馬太的見證
路加福音五章27至31節
27這事以後，耶穌出去，看見一個稅吏，名叫利未，坐在稅關上，就對他說：“你跟從我來﹗”
28他就撇下所有的，起來，跟從了耶穌。
29利未在自己家裡為耶穌大擺筵席，有許多稅吏和別人與他們一同坐席。
30法利賽人和文士就向耶穌的門徒發怨言說：“你們為甚麼和稅吏並罪人一同吃喝呢？”
31耶穌對他們說：“無病的人用不著醫生，有病的人才用得著；
信息分享
他可以介紹誰認識這位他新交的朋友呢？平常與他交往的朋友，都是像他一樣被平民百姓所鄙視的稅吏。與他們一同坐席的「罪人」究竟是誰呢？我們不得而知。
我們不知道任何一位賓客的名字，但他們在馬太家中作客，都感到賓至如歸，也沒有因為基督在座而不自在。也許，將來我們在天上會認識他們當中的一些人！
馬太給我們留下一個很好的榜樣。他用他的家作為為基督作見證的地方。後來，他更運用他的筆來見證基督。他用來書寫福音書的那枝筆，是否正是昔日在稅關所用的筆呢？第一卷福音書便是由這位離開稅關、跟從基督的馬太所寫的。
我們怎樣使用我們的家呢？有些人也許會說：「我經常在家中款待客人。」誰是你的客人？他們都是基督徒嗎？好不好用你的家來為主作見證呢？邀請信徒與非信徒同來。馬太就是這樣做的，他不單邀請門徒，也邀請了罪人。
還有你的筆或電話呢？你有沒有常常用它們為主作見證？去勸勉和鼓勵他人呢？馬太正是這樣做的。他用他的筆，那枝在他放下一切跟從基督，僅留下的幾樣東西中的筆，為主作見證。
我們有甚麼東西，是可以在今天、這個星期，以至經常用來服侍基督的呢？
MATTHEW WITNESSING
Luke 5: 27-31
27 After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.”
28 So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.
30 And their scribes and the Pharisees[b] complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Message
Who could he witness to about his newly found friend? Who were his friends? It must be only men who had the same despised occupation as him, the tax collectors. Who were the sinners who joined them at the meal? We would like to know.
We don't know the names of any of the guests. But they felt at home in Matthew's house, and they were not uncomfortable in Christ's presence. We could easily meet a few of them someday in Heaven!
What a wonderful example Matthew left us. He used his home as a place to provide a witnessing opportunity for Christ. Later he used his pen. Did he bring it with him from his office? Twenty-eight chapters of the first Gospel came from the man who left the taxation department to follow Christ.
What are we doing with our homes? Someone might say, “'We have people in our home all the time.” But who are they? Are they always fellow Christians? What about using your home for Christ? Mix the believers with some unbelievers. Matthew did. It is obvious he invited the disciples as well as the sinners.
What about your pen or your telephone? Do you often use them for Christ as a witness? As an encouragement? For fellowship? Matthew did. He used his pen, one of the very few items he brought with him when he followed Christ.
What do we have that we can use for Christ? Today? This week? Often?