9 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. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 8)
Matthew was impressed - not with himself, but with Christ. He saw in Him the sincerity and truth he saw in no other. He saw His mercy toward him. In context and in essence, the way Matthew records his own calling says this: "I am a sinner upon whom Christ has shown mercy, and whom He has been willing to call as His follower. I am overwhelmed by this mercy and privilege." Matthew wrote with this sense of awe toward the King of Kings, and invited his friends (fellow taxcollectors and sinners) and fellow citizens to come trust and follow Jesus as well. May we have his same perspective.
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