There was no more hated class of Jewish citizens in Jesus' day than the tax collectors. These men were employed by Herod to collect taxes for Rome and for Herod's projects, and anything that was "left over" belonged to the collectors. These men had a franchise that empowered them to legally loot their own people and thus the reason for the animosity toward them. The Jews could think of no greater insult to hurl at Jesus than this: "Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Luke 7:34). it is not surprising then that Jesus would call one of these men to become a disciple and also a good example of a Proverbs 31 man, the subject of my current series.
THE CALL
Jesus' ministry was based in the region of Galilee by the large lake where some of His disciples made their living as fishermen. Levi was there to collect business taxes from those men but then one day Jesus walked by and this is what happened: "After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him" (Luke 5:27:28). My theory is that this was not the first encounter between these two men. Perhaps Levi and Jesus had previously conversed or maybe Levi had watched Jesus' public ministry.
That being said, when Levi heard the call, he abandoned his lucrative occupation and followed Jesus. After that, whenever the apostles were named, Levi was included but was identified by his other name of Matthew:
When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor (Luke 6:13-16).
Matthew abandoned his wealth and his source of revenue to follow and fellowship with Jesus. The reason I believe Matthew was acquainted with Jesus is because of what Matthew did after he followed Jesus: "Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them" (Luke 5:29). Matthew knew that Jesus' mission was to reach people just like him so he used his connections to spread the word and give his peers the same chance that he had to encounter Jesus of Nazareth.
THE LESSONS
Levi had been rejected by the scribes of his day, but Jesus chose him to be His scribe. Matthew went on to write a gospel directed toward his people the Jews, explaining and proving that Jesus was their Messiah. Matthew displayed two of the four traits of a Proverbs 31 man: 1) using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker; and 2) serving in a leadership capacity as an elder at the gate where he could dispense wisdom and justice.
To become a Proverbs 31 man, Levi had to display courage and walk away from his occupation. He had to embrace his past, be forgiven, and then bear fruit consistent with his new life. Because he did, he is still serving the Lord and blessing the people of God though his writing and teaching. Is Jesus calling you to be a Proverbs 31 man? It may not be necessary to walk away from your work, but then again, it may. If that is what He is asking you to do, you will not do it alone, for He is calling you to walk with Him so that together you may redefine your role, not according to what others think, but according to His purpose and plan for you. I urge you not to let anything—money, occupation, sports, relationships, or fear—keep you from being a Proverbs 31 man who is able to accept a new role not only as a breadwinner for your family but a soul winner for Christ. Have a blessed week!
Comments