Sermons on Matthew The Tax Collector:

Taxing Times

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jul 24, 2011

The tax collector as a model of saving faith

Count Leo Tolstoy was a man who unashamedly called himself ‘Christian’. He once penned these words into his diary: ‘I have not yet met a single man who was morally as good as I. ... I do not remember an instance in my life when I was not attracted to what is good And was not ready to sacrifice ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Taxes Of Sin

Contributed by Chad Taylor on Apr 19, 2010

Tax season is upon us....right now many of us are either celebrating or are discouraged due to the "tax" that has been put upon us. Taxes and sin are one in the same and Satan is the dirty "Uncle Satan" who dives into our spiritual pockets robbing us of G

A couple was strolling along an ocean side beach and noticed a bottle floating in the water. They waded out toward it and saw it contained a note. They eagerly opened the bottle and read the note. It said: "I’m marooned on a tropical island. There’s no pollution, traffic, noise, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Character Study Of Matthew (Levi) Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 25, 2025

Matthew’s life is a testimony of God’s transforming power. He went from being a despised tax collector to a devoted disciple and Gospel writer. His decision to follow Jesus changed not only his own life but also the lives of millions through his Gospel.

CHARACTER STUDY OF MATTHEW (LEVI) – FORMER TAX COLLECTOR, WRITER OF THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Matthew 9:9 "As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9, Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-32, Matthew 10:3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jesus Dines With Sinners Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Nov 19, 2023

Jesus showed mercy to lepers, prostitutes, adulterers and associated with people society treated as people to be avoided. Jesus sought out those who were down and out. When they met Jesus, their lives were transformed.

There is something very gratifying about being accepted by people of high social status. If I am ever with someone with high social standing or if they have lots of clout, I am right away taken in. If my friends could see me now, I am thinking. I am easily starstruck by anyone with even a little ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Matthew

Contributed by Mark Jones on Nov 30, 2013

A look at Jesus in Matthew

Matthew was a tax collector before coming to know Jesus. He was very meticulous in his accounting and record-keeping. He would have known a form of shorthand. His accounts would be very accurate. 60% of Matthew is the words spoken by Jesus. Matthew was written to a Jewish audience 400 years ...read more

Denomination: *other

A Gracious Call To A Social Outcast (Mark 2:13-17) Series

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 25, 2021

So many people today feel like they exist more than they live, thinking that everything in this world is against them and that no one cares. Matthew, the tax collector, is just such a case. It turned out that Jesus had a plan for him, and for you as well.

Jesus' compassion for people is evident as we progress through this Gospel. This display of Divine love is recorded by Matthew and Luke as well. The Lord Jesus is not the exclusive property of any group or man- made religious system. Nobody can mold Him into one particular behavior to suit ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Zealot Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 8, 2022

Ordinarily a zealot like Simon would have killed a tax collector like Matthew - but he didn't. Why not?

OPEN: This morning I want to talk to you about the periodic table (we showed a periodic table on the screen). On this periodic table are two elements that I find intriguing. One of these is Sodium. Sodium is the 6th most abundant element in the Earth's crust (did you know that?) As a solid, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:2-4, Romans 15:12, Isaiah 11:6-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Tax Collector And The Pharisee: Very Concise

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 9, 2019

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 30th Sunday, Cycle C

Narada, the Indian sage, was a devotee of God, and thought that no one loved God more than he. His self-righteousness began to lead him towards pride and arrogance. The Lord read his heart and said, “Narada, go to this town on the banks of the Ganges for a devotee of mine dwells there. Living ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Catholic

A Pharisee And Tax Collector Pray Together PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 13, 2025

True acceptance with God comes not from self-righteousness or comparison, but from humble confession and receiving the mercy and love found in Jesus Christ.

Some of us walked in today with a smile on our face and a scoreboard in our heart. You know the scoreboard I mean—the quiet tally of how we’re doing compared to others, the inner itch to be seen as enough, the nervous need to be noticed and approved. We measure our worth by the week we had, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Topics: Humility, Exaltation, Self-Righteousness

Keeping Bad Company

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Nov 18, 2017

Should Christians keep company with sinners?

Keeping Bad Company Matthew 9:9-14 In this passage we are introduced by Matthew which is widely acclaimed at the writer of the Gospel of Matthew. In the other gospels, he is introduced as Levi. It was not uncommon for Jews to be called by more than one name. This is also true with people today who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

True Repentance Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Mar 15, 2022

“Come, let us return to the Lord.” (Hosea 6:1) Jesus went to the house of many tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees saw this and asked why Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners. In that context Jesus Quotes Hosea 6:6 (found in Matthew 9:13).

The story of the prodigal son gives us a great picture of repentance. The prodigal has messed up big time and ended up in a terrible situation, eating pig slop just to survive. That situation made him turn back to his father. But you don’t have to wind up on skid row to need repentance. A Christian ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:1-11, Hosea 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Guest List

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 19, 2024

You’re probably heard the saying, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. You would think that Jesus could please all of the people all of the time. But he didn’t.

You’re probably heard the saying, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. That sounds true from my experience. No one can please all of the people all of the time, but … if there ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be A Matthew

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 25, 2008

Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus saw Matthew’s need, his worth and his potential. Matthew understood his own need, was willing to follow Christ and shared the Good News.

We are going to look at a man called Levi (also called Matthew in Matt 9:9-12). I will use the more familiar name Matthew here. It is surprising that Jesus would even call a tax-collector to follow Him. • Jesus was preparing a group of disciples who would eventually bring the good news about ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Pharisee And The Tax Collector Or The Pastor And Irs Agent Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Feb 7, 2002

Jesus told a story in Luke’s Gospel to teach us about the irony of God’s righteousness and man’s sinfulness.

INTRODUCTION Sermonic Theme Opening Statement: There are many literary forms used in the Bible. There is poetry, proverb, legal document, dramatic narrative, hymn, sermon, theological treatise, personal letter, and apocalyptic vision. And sprinkled into all of these genres are figures of speech ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee & The Tax-Collector - A Sermon On Luke 18

Contributed by David Smith on Apr 21, 2005

Father Dave’s sermon on the parable of the tax collector and the Parisee. Father Dave challenges the conventional understanding of the Pharisee.

Luke 18 - Jesus told them another joke. I know your translation says ’parable’ rather than ’joke’, but ’joke’ is not a bad translation. We don’t tell parables nowadays, we tell jokes, and they’re pretty similar - both have punch lines, both can help you to see life in a different way, both can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican