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Posted on 05/22/2026 11:10:06 PM PDT by metmom
The twelve apostles included "Matthew the tax-gatherer" (Matt. 10:3). Never lose your sense of awe over Christ’s forgiveness.
Matthew describes himself as "Matthew the tax-gatherer" (Matt. 10:3). He is the only apostle whose name is associated with an occupation. Apparently Matthew never forgot what he had been saved from, and never lost his sense of awe and unworthiness over Christ's forgiveness.
This is how he set the scene of his own conversion: Matthew 9:1-8 tells us Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic man and then healed him of his paralysis. When the Jewish scribes accused Him of blasphemy for claiming to have the authority to forgive sins, He said to them, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, and walk'?" He wanted them to know His miracles testified of His deity. As God, He could as easily forgive sins as He could heal diseases.
Immediately after that account, Matthew gave the account of his own call. It's as if he wanted his own salvation to serve as an illustration of Christ's ability to forgive even the vilest of sinners. Matthew 9:9 says, "As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He said to him, 'Follow Me!' And he rose, and followed Him."
When the Pharisees questioned Jesus's practice of associating with tax-gatherers, He said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. . . . I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (vv. 12-13). The Pharisees were sick with sin but thought they were healthy. Matthew and his associates knew they were sinners who needed a Savior.
Do you share Matthew's humility and sense of awe at receiving Christ's precious gift of forgiveness? I pray that you do and that you are continually praising Him for it.
Suggestions for Prayer
-Thank God for the wonder of forgiveness.
-If you have lost your sense of awe over God's forgiveness, perhaps you're taking His grace for granted. Confess your apathy and ask Him to give you a deep appreciation for the enormous price He paid for your salvation.
For Further Study
-As a reminder of what Christ endured for you, read Matthew 26:17—27:56, which chronicles the events of His betrayal and crucifixion.
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Studying God’s Word ping
The Unfathomable Richness of God’s Grace and Mercy!
Holy,Holy,Holy Is His Name!
He Sent His Only Son to Live a
Sinless Life, to Die a criminals
Death !
On the Third Day Arose from the grave
Leading Captiveity captive and giving gifts to man.
The Son of Man Sits at the Right Hand of The Father, Desires All to Turn to Him for Forgiveness of Sin and be Reconciled!
Lord of Lords!
King of Kings!
Thou Has Done All things Well !
Your Name Above Every Name
Shall Be Praised For Evermore !
And So Return Lord Jesus
We Earnestly Await.
“Apparently Matthew never forgot what he had been saved from, and never lost his sense of awe and unworthiness over Christ’s forgiveness.”
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Good advice for ALL of us who believe.
Thank you, metmom.
Indeed.
AMEN!
We are up to Early
But for Good Reason
To Praise Our Lord.
.
For I No longer Call You servants
But Friends.
John 15;15
.
Abide in Jesus and He In You,
Praise His Holy Name Forevermore!
I understand, and believe in, God’s forgiveness.
Yet sometimes it’s hard to forgive myself — often for things that occurred decades in the past. I keep apologizing to God even though I know it isn’t necessary. I apologize to people more than once, even though I know that their first forgiveness is enough.
As I get older, I’ve come to terms with the concept.
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Two men went up into the temple to pray, Which is called an house of prayer, Isaiah 56:7 the Jews had a mighty notion of praying in a place of religious worship, as in the temple, or in a synagogue; imagining that their prayers were more acceptable to God, and sooner heard by him in such a place than in private:
(This idea is still with us today.)
I think we all struggle with that.
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