The Calling of Matthew: Jesus Turns Shame Into Purpose
When Jesus called Matthew, He didn’t choose a preacher, a scholar, or a saint — He chose a tax collector.
A man defined by greed, rejection, and shame.
But in two simple words — “Follow Me” — everything changed.
In this episode of Walking with Jesus, Pastor Joe unpacks one of the most powerful transformation stories in Scripture. We’ll see how Jesus turns the unlikely into the chosen, how mercy meets us in the middle of our mess, and how grace rewrites even the hardest stories.
💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why Jesus chose Matthew — and what it reveals about God’s heart for the overlooked.
- What “Follow Me” really means for your faith journey today.
- How mercy makes room at the table for everyone — even the ones others reject.
- Why admitting our weakness is the first step toward true healing.
✍️ Faith in Action
This week, identify your own “tax booth” — that place of comfort, guilt, or fear — and invite Jesus to meet you there.
Then, make space for someone else to experience grace too.
📖 Scripture References
Matthew 9:9–13 • Hosea 6:6 • Luke 5:27–32 • Mark 2:13–17
🔗 Connect & Grow
Visit PastorJoe.com for devotionals, faith resources, and bonus materials.
Read the full companion blog post for this episode on the website.
💬 Favorite Quote
“Jesus doesn’t call the qualified — He qualifies the called.”