A Man Called Matthew

C. H. Spurgeon

Matthew 9:9

And as Jesus passed forth from there, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said to him, Follow me…

I. His CALL SEEMED ACCIDENTAL AND UNLIKELY.

II. HIS CALL WAS ALTOGETHER UNTHOUGHT OF AND UNSOUGHT.

1. He was in a degrading business.

2. He was in an ensnaring business.

3. He would not have dared to follow Jesus even if he had wished to do so.

III. His CALL WAS GIVEN BY THE LORD, WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF HIM. Jesus "saw a man named Matthew."

1. He saw all the evil that had been in him.

2. He saw his adaptation for holy service.

3. He saw all that He meant to make of him.

IV. His CALL WAS GRACIOUSLY CONDESCENDING.

V. HIS CALL WAS SUBLIMELY SIMPLE.

1. Few were the words.

2. Clear was the direction.

3. Personal was the address.

4. Royal was the command.

VI. HIS CALL WAS IMMEDIATELY EFFECTUAL.

1. He followed at once.

2. He followed spiritually as well as literally.

3. He followed wholly.

4. He followed growingly.

5. He followed ever after.

VII. HIS CALL WAS A DOOR OF HOPE FOR OTHERS.

(C. H. Spurgeon)