Thursday, September 18, 2025
Note to readers: This is an alternate reading from the Three Year Lectionary, and may not match up with the readings your church uses this Sunday.
Matthew 9:9-13 – As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when He heard it, He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I love this story. Imagine how Matthew felt. I mean, the man’s a tax collector—he probably has a reputation as a cheat, and it’s guaranteed that at least some people think of him as scum for cooperating with the Romans. He probably sees Jesus coming and expects Him to pass on by. Famous rabbis don’t speak to cheats and collaborators. Jesus ought to walk by, nose in the air—too holy for Matthew.
But He doesn’t. He stops at the tax booth. And He calls him as a disciple!
I would really like to know how long it took Matthew to stop making a mouth like a goldfish and follow Jesus. I imagine him stuttering: “You mean me, Lord? I mean, what? You want me? What did You say?”
But once he managed to wrap his mind around it, of course he threw a party! Who wouldn’t? I mean, Matthew has just had the most unbelievable good luck ever, if we could put it that way. His friends would certainly use that language. I expect they were talking about it for years. Because Matthew has hit the jackpot—won the lottery—made the big time. And Matthew is one of them.
Does that sound offensive? And yet, that’s exactly how it feels when you realize—really understand—that Jesus has chosen you. That He wants you, just you—even though He knows you. He knows what you’ve done and what kind of person you are. And He still wants you—insists on having you, in fact. He has no problem at all with meeting your people. He treats them like they matter, too. There was never anything like it! Who could ever believe this story?
And that’s just the beginning. Because Matthew is going to find out that Jesus will go far, far beyond just having dinner with people like him—farther than just calling him as a disciple. Jesus is planning to lay down His life for Matthew, and for me, and for you—to suffer and die and rise again. He’s doing this so that we can be free, forgiven, joyful children of God. And why? Because He wants us to be with Him forever. He insists on it. And not at a distance, either. He wants you close—real, up front, and personal.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, I want to be with You, too. Make me Your own forever. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions: