Simon the zealot and Matthew (Levi) the tax collector were charter members of one of the most dynamic small groups ever created. At the time they were selected by Jesus to be part of his 12-man disciple team, they could not have been further apart in their worldviews. In fact, it is very likely that they would have despised each other based on what we know of their backgrounds.
The synoptic gospels identify Simon as one of the original twelve–there is no other information about him in Scripture. Simon, by his title, would have been the supreme nationalist. Love of country, race (Hebrew), and religion (Jew) likely defined his life. The Jewish historian Josephus tells us that the zealots were fringe militants who favored armed rebellion against the Roman occupiers and their tax-collecting agents.
Matthew, in contrast, was a free agent operating as a tax collector for the occupying Roman government. We don’t know much about him before his conversion, but we do know a great deal about Matthew after it, since he wrote the gospel bearing his name. As a tax collector, Matthew would likely have been viewed by his fellow Israelites as a thief, a traitor, and a transgressor of the Torah.
Jesus said He “did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). The religious elite (Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.) would have considered both men in the latter category. God in His sovereignty, however, drew Simon and Matthew to Himself to be used for His glory.
Faith Bible Church is a body of varying backgrounds (education, socio-economic, work, church), ethnicities and intellectual abilities, not to mention political persuasions or team allegiances. Though many of us won’t admit it, we often find our identity in one or more of these. Continue Reading →
important things in our lives that have replaced what is most important: Jesus Christ. He has been “eclipsed” by things of lesser importance, and we need to “uneclipse” Him. That’s why this book was written. Here’s how he introduces his theme:
How many times have you eaten roast-preacher for Sunday lunch? These kinds of banal banquets tend to consume the preacher, not the sermon. Much like the crowd who listened to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and were amazed because He spoke with authority, but failed to heed His message (Matthew 7:28–29), church-goers today focus on the style of preachers when they should be concerned about the content of their sermons.