Matthew

             Of all the Roman officials in Palestine, none were more hated than the publicans. The fact that the taxes were imposed by a foreign power was a continual irritation to the Jews, being a reminder that their independence had departed. At the time Christ was born, Israel had been under Roman domination for some sixty years (Matthew). Tax collectors were not merely the instruments of Roman oppression; they were extortioners on their own account, enriching themselves at the expense of the people. A Jew who accepted this office at the hands of the Romans was looked upon as betraying the honor of his nation (Matthew). He was despised as an apostate, and was classed with the vilest of society. He was ranked with murders and robbers, lumped together with harlots, Gentiles, and most often, sinners (Robertson). To all this belonged Matthew Levi.
             Sitting at his tollbooth one day, the publican saw Jesus approaching. Great was his astonishment to hear the words addressed to him, "Follow Me". Matthew "left all, rose up, and followed Him" (Holy Bible). There was no hesitation, no questioning, no thought of the lucrative business to be exchanged for poverty and hardship. It was enough for him that he was to be with Jesus, that he might listen to His words, and unite with Him in His work.
             More than the other disciples, Matthew (also called Levi) had a clear idea of how much it would cost to follow Jesus, yet he did not hesitate a moment. When he left his tax-collection booth, he guarantied himself unemployment. For several of the other disciples, there was always fishing to return to, but for Matthew, there was no turning back (Student's Life Application Bible).
             Matthew was a tax collector when Jesus called him to be one of the twelve disciples. We have little idea as to what sort of person Matthew was before Jesus called him. It is doubtful that he was very religious, because tax collectors were ostracized, practically if...

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Matthew. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 07:09, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/14566.html