Love always finds many ways for quiet but definite
open confession of the Lord Jesus. Matthew found at
least these three ways: he left his sins, he told his friends, he wrote his Book. Take a good look at Matthew confessing his Master. Are you a definite, open, dedicated follower of the Lord Jesus?
TEN GREAT NEW TESTAMENT CONVERSIONS
F. W. Dixon Study 2
O happy day that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Saviour and my God! Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad.
The conversion of Matthew is recorded in Matthew 9:9;
Mark 2:13-14 and Luke 5:27-32, and it is significant that when Matthew is giving his testimony, in Matthew 9:9, he does it in one short verse! This would seem to indicate the modesty of this man who became one of our Lord's most trusted first followers. Levi, or Matthew, as he became known after his conversion, was a publican. He collected taxes for the Roman government, and it is possible that he, like Zacchaeus and many of the tax gatherers of that day, lined his own pockets very well at the same time. If this was the case he would be a hated man, he would be regarded as an extortioner. On the other hand, we need to remember that Levi was a deeply religious man. For this reason, at any rate, he should have been an honest tax collector! One day, however, the Lord Jesus passed Matthew's office, saw him hard at work and called him to follow Him. It happened as simply as that, as we learn from verse 27; and what was Matthew's response? It was unreserved and immediate, as we earn from verse 28. Notice the three pictures which are brought before us.
'Tis done, the great transaction's done.
I am my Lord's, and He is mine; He drew me, and I followed on, Charmed to confess the voice divine.
MATTHEW THE TAX GATHERER
Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-32
1. Matthew Counting his Money
Luke 5:27 tells us this. When Jesus saw him he was "sitting at the receipt of custom". His money bags were full and his account books were kept with meticulous care. How do we know this? We know it because Matthew's care for accuracy and detail is very evident in his gospel. So look at Matthew counting his money, Matthew immersed in his job, Matthew not at all liked by the people who had to come and pay their taxes, Matthew who was probably rich and probably lonely, and Matthew who was efficient and methodical, a keen business man. This was the man Jesus
called, and called while he was doing his job. Fancy
Jesus choosing this man! But He did. He called him away from his tax collecting to follow Him. How often this very incident has been repeated down the centuries! Moody was selling boots when Edward Kimble called on him in the Boston shoe store and led him to Christ. One of our great preachers today spent most of his time in his consulting room when God called him away to give his full time in the ministry of the Word. Others have been set for brilliant professional careers when God has laid His hand upon them and called them to be fishers of men. Often the Lord does the unexpected thing. We would not have thought of Matthew becoming an ardent disciple of the Lord Jesus; or for that matter, Peter, James or John, but such is the Lord's sovereign and gracious way, look up Luke 4:18-19, and compare John 20:21. Perhaps we should point out here that a man does not leave his secular calling to become a Christian, a whole hearted and dedicated follower of the Lord. Matthew did have to do this, for obvious reasons, so have a good look at him counting his money! 2. Matthew Changing his Mind A tremendous change took place very quickly in this man, and we read of it in the second part of verse 27 and in verse 28. Did all this really happen as suddenly as that? The answer is, yes and no. Yes, because verse 28 leaves us in no doubt about it. Matthew's response was immediate. But there is a sense in which it may not have been as immediate as it seems, for surely Matthew had given this matter a great deal of thought. Dr. Alexander Whyte makes the suggestion that Matthew had been acquainted with Jesus for a long time, and that perhaps Jesus Himself had visited Matthew on a number of occasions to pay taxes. We do not know, but what we do know is that Matthew was a thoughtful man, and here we are told that he was a man who changed his mind. That really and truly is what repentance is, look up Isaiah 55:7. To repent is to change your mind about God, about Christ, sin, self,
Christian life and the things of time and eternity. So in
all probability Matthew was ready when the call came, prepared by the Lord Himself; he was religious but longing for reality, just like so many people today. In all probability he had recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah, and was already convinced of this, so that when Jesus came and called him, he got up and went off to follow Jesus! Take a good look at Matthew changing his mind. 3. Matthew Confessing his Master Matthew had no thought of doing this secretly. He did it so publicly that in no time his action would have been the talk of the town. Notice that there were at least three special ways in which Matthew confessed his Master. (1) By Leaving his Sins. When we are told in verse 28 that "he left all", it certainly includes the whole idea of turning away from anything which was shady underhand or dishonest in his business. To become a Christian means this; it means being utterly honest before the Lord and before others, look up Proverbs 11:1 and 12:22. (2) By Telling his Friends. He did this in a special way. Verse 29 tells us that Matthew made a feast in his house and invited his friends to come and meet the Lord and hear about his conversion. Of course, this resulted in opposition, as we learn from verses 30-32, but this did not matter to Matthew. He was now on the Lords side and the Lord was on his side, look up Joshua 24:15. (3) By Writing his Book. What an achievement it was to write what we now know as "The Gospel According to Matthew"! What a Book!