Matthew ix. 9.
One day the Lord Jesus made His way to the lake-side, and near the
water's edge He found a crowd of busy people.
Some of them were carrying heavy loads from the boats which were moored
at the bottom of the steps; others were lifting down baskets of fruit
or provisions, to put into the boats which were being emptied.
Everyone was busy, for those who brought goods in, or those carrying
goods out across the lake, had to pay a toll or tax to the Roman
Governors, and the men who collected the tax were on the look-out that
no one should slip past without paying his toll; often the Publicans,
as they were called, cheated the poor Jews very much.
Some Jews, who saw what a lot of money was made at this business,
became tax-gatherers themselves, and they were despised and hated by
their countrymen.
As Jesus neared the lake-side, and looked on the busy, eager crowd, as
they thronged the place of Custom, He was looking for a man, a Jewish
Publican, who was, as He knew, among that crowd.
Then the loving eyes of Jesus fell upon him as he sat writing down the
money and putting it in safety in a bag.
This was the man Jesus wanted; this was the man who was to do His work,
and be known as His servant, for nineteen hundred years, Matthew the
Publican!