Matthew, called Levi a former tax collector, a Jew to the bone, witnessed the One who suddenly appeared in the land and made a sensational appeal to the people who were unswervingly and fervently waiting for the Messiah promised to the patriarchs of the tiny tribe, claiming Himself as the Son of God. He couldn't believe his ears of what the people were talking about Him. Out of nowhere, he was without warning visited by the Person face to face when he was sitting at the tax booth. In wonder and surprise, he was quietly and gently called with two words, “Follow me!”
At the divine call, he couldn't resist at all but
immediately followed him then and forever. He learned of Him as King of kings
and Lord of lords in heaven and on earth. He traced Him to Father Abraham and
King David through whom God promised to send the Seed as King. He portrayed Him
as the humble and meek King who reigns from the highest heaven to Sheol.
Matthew saw His kingdom was not limited to the small land but stretched out to
the heavens upon heavens from the deepest inner mind of humans.
Matthew was the last person to be called in the human point
of view. He wrote the Sermon on Mount, breaking out the trumpet sound of
heaven, saying “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.” He thought when he made enough money he would be happy thereafter no
matter what the fellow people said. Material wealth, however, never made him
happy but disappointed badly enough until he couldn't bear any longer. Turning
back was an option for him and clean start all over again. But it seemed
hopeless and in a way he was resisting that tiny inner voice.
When he heard about the Person who shed a great light upon
the poor and the needy, he was shaken by the electricity of the powerful words.
He yielded himself to King and His marvelous teachings on the kingdom of
heaven. He was once lost but then found in God. When he accepted his spiritual
bankruptcy, his eyes of the heart were widely opened to see the kingdom of God
where He reigns in His fullness and majesty. King Jesus came into the heart of
Matthew and reigns in meekness and humbleness. As peace, joy, and love prevailed Matthew and his life, so does anyone who has been touched by his gospel, Gospel according to Matthew.
To a Jew to the bone like Matthew, Jesus Christ is Immanuel
God who is with His people now and to the very end of age. So is He to all who
believes in King, the King of peace and fulfillment. Jesus was made King not by
might nor by power but by death, the death on the cross in Calvary. Anyone who
believes in Him shall reign with Him, spreading out peace and joy all around. King
who is Judge of all did not judge but sacrificed Himself in order to reign in
love and peace over all who trusts in Him.
Jesus
Christ is the Risen King who streams the overflowing life out of rivers of
living water. He is able to make the dead alive by the power of resurrection. So,
anyone who put his trust in Him will never be put to shame in any circumstance. 
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