His day begins as any other---routine, predictable, most definitely lonely.You see, Matthew is one Jewish man who isn't too popular with his peers. In fact , most people detest him. Matthew has the thankless job of collecting taxes for the Roman government, which spells trouble for everyone(except the Romans) living in first century Palestine. (The Jewish people live under bondage to Roman taxes, and many tax collectors are less than honest. The people consider guys like Matthew to be traitors and vile sinners.) As he takes a seat at the tax collectors booth, Matthew has no idea his life is to be transformed forever! A man walking by yells an offer. It has nothing to do with paying taxes. "Follow me," That's all the man says, "Follow me." Matthew can't resist. He knows that he has met an extraordinary man, he'll come to know as messiah. The decision to follow Christ plunges plunges Matthew into the greatest adventure of all: life as a Christian. Matthew goes on to be the author of an in- depth account of Jesus'life and ministry--the longest of the four Gospels, and one that's packed with details. One thing is certain about Matthew's life:He's convinced that he encountered the Messiah, and he wants the world to know this Man who says, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners"(Mark 2: 17).
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