Many Publicans and Sinners Sitting with Jesus Matthew 9:10

Matthew the apostle shared, “And as Jesus passed forth from there, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.” In chapter nine and verse ten of his book, Matthew shared how, “many publicans and sinners came and sat down with” Jesus where we read:

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans

and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and it came to pass” or “it happened, came into existence and received being”, “as Jesus” which refers to “when and at the time when Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “sat at meat” or “was leaning at a table to dine together with Matthew” “in the house” which means “within the dwelling place, edifice and abode”. Matthew shared how Jesus was seated to eat within Matthew's house.

The verse continues, “... behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.” Matthew added the word, “behold” or “lo and see”, “many publicans” which refers to “a large group of tax collectors or gatherers of taxes” “and sinners” or “and people who were especially wicked, heathen and stained with certain definite vices or crimes” “came and sat down” or “arrived, appeared and were seated and reclining to dine” “with him” which refers to “Jesus”, “and his disciples” which refers to “and Jesus' attendants, students and pupils”. Matthew shared how dinner was served in his house, and many wicked people and tax collectors came there to eat dinner with “Jesus and His disciples”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see can imagine that these “wicked people” and “tax collectors” were friends and family of Matthew. People who practice evil generally have company like themselves, and when Jesus went to Matthew's house, Matthew's people joined them at dinner time. God knows that all people need Him, and this is the reason He sent His Son Jesus to the world. Though some people may appear more “righteous” than others, the Bible is very clear, “there is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). Regardless of how wicked a person may be, Jesus desires to fellowship with them, and those who are wise shall yield to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” and allow Him to teach them how to be like He is.

Next time Matthew shares how, “why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.