Episode
The Tax Collector
- Podcast
- Grace for All
- Published
- May 17, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 350
- Processing state
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Summary
Matthew 9:9 "As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him." We learn later that this tax collector, was none other than the great disciple, Matthew, who wrote that book of the Bible. But the first thing we need to know as we seek a lesson in today's scripture is how unloved, maybe even hated the tax collectors were in the times when Jesus walked the earth as a man, a teacher, a Jewish rabbi. Tax collectors worked for the occupying Roman Empire and were mistrusted and even hated by the Israelites. Many, if not most, tax collectors, were dishonest to boot – collecting far more than was required. Their greed often lined not only the coffers of the State, but the pockets of the tax collector. Yet, here was Jesus, walking by, calling one of them to follow him! Matthew tells us in verses 10-12 that this Tax Collector, Matthew did follow Jesus and took him to dinner with a bunch of other hated Tax Collectors at Matt's house. Some Pharisees who were the keepers of the Jewish laws, saw Jesus eating there and asked His disciples why Jesus was eating and associating with Tax Collectors and sinners! In verse 12, Jesus himself explained that "It's not the healthy, the holy, who need a doctor, but the sick." He told the Pharisees in verse 13 to "go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice, for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Now let's consider what lesson Jesus means for us in this story… All around us are opportunities to "eat with", talk to and to help out, the despised, mistrusted, and otherwise rejected people around us. We must invite and welcome all the despised, lowly outcasts, to meet Jesus, through us! We are his hands and feet today, his smile, his t…