St. Matthew 9:9-13
The church continually finds itself confessing in the
creed, "I believe one, holy, Christian and apostolic church." This
one sentence is important for the church and must be continually
remembered. To be the "apostolic church" means that we find a
connection with those who were taught by Jesus. In the word "apostle"
in Greek, is the idea that the one who is sent is also prepared and
put in order. This is the case with St. Matthew.
St. Matthew is near and dear to us because he is like most of us. We
know the story of his conversion and call. Saints upon whom sanctity
was not bestowed in the cradle who were obliged to sever themselves
from the service of the world and follow Christ attract us more
because they seem nearer to us, and Matthew is certainly that to us;
he belonged to the condemned and sinful group of publicans, or, tax
collectors.
To be a tax collector, one had to stoop to an all-time low. A Jewish
tax collector was an entrepreneur who was contracted to work in
collaboration with the Roman government. The tax collector would
collect money for the Roman government to in order to help fund Rome.
Though taxes are normal for us, this would have been a tough situation
in Palestine.
The Jewish tax collectors were put in the same social class with
Gentiles and open sinners. So, for a man to hold and maintain a
position of tax collector, then he was interested in only one
thing—money. Matthew was such a man up until the time that Jesus
walks by. This began a new road for Matthew, also named Levi. Here
began the road of a man that Jesus was going to "get ready" to "send
out." This whole account of Matthew's new life goes beyond just the
conversion of a man.
This has everything to do with our confession that we "believe one
holy, Christian and apostolic church. To say that we confess the one
holy apostolic church is to say that we believe in what Matthew has
written. We believe that it is from the Holy Spirit. This
encompasses our confession of the holy scriptures as God's
proclamation for the world. Jesus coming to Matthew and telling him
to follow was a corporate event, and was the very act of love, not
simply for Matthew but for you.
When God's love goes forth it is never simply singular. It is always
meant to wander according to the Holy Spirit's bidding as He works
through the word. Matthew was, in time, to become like all those
prophets who went before in the Old Testament proclaiming, rebuking,
teaching, and encouraging. The call of the apostles entailed the
digestion of the scroll of God's teaching, and as with Ezekiel, God's
teaching was sweet to the taste for Matthew.
Furthermore, we are told in Luke's account of Matthew's conversion
that it is Matthew who, then, invites other tax collectors and sinners
over to his house to have a meal with Jesus. This is cause for the
Pharisees' disdain and rebuke. They see Jesus eating with the lowly
group and they cannot fathom how a man who calls Himself a prophet
could entertain such company.
So, we learn from Matthew what Jesus thought of him and his guests,
for Matthew records in our text that "those who are well have no need
of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this
means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call
the righteous but sinners to repentance." Now we learn something else
about what the one, holy Christian and apostolic church is. It is
more than just a teaching and the acceptance of the scriptures as
God's word.
The one, apostolic church is one that is set in order, sent out and
is a place of mercy and repentance. All these aspects of the church
are wrapped up in the holy church. To believe in one, holy, Christian
and apostolic church, then, is to understand that lives are changed
through Christ. Just as Matthew goes from taking money and giving it
to the Romans, to inviting others like him to meet Jesus is the way of
the church. Matthew finds new life in Jesus and then opens his doors.
He goes from taking to giving.
Such is the way of the church. As our confession of the church is
encompassed in the third article of the creed, that of the Holy
Spirit's work, so we come to more fully understand what it means for
you and me to live and abide in this holy church and fellowship. We
also learn about Jesus' work in the world. He came to save sinners.
Have you checked your sin count lately? Do you live mercifully? Do you
act as if you are still walking to the beat of the world's drum? Or
did you leave your service to the world when you became Christ's
child?
Matthew left the service of the world, for a better service. Jesus,
likewise, beckoned us to a new road when we became His. The blessed
conclusion of it all is just as Jesus says to the Pharisees as they
walked by Matthew's house. "I desire mercy and not sacrifice, for I
did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." So it
is in your life. Jesus calls you to a new life, a life where there is
mercy, and forgiveness for your sins.
The one, holy Christian and apostolic church governed and sanctified
not by the world, but by the blood of Jesus Christ is the place where
one's existence is meant to be different from the world. This means
that Trinity church is meant to be a quiet, restful place from the
world, where life is governed by the words of the apostles as they
recount the life and salvation of Jesus Christ.
When you hear the words of the apostles proclaimed from the lecturn,
you are receiving something that is ancient, purposeful, and holy.
The words, as with the prophet Ezekiel, are as a scroll that is sweet
to the taste. You are to take those words into you, savor them,
digest them as they become a part of you. Then Jesus brings
cohesiveness to the one, holy, Christian and apostolic church by
having us truly eat His precious body and blood, by which Jesus
Himself unites you to Him.
You, like Matthew, are on the new road of Christ through His
crucifixion,death and resurrection. You have everlasting life and
shall continue in this precious fellowship that was purposefully
established and carried on through the apostles and their apostolic
ministry. Amen.
--
Rev. Chad Kendall
www.frchadius.blogspot.com
Trinity Lutheran Church
Lowell, Indiana
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