As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him,“Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. (Matthew 9:9)

The call of the man named Matthew seemed accidental and unlikely, “As Jesus passed forth thence,: just as he was going about some work or other, going away from Capernaum, perhaps, or merely going down now of it’s streets, it was as he “passed forth” that this event happened.

At that time, also, there were many other people in Capernaum, yet Christ did not call them. He saw them, but not in the particular way in which he saw the man named Matthew.

And in like manner, on that day of mercy when you received the blessed of salvation, perhaps there was a crowded congregation, but as far as you know, the blessing did not reach anybody but yourself.

Why, then, did it come to you? You do not know, unless you have learned to look behind the curtains in the Holy Place and to see by the light of the lamp within the veil. If you have looked there, you know that when Jesus Christ is passing by, what men call his accidents are all intentional, the glances of his eyes are all ordained from eternity; and when he looks upon anyone, he does it according to the everlasting purpose and the foreknowledge of God.

The Lord has looked long before on that man named Matthew, so in the fullness of time, Jesus Christ must pass pass that way, and he must look in love and mercy upon that man named Matthew. He saw him then because, long before, he foresaw him.[1]

Charles Spurgeon

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End notes:

[1] Charles Spurgeon, At the Master’s Feet [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005], April 20.

See also:

MORMONISM DECLARED WAR ON CHRISTIANITY

WHAT’S UP WITH LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

MAY 2012 CONFERENCE TO INDOCTRINATE CHILDREN INTO BRIAN MCLAREN MYTHOLOGY