- The burned-out business owner seeking purpose.
Jesus says, “Follow Me.” And the story starts fresh.
Application for Today:
- Say yes—immediately. Don’t delay obedience.
- Invite others to the table—even if they don’t look “religious.”
- Watch out for spiritual pride. Stay compassionate.
- Recognize your past doesn’t disqualify your purpose.
- Let Jesus rewrite your life—starting now.
Final Prayer
Jesus, thank You for seeing me—not as I’ve been labeled, but as I truly am. Thank You for calling me from my brokenness into purpose. I accept Your call to follow. Change me, use me, and make my life a testimony of Your grace. In Your name, amen.
