Day 9: Genesis 23-24; Matthew 9
Matthew has recently become my favorite disciple, thanks to The Chosen's unique approach to his character. This eccentric portrayal aside, I have often pondered Matthew's calling: "Get used to different." Judas aside, Matthew should have been the last person Jesus invited to become The Great Rabbi's disciple/student. Rabbi's wanted someone of good stock, of the correct lineage, of strict formal learning, with great aptitude for the Torah (at least that rabbi's particular slant on the Torah). Matthew was a traitor to the Jewish people and, especially, the Jewish faith. Not only had he sold his soul to Rome to become a tax collector, he had sold out his own people to benefit himself. Most often, tax collectors were not only disowned by their families, but worse yet, they were kicked out of the synagogue and thus all acceptable society with all that society's benefits. Tax collectors were notoriously crooked, and Matthew most likely fit in...he and his friends had a reputation. Jesus, however, saw something in Matthew no one else did. Matthew was so flabbergasted that Jesus called him to be His disciple, that instantaneously, he left his tax station for good and walked away with Jesus. Jesus did the unthinkable...He invited Himself to a party at Matthew's home along with all of Matthew's unsavory friends. You read His reasoning...salvation, restoration, healing are what He is all about.
You know, there was something very surprising in Matthew. Somewhere in his early life, he was most likely the perfect candidate for some self-important and prominent rabbi. You see, Matthew knew the Torah inside and out. His is the most Jewish of the Gospels and if you look, it mirrors the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible). Who knew what drove him away from the faith, but Jesus knew the gift Matthew was in his own worth and the gift Matthew would be to the Church. So, He did the unthinkable. He called a tax collector to be His disciple. I am so glad He did!
The next time you see 'an unlikely disciple,' don't dismiss that one outright...be very careful, Jesus called Matthew. He also called you and me!
You know, there was something very surprising in Matthew. Somewhere in his early life, he was most likely the perfect candidate for some self-important and prominent rabbi. You see, Matthew knew the Torah inside and out. His is the most Jewish of the Gospels and if you look, it mirrors the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible). Who knew what drove him away from the faith, but Jesus knew the gift Matthew was in his own worth and the gift Matthew would be to the Church. So, He did the unthinkable. He called a tax collector to be His disciple. I am so glad He did!
The next time you see 'an unlikely disciple,' don't dismiss that one outright...be very careful, Jesus called Matthew. He also called you and me!
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February 8th, 2023
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February 7th, 2023
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Day 36: Exodus 37 - Leviticus 1; Matthew 23:23-39
February 5th, 2023
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Archive
2023
January
Day 1: Genesis1-2; Matthew 1Day 2: Genesis 3-5; Matthew 2Day 3: Genesis 6-8; Matthew 3Day 4: Genesis 9-11; Matthew 4Day 5: Genesis 12-14; Matthew 5-6Day 6: Genesis 15-17; Matthew 7Day 7: Genesis 18-22Day 8: Matthew 8Day 9: Genesis 23-24; Matthew 9Day 10: Genesis 25-26; Matthew 10:1-25Day 11: Genesis 27-28; Matthew 10:26-42Day 12: Genesis 29-30; Matthew 11Day 13: Genesis 31-32; Matthew 12:1-21Day 14: Genesis 33-37Day 15: Matthew 12:22-13:23Day 16: Genesis 38-40; Matthew 13:24-58Day 17: Genesis 41; Matthew 14:1-21Day 18: Genesis 42-43; Matthew 14:22-36Day 19: Genesis 44-45; Matthew 15:1-20Day 20: Genesis 46-48; Matthew 15:21-39Day 21: Genesis 49-Exodus 4; Matthew 16Day 22: Genesis 49-Exodus 4; Matthew 16Day 23: Exodus 5-6; Matthew 17Day 24: Exodus 7-10; Matthew 18:1-20Day 25: Exodus 11-12; Matthew 18:21-35Day 26: Exodus 13-15; Matthew 19:1-15Day 27: Exodus 16-18; Matthew 19:16-30Day 28: Exodus 19-22; Matthew 20:1-16Day 29: Exodus 19-22; Matthew 20:1-16Day 30: Exodus 23-25; Matthew 20:17-34Day 31: Exodus 26-28; Matthew 21
February
Day 32: Exodus 29-30; Matthew 22:1-22Day 33: Exodus 31-33; Matthew 22:23-46-Day 34: Exodus 34-36; Matthew 23:1-22Day 35: Exodus 37 - Leviticus 1; Matthew 23:23-39Day 36: Exodus 37 - Leviticus 1; Matthew 23:23-39Day 37: Leviticus 2-3; Matthew 24Day 38: Leviticus 4-6; Matthew 25:1-30Day 39: Leviticus 7-9; Matthew 25:31-46
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The message for me here is that everyone is “redeemable.” Some are just “tougher nuts to crack.”