As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 NIV

In our culture, it’s difficult to find an occupation that equates to the despised tax collector from Jesus’ day. There are certainly jobs that are frowned upon, but few, if any, carry the traitorous tag a tax collector did.

Matthew was born a Jew, but once he decided to become a tax collector, he worked for Rome, which means he was considered a traitor by his family, friends, and neighbors. The decision to become a tax collector was certainly not an easy one for Matthew. While on the one hand his income was both sizable and reliable, it required him to endure ridicule and rejection. When Matthew made his career choice, he knew he was trading his reputation and character for financial security.

So it’s safe to say that prior to meeting Jesus, Matthew was stuck between two worlds: He was not a Roman and was certainly not considered a Jew. He was lonely and alienated and without a home. And because of that, Matthew is someone we can all relate to. I imagine you feel like Matthew at times, stuck without a home. Perhaps there is a separation between who you are at work with who you are in your neighborhood, and maybe with who you are in your house and who you are at church.