Follow Me

Follow me. That is the command that Jesus issues to all of us: follow me. Matthew was invited to follow Jesus and responded with a “yes,” leaving behind everything he knew. What is our response when Jesus asks us to follow him?

Follow Me

Gospel - Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by,

he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.

He said to him, "Follow me."

And he got up and followed him.

While he was at table in his house,

many tax collectors and sinners came

and sat with Jesus and his disciples.

The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,

"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

He heard this and said,

"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

Go and learn the meaning of the words,

I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Scriptural Analysis

Tax collectors were associated with sinners. In their choice to work for Herod Antipas, a Galilean tax collector was branded a traitor to God’s people by his fellow Galileans. Tax collectors would often demand more money than they were supposed to collect. Jesus choosing to call this tax collector to be one of his disciples would have been extremely surprising and even controversial. It shows once again that Christ came to call all people to him and not merely those who were already living an upright life.

Jesus would have created further controversy by choosing to dine with Matthew in his house. In the ancient Jewish culture, eating together, table fellowship, expressed covenant solidarity. Sharing food and drink with one another symbolizes a shared life. By dining with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus identifies himself with these people, the covenant outsiders, and welcomes them into his kingdom.

The Pharisees do not understand what Jesus is doing. In their assessment, Jesus is inviting all the wrong people to join him. They ask his followers, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” This is their way of asking them what kind of teacher would do something like this. In other words, you’re following a bad teacher.

Jesus responds to their question in two ways. First, he explains that his mission to forgive sins requires him to go and visit those who have sinned. He likened this to a physician who must see the sick to help them. Second, he challenges the Pharisees’ understanding of scripture. He quotes from the prophet Hosea, saying, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6:6) These words were uttered to chastise the Israelites who would cover up their sinfulness with external acts of piety such as more sacrifices.

Sacrifice was supposed to express covenant love and faithfulness. Therefore, what Hosea was truly saying was that I desire mercy, not empty sacrifice. The translation presented here may not be the best. The Greek word translated here as “mercy” is eleos, which is the Greek representation of the Hebrew word hesed, meaning loyal and steadfast covenant love. Perhaps a better translation of this passage is, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice.” Jesus challenges the Pharisees not to let external practices of piety replace the steadfast covenant love they must show to God and His people, which includes sinners and others who have fallen away. Jesus is reminding them of their special mission to be God’s light in the world.

Daily Application

An important detail in Jesus’s calling of Matthew is often overlooked. Jesus called Matthew to follow him exactly as he was. He did not tell Matthew that he needed to repent before he followed him. He did not tell Matthew to run off and study for four years before he followed him. He placed no conditions upon Matthew other than to follow him.

Now, we can rightfully assume that Matthew did repent. He did study at the Master’s feet for three years. He amended his ways. But what is important here is the order in which things occurred.

We often think that we need to clean up our lives before we follow Jesus. We put off saying yes to him to another day because we don’t believe we are ready to follow him. We don’t think we know enough to follow him. We don’t believe we are holy enough to follow him. However, the reality is that on this side of the grave, we will never be ready enough, know enough, or be holy enough to follow Him. Our lives will never be cleaned up enough to follow him. Furthermore, we can amend our lives — grow in holiness or clean up our lives — in the absence of Him. We need Jesus.

Purchase The Commentary on the Gospels of Matthew and John by Saint Thomas Aquinas

Jesus wants us to say yes when he says to us, “Follow me.” He knows the state of our lives and the state of our hearts. He also knows what we could become if we follow him. Saint Thomas Aquinas notes how Matthew was in the custom house: a place where taxes are taken, so one could not live there without sinning. Jesus knew who Matthew was and what he had done, and yet he called him. Why would we think so? Why would we believe that when he calls us to follow him, he would place barriers and restrictions upon us that were not put upon Matthew?

Jesus is calling every one of us. He is saying, “Follow me.” We each must decide whether we will answer his call as Matthew did or if we will allow the devil’s lies, the lie that he can’t really mean us, to prevent us from following the Lord’s call. If you struggle, turn to our Blessed Mother, and as any good mother does, she will point you in the right direction and help you answer her son’s call. When you answer yes, it will change your life just as it turned Matthew from a sinful tax collector to an Apostle and author of one of the four Gospels.