Hard at work, looking at various accounts. -- Image by shannonrphillips from Pixabay
A Modern Retelling of "Matthew the Tax Collector"
Lee Grant was the last guy you would want to see across the table at lunch. He was a grumpy, strong-handed debt collector, working for a big financial firm that specialized in squeezing people dry.
This big financial firm had its fingers in everything: home loans, lines of credit, personal loans, auto loans, and even payday-type loans. They were ruthless, with hidden fees, high interest rates, and more. When a payment was missed, Lee was called to do what he does best: convince the person to pay up before they lose everything.
He did not lose any sleep over this.
The firm leased a luxury SUV for him to drive. He didn't go anywhere without his designer sunglasses, fancy clothes, and top-of-the-line shoes.
Lee had been at this for a long time, and most everyone knew of him. That was not a good thing, since he was disliked by almost everyone.
One Friday late morning, Lee was at his desk scrolling through overdue accounts when someone stopped by. This was the most unexpected visit that grumpy, get-it-done Lee could have imagined.
It was the pastor of a much-loved church nearby. His name was John McBride, but the locals just referred to him as Pastor J. He was well known for his work with people in prison, addiction issues, and others in need.
Pastor J had many professional visits with Lee Grant over the years. There was something different about this visit. First, Pastor J usually makes an appointment, and second, he had a very different look in his eyes when he told Lee, "We really need to have lunch today."
Lee laughed at first, "I'm too busy to leave the office today."
He looked up at the pastor and saw something he rarely sees. Not disgust, not fear, not the usual "you're a crook" glare, but a soft, caring look. Lee's curiosity piqued, and he agreed to lunch.
Lunch was not the usual banter, good versus evil, right and wrong; it was a very different conversation. Pastor J just talked about Lee's future, what he wanted in life, where he is going, and the conversation ended with Pastor J asking, "If there is anything I can help you with, just ask."
Something different was in the air as they paid the tab for lunch; they exchanged personal phone numbers at Lee's request. Then he said, "I'm good right now, but thank you."
As the evening rolled on, the lunch conversation haunted Lee. No one had ever talked to him like that in a very, very long time. He called Pastor J and invited him to a dinner party for Saturday night. The invite was accepted.
While Lee knew how to throw a party, he felt the need to scale it down a bit. The guest list was unique to him: loan officers, hustlers, bar regulars, a couple of girlfriends who weren't exactly girlfriends.
The dinner went smoothly. After dinner, there was an uneasy feeling with the gang about Pastor J being there. He just talked to everyone, the hustlers, the barflies, and the not exactly girlfriends. The was no judgment on his part, just genuine talk about life and what their story was.
Not everyone was impressed. Some of the church busybodies saw Pastor J enter that horrible home. The rumors were spreading like wildfire.
When word got back, the pastor didn't flinch. He knew exactly what tomorrow's sermon would be. He would talk about how healthy people do not need a doctor, but the sick do.
It was time for Pastor J's sermon. He walked up to the pulpit and opened his Bible. Before he started to read Mark 2, verse 17, he saw Lee, a very sober barfly and one of the "not exactly girlfriends," sitting in the back. He gave Lee a small smile and a head nod.
He stopped dead in his tracks and temporarily shifted gears. Before he started his prepared sermon, he went to Matthew 7, stared right at the busy bodies all bundled together near the front of the church. He read verses 1-6, "Judge not, that you be not judged…"
The events of that weekend left Lee a changed man.
Months later, he had left the big financial firm. The podcast he created, talking about living life using Christian values, even if not a Christian, was very well received. He used a new name for everything online and in written books. His pen name was Matt Barstow.
Sitting in the back row of church, practically every Sunday, was Lee, aka Matt Barstow, the retired bar fly working a fabulous job, and the "not exactly a girlfriend", who was now married to the bar fly.
Based on Luke 5:27-32, Mark 2:13-17
Synopsis:
Levi, later called Matthew, was a tax collector — despised by his people. Yet Jesus called him, ate with him, and made him a disciple. The religious were scandalized, but Jesus' point was clear: he came for the broken, not for those who think they're already whole. This retelling reminds us that grace shows up where no one expects it.
Tap to read the actual bible passage:
Story of Levi to Matthew (Luke's version)
Story of Levi to Matthew (Mark's version)
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