World Renewal International

What a disappointment Levi must have been to his family, a long line of Jewish teachers/preachers from the tribe of Levites. He gave up the ministry profession for money. He would have had to bid to become a tax collector. How shameful. How embarrassing.
Edersheim points our that the Talmud lists two kinds of “publicans” (usually stated with “sinners” meaning immoral and pointing to prostitution) one was the general tax collector. Matthew was the second level which was a [ “douanier”] customs house officer, a higher rank and often by the ports where there was greater opportunity for more intake. Those in his position sometimes put others in the booth for collection, Matthew liked doing it himself. This was considered an act of greater greed. He had many opportunities to make much money. Here are some of the taxes he charged:

• Production tax … which was one tenth of the crop
.• Income tax … which was one percent of a man’s wage.• Poll tax … that’s a tax for being alive … one denarii a year.
• Purchase tax … basically the ancient equivalent of a good’s and services tax.
• Road use tax … even back then you had to pay a road toll.
You can see why tax-collectors were not liked. And they didn’t help their image problem by deliberately cheating the system and creating many ways to extract money from people. We think we pay a lot of tax today; but it has always been like this. The list of taxes included:-• Production tax … which was one tenth of the crop.• Income tax … which was one percent of a man’s wage.• Poll tax … that’s a tax for being alive … one denarii a year.• Purchase tax … basically the ancient equivalent of a good’s and services tax.• Road use tax … even back then you had to pay a road toll.

Then there were the under-the-table expenses such as extortion money and bribes. These were the taxes which were imposed by the tax-collector. You can see why they were hated, and some of that frustration was justified.

However, this well educated man who spoke several languages was in a great position to hear the teachings of Jesus. His rabbinic background would have prepared him to understand the Messianic implications from Jesus life and teachings. He was able to hear the stories of his ministry and probably saw the power of the Christ. His custom house may have been close to where Jesus taught by the sea side.

Therefore it was most likely after several encounters with Jesus’ teaching and life that he experienced the scene recorded by himself, Mark and Luke where Jesus came to his toll booth and the simple invitation, “Follow Me.” Luke states the Levi got up and left everything and followed Jesus.

In his own recounting he calls himself “Matthew” which scholars believe was given to him by Jesus after this day, it meant “Gift of God.” God has always liked giving people new names. What is that about? While I enjoy the detail of Luke’s Gospel and Marks brevity and to the point version, and the passion of John, Matthew gives us the longest description of Christ’s life.

The publicans and sinners were not allowed in the synagogue nor were they allowed to offer sacrifice for their sin. When Jesus attended the banquet where Matthew made him the guest of honor, Luke described a “large banquet” with a great or large crowd. The crowd was made up of “publicans and sinners”. Jesus walked into the banquet offering forgiveness to those
who had run out of options! It was probably on a Monday or Thursday when the Pharisees and John’s disciples were fasting as was tradition thus the question, “Why are you guys eating and we are fasting?”

While the gospel was written by Matthew to encourage the Jewish readers or hearers to understand that Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies and Kingdom he is the only one of the four writers to include the “Great Commision” to all nations. He really understood, he got what Jesus was about. I have no way of knowing if his family still found this “Christ Follower” disappointing or embarrassing. However, to those of us “sinners” his description of a Messiah offering forgiveness to all seekers is what we hope for.

Thanks for stopping by.

It started with a challenge over 25 years ago to be sure to take your family to heaven. The messages spoke of heaven and hell. Renewal sang “Why didn’t I Repent?”Jesus’ story of two men who died. Then came some specifics. A challenge to husbands and dads to “Build A Hedge” ( again Doug Newnum wrote the song and Renewal sang the message in song) a call to spiritual righteousness, modeling, protection and prayer for the family. “Chain of Grace” and “Three Chairs” was a continued message and challenge to men to be leaders of their families, church and community. Pass the faith along to those who God has given you and are coming behind you. Now, a new chapter. “Spoken Blessing” a message based on the Heavenly Father’s words about his own Son. Doug’s new song. “Where would I be without Jesus In My Life” describes some personal history of God’s faithfulness to him and his family.

When I started this challenge my children were at home and some quite young. I was always concerned about how I modeled what I preached. My imperfections, failures and wrong choices seemed glaring to me at times as we ministered these themes in preaching and song. When I started preaching these challenges there were few “How to books” for men in the Christian book stores. When “Promise Keepers” came along I felt, “Well, I must have heard the Lord correctly!” It encouraged me in the direction our ministry had taken.

Now it seems we have at times become so overloaded in good information in the church that men still need encouragement to be the best husbands, fathers, grandfathers and sons that they can be.

This past year I had the privilege to be part of the teaching team of Men’s Fraternity at Brandywine Community Church where my brother Mark is senior pastor. They worked with my travel schedule and this allowed me to grow as a teacher of the men and as a husband and father. I have learned that men want to be good fathers and husbands. They respond to God’s word and want practical “HOW TO”S”. I grew up with good and Godly parents and grandparents. However, I have found it is easy to stand still when as a man one needs to act and take responsibility. My heart aches for men who have not had the models and words from dad or grandpa. We hope to encourage those in your congregation.
Thanks for stopping by.

[seen at right praying with our children at Christ's Compassion Orphanage which he helped to found.]