**Read Matthew 9:9-13 and Romans 7:14-25
I. Jesus Calls Matthew
- Matthew 9:9-13; tells the story of when Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him and be His disciple. Tax collectors were not liked by people those days. They became wealthy because they collected more taxes than what people actually owed and pocketed the extra for themselves. This is the reason why the Pharisees were shocked when they saw Jesus dining not just with one but many tax collectors and sinners. And when Jesus heard this, he said,
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance”.
With Matthew inviting Jesus, His disciples, and other tax collectors, to dine with him, it showed that Matthew knew of his imperfections and sins, and that it is the sinners who would more likely come to Jesus than "Pharisees" who think that they are religious and righteous. Matthew, and the other tax collectors were one of the worst sinners in those times, but they owned up to their moral and spiritual impurities. These are the people that Jesus came for. He didn't come for the "healthy" but to the "sick". He didn't come for the righteous but to those who are sinners. Jesus came to save the robbers, prostitutes, adulterers, prison inmates, murderers, drug addicts, hopeless, and especially the atheist or non-believers. In addition to Matthew-the tax collector, Jesus also called Simon-the riot starter, James and John-"the suns of thunder" (always angry), Peter-the denier, Judas Iscariot-the traitor. We can see that Jesus did not call the perfect, righteous, religiousa, and the scholars to be His disciples. Instead, he called the teachable, the believer, and the devoted.
We all need to be like Matthew, and recognize our own imperfections, sins, flaws, and character defects. If we can't admit that we are sinners and unrighteous, why would we need a savior who died for us. Like Matthew, we must decide to leave behind worldly things that is keeping us from following Jesus Christ.
II. The Struggle With Sin
- In Romans 7:14-25, Paul preached about how he and others struggled with sin. The Law was given for us to realize that we are sinners and unrighteous. But even though, we have the Law and know the Law, we still choose not to follow it. It is hard to be a Christian for we have to live the way of the Lord and not the way of the world. There are things that your family or friends do that you do not accept because of your faith. And this is a constant struggle to do the right thing or the wrong. We are always tempted and pressured to try new things and do what "others" are doing but we need to be strong and
"11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).
- Paul reminded us that whenever we are in a situation that we are thinking to do something evil in the eyes of God, to pray and thank God for giving us his son, Jesus Christ, who gave us a way for salvation.
III. Proverbs for Today/4:1-6 (Security in Wisdom)
1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
2 For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
3 When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 He also taught me, and said to me:
“ Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
IV. Additional Old Testament Reading:
Genesis 39-40 and Psalms 17:1-15
