Long before the Reformation, the Gospel of Matthew stood as the most widely read New Testament book in the Bible. Yet, the irony is striking: millions of people have placed their complete trust in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life, even though he belonged to the most despised class of people in ancient Israel.
To their fellow Israelites, tax collectors were nothing short of traitors. They lined their own pockets by extorting their countrymen on behalf of the oppressive Roman Empire. Their reputation for dishonesty was so profound that their testimony was banned in Jewish courts.
Yet, Jesus didn’t shy away from this outcast. Instead, He actively sought out Matthew to join the inner circle of disciples traveling through Galilee.
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, Follow me. And he got up and followed him (Matthew 9:9).
This kind of radical transformation isn’t just ancient history. While speaking at a small church in Thebes, Illinois, during my college days, I met a couple with a fascinating past. The wife was a former nightclub singer, and her husband had been a low-level thug on the fringes of organized crime.
Originally from Alabama, the wife had strong Baptist roots but had turned her back on Jesus years prior. At a low point in her life, she began quietly taking the bus to a small church in Chicago.
Every Sunday, she and their two young boys would make the trip—a routine that infuriated her husband. Despite his foul moods and resistance, she faithfully kept going.
Then came the Sunday when the boys finally talked their dad into tagging along. The morning service passed uneventfully. But later that afternoon, he surprised everyone by asking, “Don’t they have a service tonight? Let’s go to that.” He went, and that evening, he surrendered his life to Jesus. Just like Matthew, his transformation was instantaneous.
To escape his dangerous ties in Chicago, the family relocated to that quiet town in Southern Illinois where our paths crossed. Remarkably, he and I celebrated my 21st birthday together by attending a tent revival in Southeast Missouri.
Any pastor who has been in ministry for a while knows at least one person whose life was upended in an instant by the love of Christ. It proves a beautiful truth: Jesus defeats His enemies by making them His friends.
The Doctor at Dinner
Once Matthew became friends with Jesus, his immediate instinct was to introduce his new friend to his old crowd. So, he threw a dinner party and invited Jesus and the disciples to mingle with his circle.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples (Matthew 9:10).
If the Pharisees had modern idioms at their disposal, they certainly would have muttered, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Watching Jesus dine with the outcasts of society, they clearly subscribed to the idea that you are known by the company you keep—and they used it to condemn Him.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? (Matthew 9:11).
Jesus’ response made it clear that eating with sinners wasn’t about endorsing their lifestyle; it was about bringing God’s healing into their brokenness. He understood the divine strategy: God doesn’t conquer His enemies by crushing them. He conquers them by inviting them to be His friend. And what better way to offer genuine love and friendship than by have a meal together?
But when he heard this, he said, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:11-13).
Over my nearly 60 years of ministry, I’ve found that one of the most effective ways to connect people to Jesus is simply by sharing a meal. Rather than immediately opening my Bible to preach, I take a genuine interest in their lives, listen to their struggles, and offer what I hope is authentic friendship.
When the moment is right, I introduce them to my best friend, Jesus. This approach of hospitality has borne incredible fruit over the decades. I firmly believe it aligns with the heart of Christ’s teachings, and I know it can work beautifully in your life, too.
YouTube Discussion
Typically, Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I present a joint video discussing a Bible passage. Unfortunately, our recording for this week malfunctioned, so I’ve put together a solo video for you instead. Thank you so much for watching.
Real Voices 