I was touched to read about Matthew, when Jesus said to follow him and Matthew arose and followed him. The very next verse discloses that many publicans (tax collectors) and sinners sat down with Jesus and his other disciples. In those days, there was much in the way of obligations from the church, the king, and the Romans, so to have a job that paid well was quite something to take seriously, being a publican, a tax collector, could be fairly lucrative. But when Matthew got the invitation to follow Jesus, he left it all behind. I can only imagine the joy he felt by this opportunity, and the joy his colleagues had for him also. And there they were all sitting down together. To think what Matthew left us in his gospel, a description of the birth of Jesus, the narrative of the sermon on the mount, and much more, makes me thank God that he arose and followed Jesus on that day.