Monday 22 September 2014

Background

As Jesus was 'out and about' teaching and healing, he saw a taxcollector called Matthew and invited him to become a disciple.Jesus particularly noticed and prioritised those who were on theedge of the acceptable Jewish community and sought them out. Peoplelike Matthew were despised because they were suspected ofcollecting more than was due and being unduly wealthy because ofthis. In our day some have put bankers in this category. But thereare other groups we stigmatise, what about traffic wardens?

Jesus shared food and hospitality with such people and'sinners', and this brought him much criticism. Sinners may havebeen those who had flagrantly disobeyed the religious laws, or hadbeen lax in their observance of food laws, or ritual baths, orpeople whose profession violated the law because their businessinvolved lending with interest.

Jesus sharing food became a hallmark of Christian hospitality.It was the visible demonstration of God's generous invitation toall people to share in a foretaste of God's heavenly banquetprepared for all people at the end of time. However, it was aflagrant disregard for the Jewish purification laws and broughtJesus criticism. Instead of being a religious ascetical prophetlike John the Baptist and simple in his lifestyle, he was thoughtby some to be too extravagant and joyful.

When the Pharisees criticised him and belittled him to hisdisciples, Jesus declared that those who were healthy had no needof a doctor. It was the sick that needed a doctor to make themwell. Tax collectors like Matthew may have been rich, not poor, butthey too were invited into the kingdom.

In verse 13, Jesus quotes from the Old Testament prophet Hosea(Hosea 6:6) and sent the Pharisees away tocontemplate what God meant in desiring mercy, not sacrifice. At theheart of the nature of God is mercy, and generous forgiveness. ThePharisees had a system of sacrifices as a God-given means ofrestitution for violations of the law, but risked losing God'sspirit of generous mercy.

Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners demonstrated God'sradical priority of showing mercy, forgiving people and thereforefulfilling the requirements of the law in the loving of one'sneighbour.

To Ponder

• Make a quick mental list of those who are consideredunacceptable for various reasons in our society. Why are theyunacceptable? Do you think the Church also considers themunacceptable? Or does it have a different list?

• What healing would be required to enable individuals in thegroups you have identified to follow Jesus? In what ways would itcause controversy? (Matthew is a named individual in a despisedgroup.)

• How does the call of Matthew challenge yourdiscipleship?