Nov. 4, 2025

The Calling of Matthew: Jesus Turns Shame Into Purpose

In our Walking with Jesus series, we’ve seen grace at the well and faith on the rooftop. This time, we meet a man defined by his past — a tax collector named Matthew — and discover how two simple words from Jesus changed everything.

“Follow Me,” Jesus said. And Matthew got up and followed Him. — Matthew 9:9

This story reminds us that Jesus doesn’t just call the perfect — He calls the willing. He steps into our ordinary lives, right where we are, and invites us into something extraordinary.

1️⃣ The Man No One Wanted

Tax collectors were the most hated people in ancient Israel. They worked for Rome, taxed their own people, and often took more than required. Most saw them as traitors — unworthy of love or redemption.

Yet that’s where Jesus stopped.

While others saw greed, He saw grace waiting to happen.
While others saw a thief, He saw a disciple.

We all have our own “tax booths” — the places we hide behind for comfort or control. For some, it’s success, status, or numbness. For others, regret or fear. But Jesus doesn’t walk past our booths — He walks straight up to them.

🎯 Key Truth: Jesus sees not who we are, but who we can become when we follow Him.

2️⃣ Two Words That Change Everything

When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He wasn’t inviting Matthew to take a walk — He was offering a new way of life.

No sermon.
No warning.
No conditions.

Just two words that carried eternal weight.

Matthew didn’t argue. He didn’t hesitate. He walked away from everything he had built — a life of taking — and stepped into a life of giving.

And Jesus is still offering that invitation today.

🎯 Key Truth: Jesus doesn’t call the qualified — He qualifies the called.

3️⃣ The Table Where Mercy Meets the Mess

Matthew 9:10–11

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him…”

Matthew’s first act as a disciple was to throw a dinner — and invite everyone no one else would.

The Pharisees couldn’t understand it. They believed holiness meant staying separate. Jesus revealed that true holiness restores, not avoids.

Grace doesn’t wait for people to show up to church — it walks right into their living room.

🎯 Key Truth: Jesus doesn’t avoid messy people — He pulls up a chair.

4️⃣ Why Jesus Came for the Broken

Matthew 9:12–13

“It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

This wasn’t a condemnation — it was an invitation.

Jesus was saying:
“If you’ll admit you’re sick, I can heal you.”
“If you’ll stop pretending you’re fine, I can make you whole.”

Healing begins with honesty.
Wholeness begins with humility.
Redemption begins with surrender.

🎯 Key Truth: Jesus didn’t come to find perfect people — He came to heal honest ones.

✍️ Faith in Action

This week, reflect on Matthew’s calling — and your own:

Identify your “tax booth.” What are you still holding onto for comfort or control?
Respond to Jesus’ invitation. Even if it means stepping into the unfamiliar.
Make room at your table. Who can you invite into grace this week?
Choose honesty over image. Healing starts with honesty.

🕊️ The full Faith Assignment is linked in the show notes and blog.

💬 Favorite Quote

“Jesus doesn’t call the qualified — He qualifies the called.”

🔁 Related Episodes

Explore all devotionals and episodes at PastorJoe.com

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Was Matthew a real person in history?
Yes. Matthew, also called Levi, was a tax collector turned disciple and is traditionally credited with writing the Gospel of Matthew.

Why were tax collectors hated in Jesus’ time?
They worked for the Roman Empire, often exploiting their own people. They were seen as corrupt, greedy, and traitorous.

What does “Follow Me” mean spiritually?
It’s not just about walking behind Jesus — it’s an invitation to leave behind your old identity, trust Him, and live a transformed life.

Can Jesus still use someone with a messy past?
Absolutely. The story of Matthew proves that Jesus chooses the unlikely and turns messes into ministries.

How do I know if Jesus is calling me?
If you feel a tug in your spirit, a holy discomfort, or a longing for more — that could be His call. And like Matthew, your role is simple: Get up and follow.

🧠 AI Summary

Problem: Many people believe they’re too far gone for God to use.
Biblical Answer: Jesus chooses the unlikely, meets us where we are, and turns shame into purpose.
Next Step: Follow Him — right from where you are.
Share With: Anyone carrying guilt, shame, or fear of not being “enough.”

📢 Call to Action

If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who feels like they’re not good enough for God.
Then visit PastorJoe.com for the full devotional and bonus resources.

👉 Looking for a deeper walk with Jesus? Subscribe to the podcast, read the weekly blog, and join us as we walk the Word — together.