THE WORD: Matthew-Levi — ‘From a sinner to a saint’

These kind of people are a rare jewel to find. Even churches and their institutions are in desperate need of such lay members and clergymen who could bring about the spiritual revival and information
When we read the Bible in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we meet Jesus at work with His twelve specially anointed and appointed apostles. Jesus chose these twelve from a multitude of disciples to be with him. We shall study the life and ministry of these chosen twelve and come up with rich lessons for everyone. Let us begin with a man whose name is Matthew or Levi.
Matthew was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14) He had two names. The first common one being Matthew which meant “the gift of God”. The second one Levi which means “joined.”

MATTHEW’S background
He served the Roman government as a ‘publican’ taken from the Latin word ‘publicannus’.This simply means , ‘the collector of Roman revenue or the collector of taxes’. During this period in time, there were two classes of publicans. These two were the chief publican and the general or ordinary publican.

Zacchaeus was an example of the chief publican (Luke 19;2) whilst Matthew was just a low ranking publican or tax collector.
This occupation gave them an opportunity to extort for their own personal gain. They made sure that that extortion could not lead to a revolt. Gross dishonest and swindle characterised this kind of occupation. Tax collectors became very rich as they were looting from the people.

They were put in the same category as traitors. Even their testimonies were not allowed in court because of their questionable and doubtful characters.
Instead of being joined to God, Matthew had been joined to money making. The love of money was driving him to any level regardless of the socio-economic consequences his actions had on others. The gift of God became a curse to humanity. There are many people in our societies who carry with them good meaningful names, but whose characters betray the virtues embedded in those names.
Like Matthew, we have many in our communities who are social outcasts, hated and in turn hating others because of unfortunate life circumstances.

The family environment may not have been conducive enough to develop good characters in them.
Either this was because of broken families, deaths of parents or poverty. We come from different backgrounds that nurture us differently. Some backgrounds instill discipline, hard work and usefulness in life.
Unfortunately some people are reared only to become hostile to anyone and everyone in life.

They trust no one, respect no one and have no authority that can tell them what to and what not to do.
At the work place, in church and in our neighbourhoods, all these groups are well represented. Their conversion and transformation is a blessing to the nation at large.
Just imagine if all habitual hard core criminals locked up in jails in their thousand are to reform, their talents, creativity and hard work will greatly help develop our nation.
Like Matthew, these men and women need to heed the Saviour’s call to him.

Matthew Conversion
Matthew left everything to follow Christ (Matthew 9:9). He humbled himself and decided to change for the better. It is interesting to note that the only thing he took with him from his past life was his writing pen and ink. He left his old life and all he had to start a new life for the good of all humanity. His conversation was a grand display of divine power in saving humanity.
Jesus read thoughts of Matthew and saw his hidden capabilities. By so doing Jesus displayed his divine knowledge. To Jesus, Matthew was like a precious stone hidden that needed to be exposed to profit man. The life of sin Matthew lived was obvious but Jesus saw beyond the obvious.

He read the motives of the ordinary publican and saw what he would be after a transformation of character. Who saw the other Matthew or Jesus? The answer is Jesus saw Matthew and not the other way round. Jesus saw many in the future who would be saved through the efforts of Matthew and the far reaching influence of his writings.
There are many people who are living with bad habits that are a daily torture to themselves.
These long for a supporting and encouraging hand that can direct them to a road to reform.

Who then shall take the lead in extending a life line to multitudes that are caught up in cherished and inherited tendencies of evil?
Let us all join hands together in doing this heavenly ordained work to build a better Zimbabwe?
Divine grace was displayed in the conversion of Matthew. Jesus does not call the qualified, but he rather qualifies those he calls. Matthew was called whilst busy at his workplace.

He had not done anything to attract divine grace such as acts of mercy or visting the place of worship. He was taken when still edged in his questionable and tempting trade. This means that to God one’s past does not prevent him/her from grasping a better future.
There are many people whose hearts are receptive to the word of God but are being eclipsed by others who claim to be saved but living in sin.

What Jesus did to Matthew opened the floodgates to all sinners, publicans and harlots to be saved. There is no depth of sinfulness that Jesus can’t stoop to rescue His subjects.
Through determination and hard work we can work for the transformation of many people who are polluting our social environment today.
The conversion of many sinners and publicans because of Matthew brought peace and tranquillity to the whole nation of Israel back then. As a leader have the eyes to see the good that can come out of a changed notorious criminal. Misdirected effort and talent being used by commercial sex workers to captivate men can be redirected to save marriages and families. Jesus did it in his dealing with prostitutes and sinners and they became part of his team in building up his everlasting kingdom.

I have witnessed the conversion and transformation of many sinners in prison who are now working for the betterment of our nation.
What did Matthew do after meeting Christ? He gave a feast and invited publicans and sinners. Jesus as an honoured guest came with disciples (Mark 2: 15).
Why then did Matthew give his feast soon after his conversion? Matthew wanted to tell his friends the good news of his salvation. Jesus had saved him from the pit of sin and a life that made him an outcast of society, His old associates had to have a privilege of witnessing what God had done to him.

His total surrender to the divine principles of God was displayed here. He had given himself wholeheartedly to serve this new found master. An invitation was being extended to his old associates to receive the master who had loved him as he was in his old sinful life. The socio-spiritual transformation Matthew had experienced was a source of gratitude to him and his family and because of that he wanted to market it to his friends as well.

When character transformation takes place, there are many who would be offended. Think of the many people who benefit from crime how they would feel when criminals get converted. When prostitutes get converted, some obviously become offended and blame the church for taking their clients.
The same happens when cattle rustlers reform, many beneficiaries of ill-gotten meat are either directly or indirectly affected. So like Matthew, I encourage you to take your stand for your good and the good of your family and community. In soccer, opponents mark the one who has the ball and knows what to do with it if passed on to him/her.

Muti unotemwa nematombo ndeune mango (Stones are thrown to a fruitful mango tree whose fruits are ripe).
Matthew played an important and key role in leading social outcasts to Christ in his ministry. It was him who wrote the gospel according to Matthew in the New Testament. His thrust was to prove that Jesus was indeed the Messiah of all humanity. He had been miraculously saved by this messiah and he wanted all to be likewise saved from their sins.

Some early centuries has it that Matthew became a missionary in Ethiopia where he was martyred for preaching Christ. He died for the cause of Christ as a hero of the cross. He left us a never fading legacy of his gospel. His courage in exchanging a lucrative business for poverty and hardships stands as an object lesson for all generations. What kind of legacy will you and I leave for Zimbabwe? When we are dead and long gone, will the future generations remember us like Matthew? For a lasting and solid foundation for their good and the blessing of all future generations across tribes, races, nations and continents of the world.

In conclusion, let us summarise the lessons we have learnt from Jesus’s interaction with Matthew. Let me direct them to leaders whether in the family, at the workplace, community or in church:
Endeavour to give help to the hopeless and helpless;
Have the eyes to see the hidden treasure in the uncultivated, uncouth and rough characters of your team members and determine to bring about reformation. Any good endeavour meets the opposition in this life;

Know that the best solution in dealing with criticism is to: “say nothing, do nothing and be nothing” and one becomes good for nothing in life, So take courage, do good and be a blessing, an asset to your family and nation.

As Zimbabweans and proud Africans let us all resolve to be better citizens of out beautiful nation and continent as we face 2012 with what it has for us. Remember Matthew, a sinner who changed to become a saint for God. God bless Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole. May his light shine upon us both now and forever more. Amen
In our next article we will explore the life and ministry of Peter.