Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 9:9-13
This is Matthew's testimony: Jesus said, “Follow Me” and I did!
Now we know that Matthew (also called Levi) followed Jesus, became one of the 12 apostles and eventually wrote this biography of Jesus. He, too, was later martyred for being a follower of Jesus.
Jesus challenged the Pharisees and teachers to figure out what the Jewish Scripture meant in Hosea 6:6. Hosea was a prophet of God and he preached that God said, “I desire mercy or loyalty, instead of sacrifice.” So, what does that mean to you?
How do you think Jesus would say it today?
Maybe He would say, “I don't care how much money you give to the poor; I care about how you treat the people around you!”
Read Mark 2:13-17
Do you think maybe Matthew invited all his tax collecting friends (publicans) to a big dinner party to introduce them to Jesus?
I think so.
Read Luke 5:27-32
What do you know about the tax collectors (also called publicans) in Israel during the time of Jesus?
Israel was under occupation. That means that the nation had been conquered by Rome. They placed governors over them, but pretty much let the Sanhedrin (the Jewish Council) lead the people as in the past. The Roman rulers did ask the Jewish people to provide men who would collect taxes for Rome from their own people. This was considered traitorous to the people. But some Jewish men volunteered. The pay was particularly good and so men took the job even though it meant being an outcast among their neighbors. They became very rich but had few friends.
But there was something else that made them even more hated. Rome said to these men: Instead of us paying you a salary, we give you the authority to collect as much as you can get from these people. You must pay us our required amount – but you can pocket anything over that. And if you didn't pay whatever the tax collectors said was your amount, you could be imprisoned or enslaved – along with your whole family.
I think you can understand why tax collectors were hated in Jesus' time.
We'll continue this discussion tomorrow.
In His service, dale
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