Jesus Choose Matthew

After Jesus heal the man wey paralyze, e spend small time for Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee. Many people still come meet am and e come start to teach dem. As e dey waka dey go, e come see Matthew wey dem still dey call Levi, e sitdown for tax office. Jesus tell am sey make e start to dey follow am.—Matthew 9:9.

Matthew fit don already know about wetin Jesus dey teach and the miracle wey e don do for the area, as Peter, Andrew, James and John know. Like dem, Matthew no waste time to follow Jesus. Matthew talk am by imself for the book of Matthew. E talk sey: “Na im [Matthew] stand up, come follow” Jesus. (Matthew 9:9) Na so Matthew take leave im tax collector work, come be Jesus disciple.

As small time pass, Matthew want show sey e really sweet am as Jesus choose am, e come do one big party for im house. Apart from Jesus and im disciples, Matthew invite some of im friends wey e dey work with before. Na dem dey collect tax give Rome government wey Jew people no like. Dem dey collect tax for where ship dey park, for main road and for load wey enter the town. Which kind eye the Jews take dey look tax collector? People no like dem at all because dem dey do wayo and dey cut money join the tax. ‘Sinners’ still come, people wey everybody know sey dey do bad things.—Luke 7:37-39.

When the Pharisees wey dey do holy-holy see Jesus for the party with this kind people, dem ask im disciples sey: “Why una teacher dey chop with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11) As Jesus hear wetin dem talk, e come answer dem sey: “People wey well no need doctor, na people wey dey sick need am. Make una go learn wetin this one mean: ‘I want mercy, no be sacrifice.’ Because na sinners I come call, no be righteous people.” (Matthew 9:12, 13; Hosea 6:6) No be better mind the Pharisees take call Jesus “teacher,” but dem fit learn wetin good from am.

E fit be sey Matthew want make the tax collectors and sinners hear wetin Jesus dey teach and make dem fit near God, na im make e invite dem come im house “because many of dem dey follow am.” (Mark 2:15) Jesus want help dem make dem be God friend. Jesus no dey look dem with bad eye like the Pharisees wey dey do holy-holy. E dey pity people; and e fit help people wey no near God, come be God friend.

Jesus dey pity tax collector and sinners. That one no mean sey e like as dem dey sin, but e dey sorry for dem the way e dey sorry for person wey dey sick. For example, remember when e touch that man wey get leprosy. Because e pity for am, e sey: “I want do am! Make you dey clean.” (Matthew 8:3) E good make we get this kind character, to dey pity people and help dem near God. Na that one better pass!