Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus' classic call to His disciples was to follow Him - to come spend time with Him, observe Him, watch Him, listen to Him, and learn what is important to Him and do it. When Matthew is called and follows Him the first place they end up is back in Matthew's home, with his friends, business acquaintances, and those who were used to seeing him in everyday life. Following meant being seen with Jesus by them, and introducing them to Him. Following Jesus is not leaving Him where we find Him - at an altar, by a bedside, in a brick building. It is including Him in our lives and having Him show us the changes that we need to make there, in those relationships and responsibilities. Then He takes us to new and exciting places with new people, where He plans to use us as His new creation.
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