Streetlights New Testament - Flipbook - Page 27
PROFILE
MATTHEW
M AT T H E W 9
THE GREATEST EXCHANGE
MATTHEW WAS A TAX COLLECTOR. In biblical times, being a tax
collector meant being a shady individual. If you were a tax collector, you were
seen as the scum of society. You were known to be crooked. Tax collectors
served the Romans and took advantage of the Jews. This meant that from the
outside, Matthew was not an ideal candidate to become a follower of God.
Wouldn’t Jesus choose only religious people, or at least people who had a good
reputation? But Jesus called out to Matthew, “Follow me and be my disciple”
(Matthew 9:9). And Matthew followed Him and never looked back. It’s almost
shocking how, in a moment, Matthew knew his need for Jesus and responded
by following Him instantly. He left his messed-up way of making money and the
thing that defined his identity, exchanging it for a new life and purpose with
Jesus. He knew the one calling him was worth the exchange.
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