'Lk 5:27-32

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32. Call of Matthew (Matt 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32)

The next person to join Jesus’ group of chosen disciples was the tax collector Matthew, also known as Levi (Matt 9:9; Mark 2:13-14).

Matthew took Jesus home for a meal and invited his fellow tax collectors and other friends to come and meet his new master. Jews despised tax collectors as being unpatriotic, dishonest and irreligious. The Pharisees despised Jesus when they saw him eating with them (Matt 9:10-11; Luke 5:27-30).

Jesus replied that if tax collectors were as bad as the Pharisees claimed, then tax collectors were just the sort of people who needed his help. God was pleased with Jesus’ action in showing mercy to outcasts. He was not pleased with the sacrifices of those who thought they were superior to others (Matt 9:12-13; Luke 5:31-32).