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Chapter 5
29 (
Matthew 9:9, 10
;
Mark 2:14, 15
). Matthew Honored
Christ Before Friends
—In his grateful humility, Matthew desired
to show his appreciation of the honor bestowed upon him, and,
calling together those who had been his associates in business, in
pleasure, and sin, he made a great feast for the Saviour. If Jesus
would call him, who was so sinful and unworthy, He would surely
accept his former companions who were, thought Matthew, far more
deserving than himself. Matthew had a great longing that they should
share the benefits of the mercies and grace of Christ. He desired
them to know that Christ did not, as did the scribes and Pharisees,
despise and hate the publicans and sinners. He wanted them to know
Christ as the blessed Saviour.
At the feast the Saviour occupied the most honored seat. Matthew
was now the servant of Christ, and he would have his friends know
in what light he regarded his Leader and Master. He would have
them know that he felt highly honored in entertaining so royal a
guest.
Jesus never refused an invitation to such a feast. The object ever
before Him was to sow in the hearts of His hearers the seeds of
truth, through His winning conversation to draw hearts to Himself.
In His every act Christ had a purpose, and the lesson which He
gave on this occasion was timely and appropriate. By this act He
declared that even publicans and sinners were not excluded from His
presence. Publicans and sinners could now bear the testimony that
Christ honored them with His presence and conversed with them
(
Manuscript 3, 1898
).
30
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 9:11
.
31, 32
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 9:12, 13
.
32
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 9:13
.
37, 38
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 9:17
.
119