The Call of St. Matthew
S. Cox, D. D., Dean Alford. Luke 5:27-28 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said to him, Follow me.… Matthew was the son of Alphaeus, or Cleopas who had married the sister, probably the elder sister, of our Lord's mother. Not unlikely that he was the Cleopas who walked to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). A holy family — Israelites indeed. To such a family, what calamity could be more terrible than that one of the sons should become a publican, a renegade to the Hebrew faith, a traitor to the Hebrew commonwealth? Levi had taken service with the Romans. Day by day, in their own city of Capernaum, he was to be seen sitting at the receipt of custom. Whenever boats came into the little port, it was his duty to take dues of them. Whenever a caravan reached the city, he had to take toll of the goods with which the weary camels were laden. And these tolls and dues were paid, not into the Jewish treasury, but into the purses of the Roman knights. For the true publicani were Romans of wealth and credit who "farmed" the taxes of a province. In the collection of these taxes they commonly employed natives of the province, who were, as a rule, infamous for their extortions. Only the lowest and most profligate of the people would accept so degrading an office. What led Levi thus to wound and put to shame those who loved him so well? It may be that the very austerity of their piety alienated him from them. It may be that he was simply thoughtless and pleasure-loving. It would be a keen joy to the Lord Jesus to give joy to such good people as His uncle and aunt and cousins, to restore peace and union to the family in which He had lived so long. This was His pleasant errand this morning as He left the house in which His mother dwelt with her sister, and Cleopas, and their children, and passed through the city to the shore of the lake. As He passed through the official quarter, He saw Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom. Possibly He had not seen him for a long time. In all likelihood Matthew had hitherto slipped out of His way. But now at last He sees him sitting at his post. What a Divine constraining power there must have been in the words of Him who spake as never man spake! As He looks at Matthew, He says simply, "Follow Me"; and His cousin, so hardened and degraded by his sins, rises, leaves all — his work for the moment, his official post and wage — and follows Him as though drawn by an irresistible power. Hitherto he had been called Levi, after the son of Jacob. And the word "Levi " simply meant "link." But Jesus had found and saved him; and He brings him back to the old home a new man with a new name. Henceforth Levi, now a true and strengthening link, is to be called Matthew, i.e., the gift of God; the very moment he rises to the level and meaning of his old name, a new name, a new ideal is given him. A true gift of God was this recovered son to the wounded and sorrowful hearts of his father and mother end brethren. Matthew, then, was the scapegrace of a holy family. Father, mother, brothers, sisters were ashamed of him. Yet even he was not beyond the reach and sway of Christ. (S. Cox, D. D.) THE CALL OF MATTHEW. "Arise and follow Me!" Who answers to the call? Not Ruler, Scribe, or Pharisee, Proud and regardless all. "Arise and follow Me!" The publican hath heard; And by the deep Gennesaret sea Obeys the Master's word. Thenceforth in joy and fear, Where'er the Saviour trod, Among the twelve his place was near The Holy One of God. His is no honour mean, For Christ to write and die; Apostle, Saint, Evangelist, His record is on high. (Dean Alford.) Parallel Verses KJV: And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. WEB: After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow me!"