The Israelites in the time of Jesus lived under the heavy hand of Roman rule. That context shapes so much of what we read in the gospels, influencing the meaning of scripture and the dynamics we see in the stories.

This Sunday we’ll read Matthew 9:9-17, about Jesus calling Matthew to be His disciple. At first glance, “Matthew the tax collector” may not strike us as anything unusual, perhaps just a profession that isn’t well-liked. But for a first-century audience, those words would have been shocking.

Tax collectors were not simply disliked. They were despised. They worked with Rome to oppress their own people, betraying their families, neighbors, and community. By overcharging and exploiting others, they grew wealthy while their fellow Israelites suffered. To hear that Jesus would not only speak to a tax collector, but call him to follow, was nothing short of scandalous.

That is where the power of this passage lies. The betrayal and brokenness that Matthew represented highlights the radical nature of God’s kingdom: Jesus steps toward the outcast, the despised, and even the betrayer, offering grace and transformation.

Join us this Sunday as we study Matthew together, and discover how Jesus’ call to Matthew reveals the shocking depth of God’s mercy and how it continues to change our own lives today.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.