Matthew 9:9 English Standard Version

Jesus Calls Matthew

⁹ As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

This is my favorite verse where Jesus says follow me. In His call to Peter Jesus leaves an instruction, “and I will make you fishers of men.” That is a compelling call and we have a Fishers of Men Fraternity with a really good ministry. With Matthew there is no promise, just a call. So why is this “follow me” so compelling that Matthew would leave his livelihood to follow a man he did not know?

The Greek word used here in Matthew 9:9 is akolouthos Strong’s number G190. But this is the interesting thing about Strong’s definition, none of the meanings, none of the references, none of the usages refer back to Matthew 9:9 as being the example of how it is used. It is an unexplained use that only holds meaning to Matthew and what was going on inside Matthew.

Most of the uses of follow or follower refer to miméomai which is to imitate, mimic, or to act like. Those usages require an understanding of what we see, and how to accomplish the act of following Christ.

In Matthew 9:9 there is no such knowledge, only a compelling move within the man that was unexplained and yet irresistible. It is in those earliest pronouncements of the gospel and the call to Christ in which in our infancy we can understand Matthew because we too do not know enough about where we are going or what we are doing. We only know enough to stand up.

If we could ask a child sitting in Jesus’s lap 2000 years ago, why they felt so comfortable with Jesus we might get a surprising answer. “Why don’t you?”

James 1:21 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

In our past there has been an understanding that we must clean ourselves up to be accepted by God. This verse in James may have fed those feelings. As with all things spiritual, we must look at them in the light of truth and not supposition.

Look at the last element of this verse, the saving of a soul. If we look at salvation as a single event then cleaning up our act would be deemed necessary for salvation.

1 Corinthians 15:30-33 English Standard Version

³⁰ Why are we in danger every hour? ³¹ I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! ³² What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” ³³ Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

If spiritually speaking Paul died every day then salvation is renewed every day. The issue here is found in the behavior of keeping bad company. Putting away every filthy thing can be seen then as a call to stop hang out with people that will rub off on us.

Then again we are called to witness Christ to the lost and it seems we cannot get away from every filthy thing since we are called to do that. So once again we are asked to search the scriptures in how to do both.

Matthew 10:11-14 English Standard Version

¹¹ And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. ¹² As you enter the house, greet it. ¹³ And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

Let the peace of God lead us.