The Lord Jesus had 12 original disciples, but those men were just the first of many more followers of Christ.

They are an example for us to learn from and a reminder that God works in ordinary people.

Are you a true follower of Jesus Christ?

Let's study The 12th with Scott Pauli today and find truth that will help us all to follow more closely to Christ.

It's a wonderful thing that the Lord loves all people,

and it is a powerful truth that the Lord can use anybody.

We're following Mark's order, his list of the 12 disciples,

and we've come in our study to a man by the name of Matthew.

I want you to find today Matthew chapter number nine because here is Matthew writing out

his own testimony.

Would you like to hear in Matthew's own spirit-inspired words what the Lord did in his life?

Well, Matthew, who wrote the first gospel record in our New Testament,

writes in Matthew chapter 9 in verse number 9, these words,

and as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man named Matthew,

sitting at the receipt of custom, and he saith unto him, follow me.

And he arose and followed him and it came to pass as jesus set at meat in the house behold many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his

disciples so we get this little picture if you will will, of this disciple known as Matthew. Now,

what do we know about him? Well, first of all, let me show you his heart. His heart was a changed

heart. We know that Matthew was a tax collector. Just last evening, I was reading a little bit of the

historical context of the Jewish tax collectors and the

money situation in the days of Jesus. You remember, Rome had imposed its will on the Jewish

people. They were invaders. They were imposing tremendous taxation upon this nation.

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