Matthew 9:9-13  In one verse Matthew gives his testimony.. " And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He said to him, 'Follow Me!' And he rose and followed Him." 

Matthew was employed to gather taxes from his fellow citizens as well as from travelers who brought in goods to sell in Capernaum.  He would have been well aware of who Jesus was.  He probably would have been surprised by this calling from Jesus.  The tax-collectors were despised by their own people.  They were known to fatten their own wallets at the expense of others.  We don't know if this was true of Matthew or not.  He could have been an honest taxman  and would still have been despised by the Jews.  

Yet, when Jesus called him, Matthew was ready.. he left everything and followed Jesus.  He was there through the end.  He was there in the upper room. He was thought to have been martyred as he ministered in Ethiopia. 

According to Mark 2:14 Matthew was also known as Levi the son of Alphaeus.  In Matthew 10:3 Matthew is listed right before "James the son of Alphaeus".  Brothers?  Half-brothers?  We also know that James' mother was one of the Marys who stood with the women at the cross and brought spices to the tomb. (Mark16:1)  Could she also be the Mary in John 19:25 "But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene." ?  If so... there is quite a family connection in all of these people who ended up following Jesus.  Interesting...

Anyway.. Once Jesus calls Matthew it appears that others who had also been excluded from the Jewish fellowship realized that they too could follow Jesus.  "And it happened that as He was reclining at the table in the house, behold many tax-gatherers and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples." ( v10)  The door had been opened.. Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life had come "not to call the righteous but sinners." ( v13)  Hallelujah!

The Pharisees were quite unhappy about this.  They did not have any compassion for the lost. They had no love for anyone but themselves.  They took no time to share the Love and truth of God's Word with anyone.  The words that Jesus quotes, "I desire compassion and not sacrifice" come from Hosea 6:6.  In verse 3 of that chapter the prophet wrote: "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord."  And this is what the Pharisees lacked.  They did not know God. They didn't know His love - for all mankind.  They didn't know His compassion for the lost and the helpless.  They were so wrapped up in their own ways that they completely missed the True Way. 

Father in heaven,  help us to KNOW You and to keep pressing on to know You more. Help us to be filled with Your love.. to know the power of love that reaches out to the lost, no matter who they are.  Thank You for calling us to follow You.. and for giving us the faith to do so.  We pray for perseverance and strength in our weaknesses.. to abide with You, to serve You faithfully and to love others with the love that You give to us.... every day, until the day You call us home.  Thank You for Your all sufficient grace.. that Your "going forth is as certain as the dawn;  and  [ You] will come to us like the rain; like the spring rain watering the earth." ( Hosea 6:3b) In the name of Jesus we come before You today.. asking for  Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done in us today. Amen.