The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1923-07-26
LESSON FOR JULY 20
MATTHEW. THE PUBLICAN

MATTHEW. THE PUBLICAN
LESSON TEXT - Matthew s:s-,,.
GOLDEN TEXT came not to c,u
the righteous but sinners to rensn,'
anoe."-Matthew $3.50.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Mark 4.
ls-11.
PRIMARY ToPIc-Matthew Invite.
Jesus to His Home.
JUNIOR ToPIc-what Jesus Did fcr
Matthew.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOP.
IC-Aatthew Overcomes q Handicap.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT Tops
MATTHEW, Study of Conversion
!. Who Matthew Was.
OF Matthew little is known. even
his birth place Is concealed. Our first
sight of him Is seated at the toll booth
collecting taxes The tax gatuerar
was hated by the loyal Jews because
he collected taxes for the alien gov.
eminent under whose yoke they were
CALLING. This hate was the more BIZ
ter because of the extortion usually
practiced by those in rule. From the
meager accounts we find that Matthew
was -:
/. ian Of Decision. We do not
know neither he had ever seen OF
heard Of Jesus before this time, but
we note that he at once arose and
followed Jesus Without doubt therA
were many things to concern him. II
was no little task to break off from
his business which apparently was
very lucrative.
2. He Was a Humble Man. In
he gives his own name and the fact
that he designates himself a pub
lican" would show that he did not
overestimate himself.
3. He Possessed Force of Character
This is shown in the fact that he gave
feast and invited his friends In to
see and hear his Lord.
He had two names, Levi, which
means attached or Joined and
Matthew, which means gift of Je
hovah." Most likely Matthew was
the name assumed after his CONVEX
sion.
II. Matthews Call or Conversion
(Math. 9:9).
1. As Jesus Passed By, He "Saw a
Man" He saw the possibilities which
the hated profession Of tax gatherer
the shining possibilities of his man.
hood and apostleship. He saw in him
the man fit to perceive and portray
the Messiahship of the Redeemer The
divine grace was revealed in this call
Jesus sees what is in man regardless
OF name or profession.
2. Matthews Response ". 81. He
acted with decision and prOmptness;
he left his business behind him. When
Jesus said, Follow Me-" Matthew
perceived that greater than man had
selves unto Him and render such sim
pie obedience that our actions may be
but the echoes of the divine voice In
commanding. Two things in Mat
thew's compliance prove the genuine
ness Of his conversion:
l. Ic LEU All \Luhc y .<cJ. Rchi
conversion always results in the for
saking of all that is contrary to Jesus
such as illegitimate business, wicked
associates and worldly pleasures, etc
2. Followed Jesus Following
Jesus means the commitment of ones
life to Him for full salvation, aban
dOnment of the will to Him to do
whatsoever He Wills, and willing
ness to suffer. and even die, If need be-
for Him.
Ill. Matthew Made 4 Great Feast
luke 5 :29-32). This feast was made
in honor of his newly-found Savior
His conversion was so real that be
wanted his friends to become &C
Quainted with his Savior. He was
not ashamed to confess his Lord be
fore them. He showed real tact 10
making supper. Men will come to
q feast much more readily than the!
will to q sermon. A great company
Of sinners, came, who doubtless has
been Matthew'S companions In SIN
He now desired them to become HI
brothers In Christ The Scribes ana
Pharisees were astonished that Jesus
would appear In company with sucn
4 motley crowd Of disreputable per
sons. They were too cowardly
speak to Jesus but they came to tho
disciples. Jesus championed tne''
cause and battled His adversarieA
His reasoning was unanswerable
PHYSICIANS place Is among the s'cA
Only those who are diseased should
come to the doctors house SinS
spiritual matters are Of more lmpor
lance than physical, Jesus was mo"
than justified in being In the cente
Of those who were morally sick tnu
He might heal them Of their malado
He came to call sinners to repentans
\ ,g,... Our cehesleWes.
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