The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 376

a tax-gatherer. The whole class wns hated by the Jews as symbols and instruments of IL foreign rule; they returned the hatred and contempt with which they were regarded; they exacted more than was appointed them; they were guilty, most of them perhaps, of oppression, of fraud, of unjust accusation. But if all were hated Hebrew publicans must have been looked upon with an especial hatred. They had sold themselves for gain to the detested Romans; they oppressed their own flesh and blood; they were regarded as traitors, almost as apostates. Such was Matthew, perhaps a Levite, certainly an Israelite, but a publican. 2. The summons. He was sitting at the receipt of custom, in the actual exercise of bis hated calling, as the Lord was pass- ing by, The Lord seetb not as man seeth, He bad rejected the scribe who offered to follow him; now he called the publican. His calls are not determined by class, or occupation, or race; the accidents of the outward life do not influence the choice. He searches the hearts. He said unto Matthew," Follow me." He himself is the Pattern for bis apostles, bis evangelists, his ministers. They must follow him, living in his presence; that Divine presence is the one source of strength and wisdom. They must imitate bis holy example, his humility, his unselfishness, his constraining love. They who follow nearest to him in the path of holiuess can best teach the lessons which be taught; for they learn of him deep lessons of spiritual experience; and, learn- ing themselves from the great Teacher, they can teach others the same holy lessons. The publican felt that Divine call in the depths of his soul. He arose; he left all, St. Luke tells us-bis old occupation, bis old associations and companions. He followed Christ, to be from that time wholly his, to do his will, to preach bis gospel; to write, led by the Spirit, the blessed history of his most holy life, his precious death. The publican became an apostle; he reached the highest rank in the Church of Christ. '.rhe last shall be first, and the first last. II. THE FEAST IN ms nousE. 1. The company. Matthew gave a farewell feast to his old companions. He was about to leave them now to devote himself wholly to the Saviour's service. He had known them long; be would not leave them without a token of good will, and he wished them to share, if it might be, in the great blessing which had changed the course of bis life. He made a great feast ; the Lord was the honoured Guest. He came in his condescending love, and sat down to meat in the publican's house. It was a strange gathering. Doubtless all the publicans of Caper- naum were invited, and with them came many persons of doubtful reputation-mnny whom "the religious world" stigmatized with more or less reason as "sinners." The Lord Christ, the most Holy One, so.t down among this motley throng, not counting the time wasted which was spent in social intercourse with them. It shocked all the prejudices of the time. He was recognized as a Rabbi, a great Teacher; and now be was hnzarding his reputation by mixing with these common people. He was incurring the danger of Levitical defilement; he was countenancing by bis presence hated occu- pations, unsatisfactory lives. 2. The Pharisees. They were offended. They could not have been at the feast; nothing would have induced them to eat with publicans and sinners; but they saw the company coming or going. They had not yet openly broken with our Lord; they regarded him doubtfully. He was a great Teacher, a Wonder-worker-that could not be denied; but he had said strange, bold things from time to time. He had not always followed the traditions so sacred in their eyes; and now he was outraging all their prejudices, violating all the accepted rules of religious society. They murmured against bis disciples; they had not the courage, it seems, to rebuke the Lord himself, but they asked the disciples the meaning of this strange conduct, How can he do such things? He is bringing discredit on the whole class of rabbis. Why eateth your Teacher with publicans and sinners? Your Teacher, they said. He was not theirs; they could not listen to the teaching of One who set such an example. 3. The Lord's reply. He beard the controversy; he answered for his disciples. Perhaps they were perplexed; their old habits still had IL strong hold over them. Years afterwards Peter incurred the rebuke of St. Paul for yielding to these Jewish prejudices. They knew not what to say, but the Lord answered for them. (1) "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." The words are spoken with IL Divine irony. The Pharisees were whole, strong, and well, in their own estimate of themselves; they needed no physician, so they thought. They did not come to Christ as sinners: they came, indeed, but it was from curiosity 872 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oe. IX. 1-3&.