Bible Study from Matthew 9:10

This Bible Study comes from Matthew 9:10. It talks about how that many tax collectors and sinners came to eat dinner at Matthew's house. They arrived once Jesus was there. There are some things that we can learn from this verse.

The first thing that I notice is that the tax collectors come after Jesus arrived. I wonder if they knew that Jesus was there. Did they come to see Jesus? Did they wonder what this man was all about since their friend gave up his job and decided to follow Him? I'm sure that they were curious as to what Matthew saw in Jesus. They wanted to find out for themselves. Are people curious what we see in Jesus? People are watching us. If we allow them to see the changes that God is making in our lives, they will want to know more.

The next thing that I notice about this verse is that it says "many". This was not just a small gathering. Word must have been going out about how Matthew had changed. God was doing a great work here. Even the tax-collectors didn't care what the government would say about them being with Jesus. Obviously they needed something in their lives. They were willing to even lose their jobs. The other people that came there to see Jesus were called "sinners". I believe that the reason that they were called sinners here is because this is how the Pharisees and Jews saw them. These were not people that were involved in religious acts like the Pharisees. These people were probably hungry for Truth. They were probably tired of seeing the way that the Pharisees acted out their religion. They must have seen something in Jesus that would make them want to come to this dinner.

There is something that I want you to think about. God uses even the most despised or hated people. He can change people's lives. We should never think that there is no one that is unsavable. God will use anyone that He wants for His glory. I'm sure that on this day at Matthew's house that many people's lives were changed. Another example of someone in the Bible that we think that God could never use was the Apostle Paul. He was a murderer. Look at how God used him. Many would come to the Lord because of him. We need to be careful not to put God in a box. God will work with whoever is available to him.