David Bahn – Reflections

After this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” ²⁸ And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

²⁹ And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. ³⁰ And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ³¹ And Jesus answered them,“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

I do my own taxes. It’s a week-long process with a large table set up in my office and papers, receipts, records, and forms strewn about in strategic piles. I use an online program that shows me what taxes I have due in real time. The number it shows before I begin entering my withholdings, deductions, and credits is alarmingly frightening. I hope to get to the place where at the end that I owe Uncle Sam $100. I don’t really want to loan him any money interest free!

Levi here in Luke’s gospel as well as in Mark 2 is the same as Matthew who shows up in chapter 9 of his gospel. I wonder if maybe Matthew was ashamed of his profession, being a Jew which would be highlighted by the name Levi (the priestly tribe allusion). It might also be that Matthew wanted to retain a name that was more Gentile-friendly. For whatever reason Levi/Matthew the tax collector was called by Jesus to come and follow him. And leaving everything, he rose up and followed Jesus. 

I love the scene in The Chosen miniseries where Jesus sees Matthew, calls him, and Matthew closes up shop, leaves it all behind, and follows Jesus (see the link below). And I wonder if I ever would be able to do that so suddenly. Was this precipitous? Abrupt? Spontaneous? Unhesitating? We don’t know Matthew’s motives here. But we do know he left his tax booth and followed Jesus. We do know it was a long-haul following. This wasn’t a purely emotional decision. Sudden and spontaneous as it was.

This was also a major realignment of his social order. He makes a great feast for Jesus and invites his friends – a collection of all manner of folks: the good (Jesus), the bad (tax collectors or Pharisees – you choose), and the beautiful (prostitutes???). And they come. And they party. And the Pharisees grumble. What’s the guy doing? Does he have any idea of who he’s eating with?

Of course Jesus knows who he is eating with. He’s eating with sinners, sick persons who need the touch of the great healer and physician of the soul.

There are some people who are bold enough to hold such a party. There are others who would be severely uncomfortable at such a party. If Jesus is there, I would be glad let him manage the situation, and enjoy the fellowship of the redeemed.

Matthew! What a hero of conversion and hospitality. Perhaps we can all follow his example in one manner or another!

Here’s the link to The Chosen episode: