HONEY-THE TAX MAN IS HERE

WITNESS 9-21-13 HONEY---THE TAX MAN IS HERE ( or the story of Saint Matthew ) “Honey--- The tax man is here” How many of us Like to hear those words Or how many of us Like getting a letter From the IRS in the mail Or going downtown for an audit This is the story of Saint Matthew Originally called Levi A tax collector of the Jewish people Who worked for the Roman government One day Jesus met Matthew At his tax collector’s booth And said, “follow me” One night---while having dinner at Matthew’s house And many of his tax collector friends Some of the teachers of Jewish law Were asking his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners” Jesus heard about the conversation, and said, “It is not the healthy who need a Doctor But the sick I have not come to call the righteous---but sinners” Mark 2:16&17 Good for the Apostles And very good for us It is believed That after the Resurrection That Matthew went on To preach the Word of God Either in Ethiopia or Persia And it is believed That Matthew wrote his Gospel From Antioch Primarily to the Jews But also to Gentiles and Christians As an original Apostle He gave us an eyewitness account Jesus speaks more In Matthew’s Gospel Than in any of the other Gospels And Matthew quotes From many of the Old Testament books To prove that Jesus certainly is The “Fulfillment”---The Anointed One Matthew traces the genealogy of Jesus Describes Jesus’ temptation in the desert And concludes his Gospel With the calling of the GREAT COMMISSION To all believers Matthew teaches us That the standards of God are high And that the example that he---God---gave us Is perfect---Jesus Christ And Matthew teaches us That Christ is sufficient For whatever need we might have And that the ways of God Are infinitely higher Than the ways of this world Saint Matthew Died a martyr’s death September 21st is his feast day “HONEY---THE TAX MAN IS HERE” Robert P. Wallman 9-11-11 Ps WITNESS 9-21-13 and 9-21-14 & 9-21-16