马太的见证
路加福音五章27至31节
27这事以后，耶稣出去，看见一个税吏，名叫利未，坐在税关上，就对他说：“你跟从我来﹗”
28他就撇下所有的，起来，跟从了耶稣。
29利未在自己家里为耶稣大摆筵席，有许多税吏和别人与他们一同坐席。
30法利赛人和文士就向耶稣的门徒发怨言说：“你们为甚么和税吏并罪人一同吃喝呢？”
31耶稣对他们说：“无病的人用不着医生，有病的人才用得着；
信息分享
他可以介绍谁认识这位他新交的朋友呢？平常与他交往的朋友，都是像他一样被平民百姓所鄙视的税吏。与他们一同坐席的「罪人」究竟是谁呢？我们不得而知。
我们不知道任何一位宾客的名字，但他们在马太家中作客，都感到宾至如归，也没有因为基督在座而不自在。也许，将来我们在天上会认识他们当中的一些人！
马太给我们留下一个很好的榜样。他用他的家作为为基督作见证的地方。后来，他更运用他的笔来见证基督。他用来书写福音书的那枝笔，是否正是昔日在税关所用的笔呢？第一卷福音书便是由这位离开税关、跟从基督的马太所写的。
我们怎样使用我们的家呢？有些人也许会说：「我经常在家中款待客人。」谁是你的客人？他们都是基督徒吗？好不好用你的家来为主作见证呢？邀请信徒与非信徒同来。马太就是这样做的，他不单邀请门徒，也邀请了罪人。
还有你的笔或电话呢？你有没有常常用它们为主作见证？去劝勉和鼓励他人呢？马太正是这样做的。他用他的笔，那枝在他放下一切跟从基督，仅留下的几样东西中的笔，为主作见证。
我们有甚么东西，是可以在今天、这个星期，以至经常用来服侍基督的呢？
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?