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Matthew - Called by Jesus / Committed to Jesus · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  Matthew chapter 9, verse 9.
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  Jesus passed on from there.
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  As Jesus passed on from there,
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  ! He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth,
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  ! And he said to him,
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  follow me.
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  And he rose and followed him.
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  Matthew profiles Matthew.
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  Now, based on volume,
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  the longest autobiography written
• 0:44
  is a six-volume book called My Struggle,
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  written by a Norwegian author, Karl Ovek Nashgar.
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  The word count is approximately one million words,
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  3,600 pages long.
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  I have no idea what his struggles were,
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  but clearly he struggled with brevity.
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  But by stark contrast,
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  volume one of Matthew's autobiography
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  is no more than a brief paragraph,
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  and we have just read it.
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  Matthew 9, verse 9.
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  Around 30 words,
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  you might say no more than a snippet
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  of his life story,
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  but it is significant
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  because here,
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  Matthew profiles Matthew.
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  Here,
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  Matthew writes just a little about himself.
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  This is where Matthew tells us
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  of how Matthew came to follow
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  the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  Yes,
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  little is written,
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  but I hope,
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  as we'll discover
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  over the next half hour or so,
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  much is said.
• 2:12
  It's also one of the
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  shortest personal testimonies
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  you are likely to read,
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  but it does not lack substance.
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  I want us this morning to notice
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  that Matthew is both concise
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  and comprehensive.
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  in the details he shares.
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  We have here the vital statistics,
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  and they are indeed
• 2:38
  a significant to note.
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  There's also this.
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  I often hear people say,
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  I don't have a testimony
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  that's worth sharing.
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  Well, take some encouragement
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  from Matthew, if you will,
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  because a personal testimony
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  need not be
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  a lengthy and detailed account
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  of how we came to faith
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  in Jesus Christ.
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  The gospel writer Matthew
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  writes a very short account,
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  but it leaves a lasting impression
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  on the reader,
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  does it not?
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  So where are we going with this today?
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  Well, we're going to assess
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  here in verse 9,
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  just this one verse,
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  how this significant development
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  unfolds.
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  We're also going to explore
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  what we might glean from it,
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  from a missional
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  and theological perspective.
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  So we're coming to this
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  under two headings.
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  Matthew called by Jesus.
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  Matthew committed
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  to Jesus.
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  So let's begin
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  by looking at how
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  Matthew
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  was called
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  by Jesus.
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  Now,
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  the first thing I want us
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  to notice
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  is that the Lord Jesus
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  is always,
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  always strategic
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  in his work
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  and ministry.
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  The Lord Jesus
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  is always
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  missional.
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  You see that
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  across the landscape
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  of the four gospels,
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  Matthew, Mark,
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  Luke, and John.
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  What I mean by this
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  is that we never see
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  Jesus wandering aimlessly
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  from place to place.
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  Verse 9 begins,
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  as Jesus passed on,
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  or you might
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  put it another way,
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  or as Jesus went on
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  from there,
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  as he passed on
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  from there.
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  That implies
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  a predetermined
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  divine plan,
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  all of which
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  revolves around
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  fulfilling
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  God the Father's
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  redemptive
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  purposes.
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  We have here
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  the unfolding.
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  It's a work in progress.
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  We call it
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  the plan
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  of salvation,
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  and it is being
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  fulfilled here
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  in a very personal way
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  at a tax
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  collector's
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  booth.
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  note, too,
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  in John 4,
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  4,
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  John tells us
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  of how Jesus
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  had to go
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  through Samaria
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  to engage
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  with a much
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  despised
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  Samaritan woman
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  at Jacob's
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  well.
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  So,
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  in a very similar
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  vein,
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  Matthew is telling
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  us here
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  that Jesus
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  had to walk
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  by the
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  Sea of
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  Galilee.
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  Luke tells us,
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  Luke gives us
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  more geography
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  in his
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  account
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  of Matthew's
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  incident.
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  So,
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  he had to
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  walk by
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  the Sea of
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  Galilee
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  to engage
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  with Matthew
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  at this
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  local
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  tax booth.
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  And it is
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  there
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  that Jesus
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  calls
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  the writer
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  of this
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  gospel,
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  a tax
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  collector
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  whose name
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  is Levi,
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  surnamed
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  Matthew,
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  the name
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  by which
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  he is
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  widely
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  known,
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  of course,
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  in the
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  early
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  church.
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  So,
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  what is
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  so significant
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  about this
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  tax booth,
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  this tax
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  point?
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  Well,
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  this is
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  Matthew's
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  workstation
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  that we're
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  being introduced
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  to here.
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  It's his
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  office.
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  The shores
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  of Galilee
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  and the
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  surrounding
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  areas are
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  his province,
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  his domain,
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  his catchment
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  area.
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  Now,
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  I want to
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  emphasize that
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  this is
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  not,
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  and it's
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  very apparent
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  to see this,
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  of course,
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  the evidence
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  is before us,
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  this is not
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  an Acts
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  9,
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  road to
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  Damascus,
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  explosive
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  conversion
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  account,
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  far from it.
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  There is
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  very little
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  drama
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  about
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  Matthew's
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  story.
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  And again,
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  perhaps we
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  can draw
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  some crumbs
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  of encouragement
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  from that
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  point,
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  because is it
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  not reassuring
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  for anyone
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  here today,
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  whoever you
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  are.
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  Maybe it
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  is the
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  case that
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  you are
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  waiting,
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  waiting for
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  the drama
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  to unfold,
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  waiting for
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  an earth-shattering
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  development to
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  happen to you
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  before you
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  become a
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  follower of
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  Jesus Christ.
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  Well,
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  let me say to
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  you,
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  I know in
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  certain terms,
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  that's not
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  how it
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  works.
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  There are
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  exceptions to
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  the rule,
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  but we are
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  exploring the
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  rule.
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  Across the
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  landscape of
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  Scripture,
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  you will find
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  that there
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  are multiple
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  conversions
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  that are
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  uneventful.
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  people.
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  Let me
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  take you
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  back to
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  the pages
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  of the
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  Old Testament
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  to 1
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  Kings 19
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  9.
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  It's that
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  very significant
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  moment where
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  the Lord
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  spoke to
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  Elijah.
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  How did
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  that happen?
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  Well, the
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  Bible tells
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  us that it
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  wasn't in
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  a hurricane
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  force wind.
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  No,
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  God's voice
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  is absent.
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  It wasn't
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  in an
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  earthquake,
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  and it
• 8:24
  wasn't in
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  the fire.
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  It came
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  in the
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  sound of
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  a low
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  whisper,
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  a still,
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  small
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  voice.
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  Maybe
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  that's how
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  God is
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  speaking to
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  you today.
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  I pray
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  that you
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  will hear
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  His
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  still,
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  small,
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  low
• 8:47
  whisper,
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  because when
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  you do,
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  it will
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  be loud
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  enough
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  to
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  rattle
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  you.
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  This is
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  the dynamic
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  of Matthew
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  9.
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  9.
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  It's all
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  very
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  ordinary.
• 9:02
  So you
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  might say
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  it's just
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  another day
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  at the
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  tax collector's
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  booth for
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  Matthew.
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  He's engaged
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  in his
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  work,
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  pen to
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  hand,
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  applying and
• 9:09
  collecting
• 9:10
  taxes
• 9:10
  accordingly
• 9:11
  from those
• 9:12
  who are
• 9:12
  under his
• 9:13
  jurisdiction.
• 9:15
  But verse
• 9:15
  9 really
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  is a
• 9:18
  turning
• 9:18
  point.
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  So what
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  is the
• 9:22
  turning
• 9:22
  point in
• 9:23
  this verse?
• 9:23
  Well,
• 9:23
  it revolves,
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  of course,
• 9:25
  around the
• 9:26
  Lord Jesus.
• 9:27
  We see
• 9:27
  Him walking
• 9:28
  along,
• 9:28
  He's
• 9:29
  passing
• 9:29
  by,
• 9:30
  and it's
• 9:30
  not by
• 9:31
  coincidence.
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  Coincidence
• 9:34
  is not a
• 9:35
  word you'll
• 9:36
  find in the
• 9:36
  vocabulary of
• 9:37
  divine
• 9:38
  providence.
• 9:40
  This is by
• 9:41
  divine
• 9:42
  appointment.
• 9:43
  Jesus is
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  seeking out
• 9:46
  disciples,
• 9:47
  and He
• 9:48
  calls
• 9:49
  Matthew.
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  I want
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  us to
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  notice here
• 9:52
  how Jesus
• 9:53
  singles him
• 9:54
  out,
• 9:55
  just as He
• 9:56
  called Simon
• 9:57
  and Andrew
• 9:58
  and James
• 9:58
  and John
• 9:59
  back in
• 10:00
  chapter 4,
• 10:01
  with the
• 10:01
  exact same
• 10:03
  formula,
• 10:04
  and it's a
• 10:05
  recurring formula
• 10:06
  on the pages
• 10:06
  of the gospel.
• 10:07
  You will find
• 10:08
  it time and
• 10:09
  time again,
• 10:09
  just two
• 10:10
  words,
• 10:11
  follow me.
• 10:14
  But much,
• 10:15
  much more
• 10:15
  than just
• 10:15
  two words,
• 10:17
  there's
• 10:17
  something very
• 10:18
  personal,
• 10:19
  something very
• 10:19
  persuasive,
• 10:20
  and indeed
• 10:21
  powerful about
• 10:22
  this formula,
• 10:24
  as we'll see
• 10:24
  in a moment.
• 10:26
  So,
• 10:27
  let's ask the
• 10:27
  question,
• 10:28
  what do we
• 10:28
  know about
• 10:29
  Matthew?
• 10:31
  Well,
• 10:31
  at this stage,
• 10:32
  not a lot
• 10:33
  other than
• 10:34
  his father's
• 10:36
  name.
• 10:37
  Mark tells
• 10:37
  us in Mark
• 10:38
  2 that
• 10:39
  Matthew,
• 10:39
  Levi,
• 10:40
  is the
• 10:40
  son of
• 10:41
  Alphaeus,
• 10:43
  but Matthew,
• 10:45
  Mark,
• 10:45
  and Luke,
• 10:46
  the three
• 10:46
  gospel writers
• 10:47
  who profile
• 10:48
  this incident,
• 10:49
  tell us that
• 10:50
  Matthew is
• 10:52
  a tax
• 10:54
  collector,
• 10:54
  and that's
• 10:55
  arguably not
• 10:56
  the best
• 10:57
  introduction
• 10:58
  by way of
• 11:00
  public
• 11:01
  perception,
• 11:02
  at least
• 11:02
  back in
• 11:04
  the first
• 11:04
  century world.
• 11:06
  Think of
• 11:07
  Matthew as
• 11:09
  a New
• 11:10
  Testament,
• 11:10
  a New
• 11:10
  Testament,
• 11:11
  Naaman.
• 11:13
  Who was
• 11:13
  Naaman?
• 11:14
  2 Kings
• 11:15
  chapter 5,
• 11:16
  verse 1,
• 11:17
  we're introduced
• 11:18
  to this
• 11:18
  high-profile
• 11:20
  figure,
• 11:21
  a man of
• 11:22
  status.
• 11:23
  He's introduced
• 11:24
  as the commander
• 11:25
  of the army
• 11:26
  of the king
• 11:26
  of Syria,
• 11:28
  a great man,
• 11:29
  the Bible tells
• 11:30
  us,
• 11:30
  highly regarded,
• 11:31
  a man
• 11:32
  of valor,
• 11:35
  indeed a
• 11:36
  mighty man
• 11:37
  of valor,
• 11:38
  but,
• 11:39
  but,
• 11:40
  he was
• 11:43
  a leper.
• 11:47
  You see,
• 11:48
  Matthew has
• 11:49
  the leprosy
• 11:51
  factor.
• 11:53
  Yes,
• 11:53
  he has a
• 11:54
  respective
• 11:55
  pedigree,
• 11:56
  but he
• 11:57
  was
• 11:58
  a tax
• 12:00
  collector.
• 12:03
  The King
• 12:04
  James
• 12:05
  version uses
• 12:06
  the word
• 12:07
  publican.
• 12:09
  He was a
• 12:10
  publican,
• 12:11
  a man
• 12:12
  much
• 12:13
  despised
• 12:14
  who farmed
• 12:15
  public
• 12:16
  revenue
• 12:16
  with greed
• 12:17
  and
• 12:18
  unfairness.
• 12:20
  Names
• 12:21
  stick,
• 12:24
  just like
• 12:24
  Naaman the
• 12:25
  leper,
• 12:26
  so,
• 12:27
  Matthew the
• 12:27
  tax
• 12:28
  collector
• 12:28
  is not
• 12:29
  without
• 12:29
  stigma.
• 12:32
  Indeed,
• 12:33
  just like
• 12:33
  the leper,
• 12:34
  we meet
• 12:34
  back in
• 12:35
  chapter 8,
• 12:36
  in the
• 12:36
  previous
• 12:36
  chapter,
• 12:37
  it's how
• 12:37
  the chapter
• 12:38
  begins,
• 12:39
  Jesus
• 12:40
  cleanses
• 12:41
  a letter,
• 12:42
  well,
• 12:42
  just like
• 12:42
  the leper,
• 12:45
  a Jewish
• 12:46
  tax
• 12:46
  collector
• 12:47
  like
• 12:47
  Matthew
• 12:48
  was
• 12:48
  labelled
• 12:49
  ceremonially
• 12:50
  unclean,
• 12:53
  thought of
• 12:53
  generally as
• 12:54
  a filthy,
• 12:56
  meddling,
• 12:56
  middleman,
• 12:57
  of ill
• 12:58
  repute.
• 13:00
  Think of
• 13:01
  Matthew as
• 13:02
  a traitor
• 13:02
  who has
• 13:03
  very few
• 13:03
  friends.
• 13:05
  Here is
• 13:05
  someone who
• 13:06
  collaborates
• 13:07
  with Rome,
• 13:09
  collecting
• 13:09
  taxes on
• 13:10
  behalf of
• 13:11
  the empire,
• 13:12
  that's his
• 13:12
  day job.
• 13:13
  He's less
• 13:14
  than patriotic,
• 13:16
  we see him
• 13:16
  working here
• 13:17
  under Roman
• 13:18
  duress,
• 13:19
  offering a
• 13:19
  toll booth
• 13:20
  for Herod
• 13:21
  Antipas,
• 13:22
  the tetra
• 13:23
  of Galilee.
• 13:25
  You see,
• 13:26
  Matthew is
• 13:26
  also frowned
• 13:28
  upon by
• 13:29
  the religious
• 13:29
  leaders,
• 13:30
  the scribes
• 13:31
  and the
• 13:32
  Pharisees,
• 13:33
  who are
• 13:33
  always
• 13:34
  prowling
• 13:35
  around.
• 13:36
  They see
• 13:36
  him as a
• 13:36
  defector
• 13:37
  and as
• 13:38
  an apostate.
• 13:40
  The
• 13:40
  taxation
• 13:41
  system back
• 13:42
  then was
• 13:43
  corrupt
• 13:43
  and was
• 13:44
  considered
• 13:45
  fraudulent
• 13:46
  at the best
• 13:47
  of times.
• 13:49
  Many tax
• 13:50
  collectors
• 13:51
  pocketed
• 13:52
  commission,
• 13:54
  inflation,
• 13:54
  inflated
• 13:55
  payments
• 13:56
  from the
• 13:57
  taxes
• 13:58
  themselves.
• 14:01
  Cue
• 14:01
  Zacchaeus,
• 14:04
  the chief
• 14:05
  tax collector
• 14:06
  of Jericho.
• 14:08
  He's profiled
• 14:09
  in Luke
• 14:09
  chapter 19,
• 14:11
  so you might
• 14:11
  say,
• 14:12
  Matthew,
• 14:13
  Zacchaeus,
• 14:14
  birds of a
• 14:15
  feather.
• 14:17
  So whether
• 14:17
  Matthew did
• 14:18
  or not,
• 14:20
  whether he
• 14:21
  was an
• 14:22
  embezzler
• 14:23
  or not,
• 14:24
  he would
• 14:24
  have been
• 14:24
  tarred with
• 14:25
  the same
• 14:26
  brush as
• 14:27
  his fellow
• 14:28
  tax collectors,
• 14:29
  a fraudster,
• 14:30
  a swindler.
• 14:31
  This negative
• 14:32
  state of
• 14:32
  status went
• 14:33
  before him.
• 14:34
  He couldn't
• 14:35
  shake it off.
• 14:36
  He was
• 14:37
  guilty by
• 14:38
  association.
• 14:39
  the Jews
• 14:41
  who,
• 14:42
  this is a
• 14:43
  Jew who
• 14:43
  interacts
• 14:44
  with Gentiles,
• 14:46
  non-Jews,
• 14:47
  and is
• 14:47
  hated by
• 14:48
  his fellow
• 14:49
  Jews,
• 14:50
  branded
• 14:51
  unclean.
• 14:53
  His home
• 14:53
  is even
• 14:54
  labeled
• 14:54
  unclean.
• 14:56
  We'll say
• 14:56
  no more
• 14:56
  about that
• 14:57
  because tonight
• 14:58
  we're going
• 14:59
  to be spending
• 14:59
  time in
• 15:00
  Matthew's
• 15:02
  home.
• 15:02
  Then,
• 15:03
  then,
• 15:05
  along
• 15:05
  comes
• 15:06
  Jesus.
• 15:07
  We're going
• 15:08
  to pause
• 15:08
  at this
• 15:09
  point because
• 15:09
  it is
• 15:10
  significant,
• 15:10
  is it
• 15:11
  not,
• 15:11
  that Jesus
• 15:11
  does not
• 15:13
  pass him
• 15:14
  by.
• 15:15
  We don't
• 15:15
  see Jesus
• 15:16
  tutting,
• 15:17
  shaking his
• 15:18
  head in
• 15:19
  judgment at
• 15:20
  Matthew.
• 15:21
  Neither does
• 15:22
  he give him
• 15:22
  a wide
• 15:23
  berth or a
• 15:24
  disparaging
• 15:25
  glance as
• 15:25
  many others
• 15:26
  would have.
• 15:27
  I want us
• 15:28
  to notice
• 15:29
  something very,
• 15:30
  very significant
• 15:31
  twofold in
• 15:32
  this verse.
• 15:35
  Matthew
• 15:36
  tells us
• 15:37
  that Jesus
• 15:38
  saw
• 15:39
  Matthew.
• 15:42
  In the
• 15:43
  original language
• 15:44
  of the New
• 15:44
  Testament,
• 15:45
  in the
• 15:45
  Greek
• 15:46
  tongue,
• 15:48
  this word
• 15:50
  saw
• 15:51
  means so
• 15:52
  much more
• 15:52
  than just
• 15:54
  a passing
• 15:55
  glance.
• 15:56
  This word
• 15:57
  means that
• 15:59
  Jesus
• 15:59
  noticed
• 16:01
  Matthew.
• 16:03
  Jesus
• 16:04
  observes
• 16:05
  Matthew.
• 16:06
  Jesus
• 16:07
  pays
• 16:08
  attention
• 16:09
  to
• 16:09
  Matthew.
• 16:11
  This word
• 16:12
  saw
• 16:12
  implies
• 16:13
  scrutiny.
• 16:15
  This is
• 16:16
  the language
• 16:17
  of a
• 16:17
  fixed
• 16:18
  gaze.
• 16:20
  Matthew
• 16:20
  is the
• 16:21
  focal point,
• 16:23
  and he
• 16:24
  has the
• 16:24
  attention
• 16:25
  of the
• 16:26
  Lord Jesus.
• 16:27
  But not
• 16:28
  only that,
• 16:29
  I want us
• 16:29
  to notice
• 16:29
  too that
• 16:30
  Jesus
• 16:31
  said.
• 16:32
  this
• 16:35
  implies
• 16:36
  very,
• 16:37
  very
• 16:37
  clearly
• 16:37
  that
• 16:38
  Jesus
• 16:38
  spoke
• 16:38
  directly,
• 16:39
  spoke
• 16:40
  audibly,
• 16:41
  and with
• 16:41
  clarity
• 16:42
  to
• 16:43
  Matthew.
• 16:44
  This
• 16:45
  implies
• 16:45
  direct
• 16:46
  eye
• 16:47
  contact.
• 16:48
  And
• 16:48
  isn't the
• 16:49
  Lord Jesus
• 16:50
  to the
• 16:50
  point?
• 16:51
  With
• 16:52
  forthright,
• 16:54
  upfront
• 16:54
  language,
• 16:55
  he calls
• 16:56
  Matthew,
• 16:57
  just as
• 16:59
  he called
• 16:59
  the
• 16:59
  Galilean
• 17:00
  fishermen
• 17:01
  we read
• 17:02
  of back
• 17:02
  in chapter
• 17:03
  4.
• 17:04
  And all
• 17:04
  of this
• 17:05
  is in
• 17:06
  the
• 17:06
  imperative
• 17:07
  mood.
• 17:08
  The
• 17:08
  verb
• 17:09
  follow
• 17:10
  me
• 17:10
  is
• 17:11
  imperative,
• 17:13
  is it
• 17:14
  not?
• 17:14
  His
• 17:14
  calling
• 17:15
  is radical,
• 17:17
  it's
• 17:17
  compelling,
• 17:18
  it's
• 17:18
  absolute,
• 17:19
  but it's
• 17:20
  also
• 17:20
  effective
• 17:22
  and
• 17:23
  it's
• 17:25
  effectual.
• 17:27
  just
• 17:30
  two
• 17:30
  words,
• 17:32
  follow
• 17:33
  me.
• 17:36
  Here
• 17:37
  we see
• 17:37
  something
• 17:38
  of the
• 17:38
  word
• 17:38
  of his
• 17:39
  power.
• 17:41
  This
• 17:42
  much
• 17:42
  discriminated
• 17:43
  against
• 17:44
  tax
• 17:45
  collector
• 17:45
  who is
• 17:47
  barred
• 17:48
  from the
• 17:48
  synagogue,
• 17:50
  there is
• 17:51
  no place
• 17:52
  reserved
• 17:52
  for Matthew
• 17:53
  in the
• 17:53
  temple,
• 17:54
  it's an
• 17:54
  exclusion
• 17:55
  zone as
• 17:56
  far as
• 17:56
  he is
• 17:57
  concerned,
• 17:57
  because of
• 17:59
  who he
• 17:59
  is and
• 17:59
  what he
• 18:00
  does,
• 18:00
  he is
• 18:00
  unclean,
• 18:01
  he is
• 18:01
  vile,
• 18:02
  he is
• 18:02
  a
• 18:02
  despicable
• 18:03
  Jew
• 18:04
  who is
• 18:04
  barred
• 18:05
  from all
• 18:06
  of the
• 18:06
  above.
• 18:07
  You are
• 18:07
  not
• 18:08
  welcome
• 18:08
  here,
• 18:09
  Matthew,
• 18:09
  but how
• 18:10
  encouraging,
• 18:11
  how
• 18:11
  uplifting,
• 18:12
  how
• 18:12
  reassuring
• 18:13
  to read
• 18:14
  of what
• 18:14
  unfolds
• 18:15
  next.
• 18:16
  The
• 18:17
  living
• 18:17
  temple
• 18:18
  in the
• 18:19
  person
• 18:20
  of
• 18:20
  Jesus
• 18:21
  Christ
• 18:22
  comes
• 18:23
  to
• 18:23
  Matthew.
• 18:24
  Yes,
• 18:25
  he calls
• 18:26
  this
• 18:26
  much
• 18:27
  reviled
• 18:28
  character
• 18:29
  and does
• 18:30
  so
• 18:30
  without
• 18:31
  discrimination
• 18:32
  and without
• 18:33
  prejudice.
• 18:36
  Jesus of
• 18:37
  Nazareth
• 18:37
  is the
• 18:38
  definitive
• 18:39
  good
• 18:40
  Samaritan.
• 18:41
  We see him
• 18:42
  here while
• 18:43
  others pass
• 18:43
  by and look
• 18:45
  the other
• 18:45
  way.
• 18:46
  Jesus looks
• 18:47
  directly at
• 18:48
  Matthew and
• 18:49
  engages with
• 18:50
  Matthew and
• 18:51
  with compassion
• 18:52
  and with
• 18:53
  tender mercy
• 18:54
  he speaks
• 18:55
  directly to
• 18:56
  him and
• 18:57
  draws his
• 18:59
  attention to
• 19:00
  himself.
• 19:00
  Isn't that
• 19:01
  beautiful?
• 19:05
  Matthew
• 19:05
  highlights,
• 19:06
  doesn't he,
• 19:07
  that Jesus
• 19:07
  is particularly
• 19:09
  interested in
• 19:10
  individuals.
• 19:15
  His
• 19:16
  ministry is
• 19:17
  full of
• 19:18
  personal
• 19:18
  encounters.
• 19:20
  Maybe some
• 19:21
  of us need
• 19:21
  to take
• 19:22
  note of
• 19:23
  that today.
• 19:24
  He
• 19:25
  pursues
• 19:26
  Matthew
• 19:27
  as he
• 19:28
  pursued
• 19:29
  you and
• 19:29
  I as
• 19:30
  followers
• 19:30
  of Jesus
• 19:31
  Christ.
• 19:32
  He
• 19:33
  finds
• 19:34
  Matthew
• 19:34
  and others
• 19:36
  like him
• 19:37
  and he
• 19:38
  touches
• 19:38
  and transforms
• 19:39
  their lives
• 19:40
  one after
• 19:41
  another.
• 19:43
  I mean,
• 19:43
  if we just
• 19:44
  go back
• 19:44
  to the
• 19:45
  previous
• 19:45
  chapter,
• 19:47
  chapter 8,
• 19:47
  verse 1,
• 19:48
  navigate your
• 19:49
  way through
• 19:49
  it.
• 19:51
  It's
• 19:52
  incredible.
• 19:53
  First of
• 19:53
  all, he
• 19:55
  brings
• 19:55
  cleansing to
• 19:56
  a leper.
• 19:58
  Then we
• 19:58
  have the
• 19:59
  encounter
• 19:59
  with the
• 20:00
  centurion's
• 20:01
  servant.
• 20:02
  Then Peter's
• 20:03
  mother-in-law.
• 20:05
  Then two
• 20:06
  demon-possessed
• 20:07
  men.
• 20:08
  And then as
• 20:08
  we transition
• 20:09
  into chapter
• 20:10
  9, the
• 20:11
  paralytic.
• 20:12
  there's a
• 20:16
  personal
• 20:16
  perspective to
• 20:17
  the gospel.
• 20:19
  Jesus
• 20:20
  continues to
• 20:21
  touch and
• 20:22
  to transform
• 20:23
  one life
• 20:24
  after another
• 20:25
  until he
• 20:26
  gathers all
• 20:27
  the lost
• 20:28
  sheep of
• 20:28
  the house
• 20:29
  of Israel
• 20:30
  one by
• 20:30
  one as
• 20:31
  one flock
• 20:32
  in one
• 20:34
  fold
• 20:34
  under one
• 20:36
  shepherd.
• 20:36
  So I want
• 20:37
  you today to
• 20:37
  take encouragement
• 20:38
  from Matthew.
• 20:39
  Jesus
• 20:40
  continues to
• 20:41
  call individuals
• 20:42
  like you
• 20:43
  and I
• 20:44
  with the
• 20:44
  same
• 20:45
  vocabulary,
• 20:46
  the same
• 20:47
  formula,
• 20:48
  follow me.
• 20:50
  And this
• 20:51
  discipleship
• 20:52
  formula has
• 20:53
  lost nothing,
• 20:54
  nothing of
• 20:55
  its thrust
• 20:56
  2,000 years
• 20:58
  later.
• 21:00
  This
• 21:01
  same
• 21:02
  Jesus may
• 21:02
  well be
• 21:03
  calling you
• 21:04
  today
• 21:04
  from a
• 21:06
  very personal
• 21:07
  perspective.
• 21:08
  And if he
• 21:08
  is, you
• 21:09
  too will
• 21:09
  sense that
• 21:10
  it's
• 21:10
  personal,
• 21:11
  it's
• 21:11
  persuasive,
• 21:12
  and it's
• 21:13
  powerful.
• 21:15
  I want to
• 21:15
  remind you
• 21:16
  today that
• 21:16
  Jesus sees
• 21:18
  you.
• 21:19
  He knows
• 21:20
  you.
• 21:22
  And he
• 21:23
  is speaking
• 21:24
  to you
• 21:24
  now through
• 21:25
  his word,
• 21:27
  through the
• 21:27
  message of
• 21:28
  the gospel
• 21:28
  as he
• 21:29
  passes by.
• 21:31
  And you
• 21:32
  would do
• 21:32
  well to
• 21:33
  listen.
• 21:35
  Take
• 21:35
  encouragement
• 21:36
  too.
• 21:37
  if you
• 21:39
  struggle
• 21:39
  today with
• 21:40
  negativity.
• 21:43
  The
• 21:43
  gospels
• 21:44
  tackle
• 21:44
  negative
• 21:45
  perception
• 21:46
  head-on.
• 21:48
  You may
• 21:48
  well be
• 21:48
  afraid of
• 21:49
  how you
• 21:50
  are
• 21:50
  perceived
• 21:51
  by
• 21:51
  others.
• 21:53
  Maybe
• 21:54
  your past
• 21:54
  haunts
• 21:55
  you.
• 21:56
  Maybe
• 21:56
  there's
• 21:56
  some
• 21:56
  dark
• 21:57
  matter
• 21:57
  there
• 21:58
  that
• 21:58
  you
• 21:58
  have
• 21:58
  trouble
• 21:59
  erasing.
• 21:59
  your life
• 22:02
  is full
• 22:02
  of trigger
• 22:03
  points.
• 22:06
  Matthew
• 22:06
  may well
• 22:07
  have been
• 22:07
  an
• 22:08
  embezzler
• 22:08
  or
• 22:10
  label
• 22:10
  such.
• 22:11
  How does
• 22:11
  he shake
• 22:11
  it off?
• 22:12
  Well,
• 22:13
  perhaps he
• 22:13
  had tried
• 22:14
  but has
• 22:16
  probably
• 22:17
  resigned
• 22:18
  to being
• 22:18
  branded
• 22:19
  a
• 22:19
  publican.
• 22:21
  But
• 22:21
  Jesus
• 22:22
  intervenes
• 22:23
  where
• 22:23
  others
• 22:24
  might
• 22:25
  ignore
• 22:25
  and
• 22:26
  snub
• 22:26
  Matthew,
• 22:27
  write him
• 22:28
  off
• 22:28
  and he
• 22:29
  calls
• 22:30
  them
• 22:30
  to
• 22:31
  himself.
• 22:32
  He
• 22:32
  does
• 22:33
  so
• 22:33
  mercifully.
• 22:36
  He
• 22:36
  has
• 22:36
  mercy
• 22:37
  on
• 22:37
  him
• 22:38
  and
• 22:38
  he
• 22:39
  will
• 22:39
  have
• 22:39
  mercy
• 22:40
  on
• 22:40
  you
• 22:40
  too.
• 22:41
  Stand
• 22:41
  next
• 22:42
  to
• 22:42
  Matthew
• 22:42
  if
• 22:43
  you
• 22:43
  will.
• 22:44
  This
• 22:45
  is
• 22:45
  life
• 22:45
  changing.
• 22:47
  He
• 22:47
  may
• 22:47
  be
• 22:47
  calling
• 22:48
  out
• 22:48
  to
• 22:48
  you
• 22:49
  today
• 22:49
  come
• 22:50
  to
• 22:50
  Jesus
• 22:50
  because
• 22:52
  he
• 22:52
  says
• 22:52
  whoever
• 22:52
  comes
• 22:53
  to
• 22:53
  me
• 22:54
  I
• 22:54
  will
• 22:55
  never
• 22:55
  drive
• 22:57
  that
• 22:57
  individual
• 22:58
  away.
• 23:02
  And
• 23:02
  then
• 23:02
  there
• 23:03
  may
• 23:03
  be
• 23:03
  some
• 23:03
  of
• 23:03
  us
• 23:04
  who
• 23:04
  are
• 23:04
  inclined
• 23:05
  to
• 23:05
  shelve
• 23:06
  to
• 23:07
  procrastinate
• 23:08
  and
• 23:09
  to
• 23:09
  say
• 23:10
  tomorrow
• 23:10
  will
• 23:10
  do
• 23:11
  or
• 23:11
  I'll
• 23:11
  revisit
• 23:12
  this
• 23:12
  next
• 23:13
  Sunday.
• 23:15
  Today
• 23:16
  if
• 23:17
  you
• 23:18
  hear
• 23:18
  his
• 23:19
  voice
• 23:19
  the
• 23:19
  Bible
• 23:20
  says
• 23:20
  do
• 23:21
  not
• 23:21
  harden
• 23:22
  your
• 23:22
  hearts
• 23:23
  do
• 23:24
  not
• 23:24
  harden
• 23:25
  your
• 23:25
  hearts
• 23:26
  yes
• 23:27
  it's
• 23:29
  a matter
• 23:29
  of the
• 23:29
  heart
• 23:30
  which
• 23:33
  takes
• 23:33
  us
• 23:33
  to
• 23:33
  the
• 23:34
  heart
• 23:34
  of
• 23:35
  the
• 23:35
  matter
• 23:36
  secondly
• 23:37
  !
• 23:37
  briefly
• 23:38
  Matthew
• 23:40
  committed
• 23:41
  to
• 23:41
  Jesus
• 23:42
  how does
• 23:46
  Matthew
• 23:47
  respond?
• 23:47
  well in
• 23:51
  just a few
• 23:51
  words
• 23:52
  it's
• 23:54
  what you
• 23:54
  might
• 23:55
  call a
• 23:55
  one-liner
• 23:56
  Matthew
• 23:56
  himself
• 23:57
  tells us
• 23:57
  Matthew
• 23:58
  rose
• 23:59
  Matthew
• 23:59
  got up
• 24:00
  and
• 24:00
  followed
• 24:01
  him
• 24:02
  followed
• 24:02
  Jesus
• 24:03
  he does
• 24:03
  so with
• 24:04
  submission
• 24:04
  he does
• 24:05
  so with
• 24:05
  obedience
• 24:06
  he does
• 24:06
  so with
• 24:07
  self-denial
• 24:08
  he commits
• 24:09
  and he
• 24:11
  does so
• 24:11
  by
• 24:12
  faith
• 24:13
  and he
• 24:15
  does so
• 24:16
  immediately
• 24:17
  the
• 24:20
  radical
• 24:20
  effectual
• 24:21
  call
• 24:22
  of
• 24:22
  Jesus
• 24:23
  is
• 24:23
  met
• 24:24
  here
• 24:24
  by
• 24:24
  unconditional
• 24:25
  obedience
• 24:26
  it's
• 24:27
  so
• 24:27
  important
• 24:27
  for us
• 24:28
  to
• 24:28
  note
• 24:28
  that
• 24:29
  he
• 24:29
  rose
• 24:30
  there
• 24:30
  and
• 24:30
  then
• 24:30
  he
• 24:31
  stood
• 24:31
  and
• 24:32
  relinquishes
• 24:33
  his
• 24:33
  position
• 24:34
  severs
• 24:35
  his
• 24:35
  ties
• 24:36
  with
• 24:36
  the
• 24:36
  taxation
• 24:37
  system
• 24:37
  that's
• 24:38
  his
• 24:38
  main
• 24:38
  source
• 24:39
  of
• 24:39
  income
• 24:39
  and
• 24:40
  he
• 24:40
  follows
• 24:41
  Jesus
• 24:41
  what
• 24:42
  does
• 24:42
  this
• 24:42
  tell
• 24:42
  us
• 24:43
  it's
• 24:43
  the
• 24:43
  core
• 24:44
  of
• 24:44
  discipleship
• 24:45
  Christian
• 24:45
  discipleship
• 24:46
  to
• 24:47
  follow
• 24:47
  one
• 24:48
  must
• 24:49
  forsake
• 24:49
  that
• 24:50
  is the
• 24:50
  essence
• 24:50
  of
• 24:51
  faith
• 24:51
  forsaking
• 24:52
  all
• 24:52
  I
• 24:53
  trust
• 24:53
  him
• 24:53
  Matthew
• 24:55
  does
• 24:55
  that
• 24:56
  in
• 24:59
  fact
• 24:59
  Luke
• 24:59
  tells
• 25:00
  us
• 25:00
  in
• 25:00
  his
• 25:00
  account
• 25:01
  in
• 25:01
  Luke
• 25:01
  5
• 25:02
  28
• 25:02
  that
• 25:03
  Matthew
• 25:03
  left
• 25:04
  everything
• 25:05
  behind
• 25:06
  and
• 25:07
  got up
• 25:08
  and
• 25:08
  followed
• 25:09
  Jesus
• 25:09
  what
• 25:11
  does
• 25:11
  all of
• 25:12
  this
• 25:12
  convey
• 25:13
  to
• 25:13
  us
• 25:13
  from
• 25:13
  a
• 25:14
  theological
• 25:14
  perspective
• 25:15
  well the
• 25:17
  key word
• 25:18
  must be
• 25:18
  grace
• 25:19
  sovereign
• 25:21
  grace
• 25:22
  irresistible
• 25:23
  grace
• 25:24
  faith
• 25:25
  and
• 25:25
  repentance
• 25:26
  all of
• 25:27
  the above
• 25:28
  yes
• 25:29
  we see
• 25:31
  here some
• 25:32
  key aspects
• 25:33
  of the
• 25:34
  doctrines
• 25:34
  of salvation
• 25:35
  Matthew
• 25:36
  is not
• 25:36
  explicit
• 25:37
  but he
• 25:37
  is
• 25:38
  implicit
• 25:38
  so here
• 25:41
  in verse
• 25:41
  9
• 25:41
  it's
• 25:42
  not
• 25:42
  insignificant
• 25:43
  that
• 25:43
  moments
• 25:44
  ago
• 25:44
  Matthew
• 25:45
  was
• 25:46
  seen
• 25:47
  sitting
• 25:48
  welded
• 25:49
  to the
• 25:50
  tax
• 25:51
  collectors
• 25:53
  booth
• 25:53
  and now
• 25:54
  he's
• 25:54
  on his
• 25:55
  feet
• 25:55
  in
• 25:57
  response
• 25:57
  to the
• 25:58
  words
• 25:58
  of
• 25:59
  Jesus
• 25:59
  just
• 26:00
  two
• 26:00
  words
• 26:01
  follow
• 26:01
  me
• 26:01
  he
• 26:02
  rose
• 26:03
  and
• 26:03
  followed
• 26:04
  Jesus
• 26:05
  sitting
• 26:06
  speaks
• 26:07
  of
• 26:07
  someone
• 26:08
  who
• 26:08
  is
• 26:09
  inactive
• 26:10
  standing
• 26:12
  pursuing
• 26:14
  Jesus
• 26:14
  speaks
• 26:15
  of
• 26:16
  someone
• 26:16
  who
• 26:16
  is
• 26:16
  suddenly
• 26:17
  proactive
• 26:18
  so there's
• 26:20
  more than a
• 26:21
  change of
• 26:21
  circumstances
• 26:22
  being alluded
• 26:23
  to here
• 26:24
  there's a
• 26:25
  radical
• 26:25
  shift
• 26:26
  of
• 26:26
  emphasis
• 26:27
  from
• 26:28
  negative
• 26:28
  to
• 26:29
  positive
• 26:30
  it's
• 26:30
  quite
• 26:30
  compelling
• 26:31
  indeed
• 26:31
  it captures
• 26:32
  something
• 26:33
  of the
• 26:33
  dynamic
• 26:34
  of the
• 26:34
  40th
• 26:35
  psalm
• 26:36
  and on
• 26:37
  a
• 26:37
  rock
• 26:38
  he
• 26:38
  set
• 26:39
  my
• 26:39
  feet
• 26:40
  moments
• 26:41
  ago
• 26:41
  languishing
• 26:42
  in the
• 26:43
  pit
• 26:44
  now
• 26:45
  he
• 26:46
  has
• 26:46
  found
• 26:46
  his
• 26:47
  feet
• 26:47
  in
• 26:48
  and
• 26:49
  through
• 26:49
  the
• 26:50
  Lord
• 26:50
  Jesus
• 26:50
  Christ
• 26:51
  his
• 26:52
  getting
• 26:52
  up
• 26:53
  implies
• 26:54
  conviction
• 26:55
  conviction
• 26:55
  of
• 26:56
  what
• 26:56
  well
• 26:57
  surely
• 26:58
  of a
• 26:58
  sin
• 26:59
  of a
• 27:00
  felt
• 27:00
  sense
• 27:00
  of
• 27:01
  compulsion
• 27:02
  to
• 27:02
  follow
• 27:03
  the
• 27:03
  sinless
• 27:04
  one
• 27:04
  he
• 27:06
  recognizes
• 27:07
  this
• 27:08
  Matthew
• 27:08
  that
• 27:08
  he
• 27:09
  is
• 27:09
  a
• 27:09
  sinful
• 27:10
  man
• 27:11
  in
• 27:11
  need
• 27:11
  of
• 27:12
  a
• 27:12
  savior
• 27:12
  indeed
• 27:15
  he
• 27:15
  has
• 27:15
  a
• 27:15
  heightened
• 27:15
  awareness
• 27:16
  of
• 27:17
  this
• 27:17
  and
• 27:17
  he's
• 27:18
  on
• 27:18
  his
• 27:18
  feet
• 27:19
  what's
• 27:22
  going
• 27:22
  on
• 27:22
  in
• 27:22
  his
• 27:22
  head
• 27:23
  at
• 27:23
  this
• 27:23
  point
• 27:24
  I
• 27:24
  think
• 27:24
  we
• 27:24
  can
• 27:25
  answer
• 27:25
  that
• 27:25
  question
• 27:26
  his
• 27:26
  mind
• 27:26
  is
• 27:27
  enlightened
• 27:27
  in
• 27:28
  the
• 27:28
  knowledge
• 27:28
  of
• 27:29
  the
• 27:29
  one
• 27:29
  who
• 27:29
  is
• 27:29
  calling
• 27:30
  him
• 27:30
  his
• 27:31
  will
• 27:32
  is
• 27:32
  renewed
• 27:32
  in
• 27:33
  this
• 27:33
  moment
• 27:33
  and
• 27:33
  you're
• 27:34
  saying
• 27:34
  it
• 27:34
  can't
• 27:34
  happen
• 27:35
  that
• 27:35
  quickly
• 27:35
  it
• 27:36
  can
• 27:37
  and
• 27:37
  it
• 27:37
  does
• 27:38
  and
• 27:38
  it's
• 27:39
  what's
• 27:39
  unfolding
• 27:40
  here
• 27:40
  because
• 27:41
  in
• 27:41
  these
• 27:42
  decisive
• 27:42
  moments
• 27:43
  Matthew
• 27:43
  is
• 27:44
  fully
• 27:44
  persuaded
• 27:45
  and
• 27:46
  made
• 27:46
  able
• 27:47
  to
• 27:47
  follow
• 27:48
  Jesus
• 27:48
  Christ
• 27:49
  never
• 27:51
  underestimate
• 27:52
  what
• 27:52
  God
• 27:52
  can do
• 27:53
  for you
• 27:53
  from
• 27:54
  the
• 27:54
  moment
• 27:54
  you
• 27:55
  walk
• 27:55
  in
• 27:55
  this
• 27:55
  door
• 27:56
  and
• 27:56
  you
• 27:56
  leave
• 27:56
  after
• 27:57
  the
• 27:57
  benediction
• 27:57
  has
• 27:58
  been
• 27:58
  pronounced
• 27:58
  !
• 28:04
  look
• 28:06
  at
• 28:07
  Matthew
• 28:07
  to
• 28:09
  use
• 28:09
  the
• 28:10
  vocabulary
• 28:10
  of
• 28:11
  Puritan
• 28:13
  theology
• 28:14
  we see
• 28:14
  him
• 28:14
  closing
• 28:15
  in
• 28:16
  with
• 28:17
  Jesus
• 28:17
  by
• 28:21
  grace
• 28:21
  alone
• 28:22
  through
• 28:23
  faith
• 28:23
  alone
• 28:24
  in
• 28:24
  Christ
• 28:25
  alone
• 28:26
  he's
• 28:28
  not
• 28:28
  unlike
• 28:28
  Lydia
• 28:29
  is he
• 28:29
  whom
• 28:30
  we meet
• 28:30
  in
• 28:31
  Acts
• 28:31
  chapter
• 28:31
  16
• 28:32
  the
• 28:32
  Lord
• 28:33
  opens
• 28:34
  Matthew's
• 28:35
  heart
• 28:35
  here
• 28:36
  just
• 28:36
  as
• 28:36
  he
• 28:37
  opened
• 28:37
  the
• 28:38
  heart
• 28:38
  of
• 28:38
  Lydia
• 28:39
  to
• 28:39
  pay
• 28:39
  attention
• 28:40
  to
• 28:40
  what
• 28:41
  is
• 28:42
  being
• 28:42
  said
• 28:43
  and
• 28:46
  just
• 28:46
  like
• 28:47
  Lydia
• 28:47
  Matthew's
• 28:51
  heart
• 28:51
  is no
• 28:51
  longer
• 28:52
  his
• 28:52
  own
• 28:52
  when
• 28:55
  the
• 28:55
  Bible
• 28:56
  speaks
• 28:56
  of
• 28:56
  the
• 28:57
  heart
• 28:57
  more
• 28:58
  often
• 28:58
  than
• 28:59
  not
• 28:59
  it
• 29:00
  alludes
• 29:00
  to
• 29:00
  every
• 29:01
  fiber
• 29:01
  of
• 29:01
  our
• 29:02
  being
• 29:02
  the
• 29:02
  entire
• 29:02
  person
• 29:03
  he
• 29:05
  gave
• 29:05
  everything
• 29:06
  Luke
• 29:06
  tells
• 29:07
  us
• 29:07
  everything
• 29:08
  every
• 29:08
  fiber
• 29:09
  of
• 29:09
  his
• 29:09
  being
• 29:10
  is
• 29:10
  now
• 29:10
  under
• 29:14
  the
• 29:14
  jurisdiction
• 29:15
  of the
• 29:15
  Lord
• 29:16
  Jesus
• 29:16
  Christ
• 29:17
  and
• 29:17
  Levi
• 29:17
  got
• 29:18
  up
• 29:18
  Luke
• 29:19
  tells
• 29:19
  us
• 29:19
  yes
• 29:20
  he
• 29:20
  got
• 29:20
  up
• 29:20
  he
• 29:20
  left
• 29:21
  everything
• 29:21
  behind
• 29:22
  and
• 29:23
  followed
• 29:23
  Jesus
• 29:24
  isn't
• 29:25
  it
• 29:25
  interesting
• 29:25
  when we
• 29:26
  compare
• 29:26
  Matthew
• 29:27
  with
• 29:28
  the
• 29:29
  fishermen
• 29:29
  from
• 29:30
  Galilee
• 29:30
  the
• 29:30
  fishermen
• 29:31
  brought
• 29:31
  their
• 29:31
  boats
• 29:32
  to
• 29:32
  land
• 29:33
  Luke
• 29:34
  tells
• 29:34
  us
• 29:35
  left
• 29:35
  everything
• 29:35
  and
• 29:36
  followed
• 29:36
  him
• 29:36
  but
• 29:37
  they
• 29:38
  would
• 29:38
  return
• 29:38
  to
• 29:39
  the
• 29:39
  sea
• 29:39
  of
• 29:39
  Galilee
• 29:40
  to
• 29:40
  their
• 29:40
  boats
• 29:41
  from
• 29:41
  time
• 29:41
  to
• 29:42
  time
• 29:42
  Matthew
• 29:44
  would
• 29:45
  never
• 29:45
  ever
• 29:46
  return
• 29:47
  to
• 29:48
  his
• 29:48
  tax
• 29:49
  collector's
• 29:49
  booth
• 29:50
  he
• 29:50
  turns
• 29:51
  his
• 29:51
  back
• 29:51
  on
• 29:52
  Caesar
• 29:53
  for
• 29:54
  Christ
• 29:55
  the
• 29:55
  world
• 29:56
  behind
• 29:57
  me
• 29:57
  the
• 29:58
  cross
• 29:58
  before
• 29:59
  me
• 29:59
  no
• 30:00
  turning
• 30:01
  back
• 30:01
  so
• 30:02
  we're
• 30:03
  going
• 30:03
  to
• 30:04
  close
• 30:04
  but
• 30:04
  I do
• 30:05
  want
• 30:05
  to
• 30:05
  question
• 30:06
  one
• 30:06
  thing
• 30:07
  did
• 30:08
  he
• 30:08
  really
• 30:09
  leave
• 30:09
  everything
• 30:09
  behind
• 30:10
  he
• 30:13
  would
• 30:14
  have
• 30:14
  at
• 30:14
  least
• 30:14
  taken
• 30:15
  one
• 30:15
  item
• 30:16
  with
• 30:16
  him
• 30:16
  his
• 30:18
  own
• 30:18
  personal
• 30:19
  possession
• 30:20
  and
• 30:21
  that's
• 30:22
  important
• 30:22
  to
• 30:22
  note
• 30:23
  he's
• 30:24
  not
• 30:24
  taking
• 30:24
  what
• 30:24
  doesn't
• 30:25
  belong
• 30:25
  to
• 30:25
  him
• 30:26
  his
• 30:27
  pen
• 30:28
  yes
• 30:29
  his
• 30:30
  pen
• 30:30
  because
• 30:32
  Jesus
• 30:32
  has a
• 30:33
  plan
• 30:33
  and a
• 30:33
  purpose
• 30:34
  for
• 30:34
  Matthew
• 30:34
  this
• 30:37
  tax
• 30:38
  collector's
• 30:39
  financial
• 30:40
  spreadsheet
• 30:40
  is now
• 30:41
  history
• 30:42
  but he
• 30:44
  will
• 30:44
  continue
• 30:45
  to be
• 30:45
  a
• 30:45
  record
• 30:46
  keeper
• 30:46
  but we
• 30:48
  are going
• 30:48
  to transition
• 30:49
  from a
• 30:49
  spreadsheet
• 30:50
  to a
• 30:51
  scroll
• 30:51
  this is
• 30:53
  how it
• 30:53
  ends
• 30:54
  because
• 30:54
  ultimately
• 30:55
  Matthew
• 30:55
  will be
• 30:56
  commissioned
• 30:56
  to
• 30:58
  pen
• 30:59
  a
• 30:59
  detailed
• 31:01
  gospel
• 31:01
  account
• 31:02
  of the
• 31:03
  birth
• 31:04
  the life
• 31:05
  the ministry
• 31:06
  death
• 31:07
  and
• 31:08
  resurrection
• 31:09
  of the
• 31:10
  Lord
• 31:10
  Jesus
• 31:11
  and in
• 31:12
  there
• 31:13
  will be
• 31:13
  just a
• 31:14
  snippet
• 31:15
  of how
• 31:15
  he came
• 31:16
  to know
• 31:17
  the Lord
• 31:18
  Jesus
• 31:18
  Christ
• 31:19
  himself
• 31:20
  yes
• 31:20
  record
• 31:20
  keeping
• 31:21
  and attention
• 31:22
  to detail
• 31:22
  will be
• 31:23
  Matthew's
• 31:24
  strong point
• 31:25
  and here
• 31:26
  we have
• 31:26
  it
• 31:27
  here
• 31:27
  today
• 31:28
  the
• 31:28
  gospel
• 31:29
  of
• 31:29
  Matthew
• 31:29
  this
• 31:30
  is
• 31:31
  his
• 31:31
  legacy
• 31:32
  it's
• 31:34
  remarkable
• 31:34
  one
• 31:35
  verse
• 31:36
  what does
• 31:37
  it convey
• 31:37
  to us
• 31:37
  that this
• 31:38
  bad news
• 31:39
  tax collector
• 31:40
  will become
• 31:42
  a good news
• 31:43
  storyteller
• 31:44
  under the
• 31:45
  superintendence
• 31:46
  of God
• 31:47
  the Holy
• 31:48
  Spirit
• 31:48
  this
• 31:48
  record
• 31:49
  keeper
• 31:49
  will write
• 31:50
  a full
• 31:51
  account
• 31:52
  of Jesus
• 31:54
  ironically
• 31:55
  you might
• 31:55
  say
• 31:56
  specifically
• 31:57
  for Jewish
• 31:58
  readers
• 31:59
  the ones
• 31:59
  who despise
• 32:01
  him the
• 32:01
  most
• 32:01
  his mission
• 32:03
  it will be
• 32:04
  to prove
• 32:05
  yes
• 32:06
  that Jesus
• 32:07
  of Nazareth
• 32:08
  is the
• 32:09
  Messiah
• 32:10
  and Matthew
• 32:11
  will stop
• 32:12
  at nothing
• 32:12
  to proclaim
• 32:13
  on these
• 32:14
  pages
• 32:15
  the kingdom
• 32:16
  of God
• 32:17
  so the
• 32:18
  very skills
• 32:19
  that he had
• 32:20
  sharpened
• 32:21
  as a tax
• 32:22
  collector
• 32:22
  will now
• 32:23
  be used
• 32:23
  effectively
• 32:24
  in the
• 32:26
  kingdom
• 32:26
  note
• 32:28
  to follow
• 32:29
  he forsook
• 32:30
  the booth
• 32:31
  is history
• 32:32
  would he ever
• 32:33
  regret
• 32:33
  severing his
• 32:35
  ties with it
• 32:35
  no
• 32:36
  neither
• 32:37
  will you
• 32:38
  today
• 32:39
  should you
• 32:40
  abandon
• 32:40
  your symbolic
• 32:41
  booth
• 32:42
  and follow
• 32:44
  Jesus Christ
• 32:45
  whatever it is
• 32:46
  that may be
• 32:47
  holding you
• 32:47
  back
• 32:48
  take encouragement
• 32:49
  from Matthew
• 32:49
  you see like
• 32:51
  like Matthew
• 32:52
  your gifts
• 32:53
  your talents
• 32:54
  can also
• 32:55
  be put
• 32:56
  to effective
• 32:57
  use
• 32:58
  in the
• 32:59
  kingdom
• 32:59
  one last
• 33:00
  thing
• 33:00
  back in
• 33:02
  2017
• 33:02
  Dean and I
• 33:06
  had the
• 33:07
  privilege of
• 33:07
  spending some
• 33:08
  time with
• 33:08
  Kenny John
• 33:09
  McKenzie
• 33:09
  in Uganda
• 33:11
  two weeks
• 33:12
  for one day
• 33:13
  Kenny John
• 33:13
  and I
• 33:14
  flew
• 33:14
  with a
• 33:15
  Canadian
• 33:16
  pilot
• 33:16
  on a
• 33:17
  math plane
• 33:18
  his name
• 33:19
  is Matt
• 33:20
  a remarkable
• 33:21
  man
• 33:21
  as I sat
• 33:24
  in this
• 33:25
  very small
• 33:25
  cockpit
• 33:26
  with Matt
• 33:27
  I asked him
• 33:28
  what he did
• 33:29
  before he became
• 33:29
  a Matt
• 33:30
  pilot
• 33:30
  he said
• 33:31
  well I was
• 33:31
  a pilot
• 33:32
  and I said
• 33:33
  what did
• 33:33
  you fly
• 33:34
  he says
• 33:35
  I flew
• 33:36
  with Air
• 33:36
  Canada
• 33:36
  but I said
• 33:37
  what did
• 33:38
  you fly
• 33:38
  he was
• 33:40
  reluctant
• 33:40
  to disclose
• 33:42
  this information
• 33:42
  to me
• 33:43
  but I pushed
• 33:44
  him further
• 33:44
  Matt
• 33:47
  was a
• 33:48
  high profile
• 33:49
  pilot
• 33:50
  of shall
• 33:51
  we say
• 33:52
  a very
• 33:52
  large
• 33:53
  Boeing
• 33:53
  and here
• 33:55
  he is
• 33:56
  at the
• 33:56
  cockpit
• 33:57
  of a
• 33:57
  Cessna
• 33:58
  208
• 33:59
  12
• 34:00
  seater
• 34:01
  plane
• 34:02
  his skills
• 34:08
  his talents
• 34:09
  transferred
• 34:10
  into the
• 34:12
  kingdom
• 34:12
  for the
• 34:13
  greater
• 34:14
  good
• 34:14
  of God's
• 34:16
  kingdom
• 34:17
  and its
• 34:18
  extension
• 34:18
  across
• 34:20
  Uganda
• 34:20
  and more
• 34:22
  besides
• 34:23
  Galenian
• 34:25
  fishermen
• 34:25
  were called
• 34:27
  to become
• 34:28
  fishers
• 34:30
  of men
• 34:31
  if we
• 34:34
  are to
• 34:34
  follow
• 34:35
  Jesus
• 34:35
  it must
• 34:36
  be with
• 34:37
  the
• 34:37
  unconditional
• 34:38
  submission
• 34:39
  of
• 34:39
  Matthew
• 34:40
  nothing
• 34:40
  less
• 34:41
  will
• 34:42
  do
• 34:42
  so can
• 34:43
  I appeal
• 34:44
  to you
• 34:44
  come
• 34:45
  if you
• 34:45
  will
• 34:45
  into the
• 34:46
  school
• 34:46
  of
• 34:47
  the
• 34:48
  discipleship
• 34:49
  of
• 34:49
  Jesus
• 34:49
  Christ
• 34:50
  with the
• 34:51
  obedience
• 34:52
  that comes
• 34:53
  from
• 34:53
  faith
• 34:55
  we see
• 34:56
  it
• 34:56
  in
• 34:57
  Matthew
• 34:57
  he leads
• 34:58
  by
• 34:58
  example
• 34:59
  will you
• 35:00
  not
• 35:00
  follow
• 35:00
  his
• 35:02
  example
• 35:02
  amen
• 35:04
  gracious
• 35:06
  God
• 35:07
  grant us
• 35:08
  to follow
• 35:09
  you
• 35:10
  give us
• 35:11
  to see
• 35:12
  our need
• 35:14
  to do
• 35:14
  so in
• 35:15
  the here
• 35:15
  and now
• 35:16
  to do
• 35:18
  so
• 35:18
  unreservedly
• 35:20
  unconditionally
• 35:21
  for we
• 35:23
  ask these
• 35:23
  things in
• 35:24
  Jesus name
• 35:25
  amen
• 35:25
  well let's
• 35:28
  sing the
• 35:28
  great
• 35:28
  redemption
• 35:29
  song of
• 35:30
  scripture
• 35:31
  psalm
• 35:31
  130
• 35:33
  the
• 35:33
  Scottish
• 35:34
  Psalter
• 35:34
  rendering
• 35:35
  on page
• 35:35
  421
• 35:37
  psalm
• 35:42
  130
• 35:44
  it's the
• 35:44
  Scottish
• 35:45
  Psalter
• 35:45
  rendering
• 35:46
  Lord
• 35:47
  from the
• 35:48
  depths
• 35:48
  to thee
• 35:49
  I cried
• 35:49
  my voice
• 35:50
  Lord
• 35:51
  do thou
• 35:51
  hear
• 35:51
  unto my
• 35:52
  supplications
• 35:53
  voice
• 35:53
  give
• 35:54
  an
• 35:54
  attentive
• 35:55
  ear
• 35:55
  the psalm
• 35:56
  concludes
• 35:56
  and
• 35:57
  plenteous
• 35:57
  or
• 35:58
  full
• 35:58
  redemption
• 35:59
  is ever
• 36:00
  found
• 36:01
  with him
• 36:01
  and from
• 36:02
  all his
• 36:02
  iniquities
• 36:03
  he
• 36:04
  Israel
• 36:04
  shall
• 36:05
  redeem
• 36:06
  to the
• 36:06
  praise
• 36:06
  of God
• 36:07
  Lord
• 36:13
  Lord
• 36:14
  from the
• 36:16
  times
• 36:17
  to thee
• 36:19
  I
• 36:20
  cry
• 36:22
  my
• 36:23
  voice
• 36:25
  Lord
• 36:26
  do
• 36:27
  thou
• 36:34
  voice
• 36:40
  give
• 36:41
  not
• 36:41
  I'll tend to hear.
• 36:48
  Lord, who shall stand with Thou, O Lord,
• 36:58
  Just mark in equity, But yet with Thee
• 37:11
  Forgiveness is, Thou fear Thou mayest be.
• 37:25
  I win for God, My soul doth ween,
• 37:35
  My heart is in His word.
• 37:43
  More than the light, For morning war,
• 37:53
  My soul doth ween, The Lord.
• 38:03
  I sing for Thine day that to watch, The morning light to see.
• 38:20
  Let Israel open the Lord, For with Him mercy be.
• 38:38
  And plentious redemption,
• 38:48
  Is ever come with Him, And from all His delinquities,
• 39:06
  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, The love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit remain with us all. Amen.
• 39:26
  Amen.
• 39:28
  To the door.
• 39:32
  And there's no idea why you find holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy