Pomwe adamala kupoza munthu wakulemala, Jezu adapitiriza kukhala ku dera la ku Kafarinaumu, lomwe likhali mphepete mwa nyanza ya Galileya. Wanthu azinji akhayenda kuna iye acikapfunzisidwa mafala ya Mulungu. Patsogolo pace, Jezu adagumana munthu munango wakucemeredwa Mateu omwe akhadziwikambo na dzina lakuti Levi akhadakhala pa mbuto yakukhomera mtsonkho. Ndipo Jezu adamupasa mwayi ukulu kwene-kwene pakumuuza kuti: ‘Khala mteweri wangu.’—Mateu 9:9.

Bzinkuwoneka kuti Mateu akhabva kale bzomwe Jezu akhapfunzisa na bzakudabwisa bzomwe iye akhacita m’deralo, mwakundendemerana na Pedru, Andereya, Tiyago na Juwau. Ninga momwe bzidacitikira kuna anyakupfunza anai wakuyambirirawa, Mateu adabvuma mcemo wa Jezu pa nthawe ibodzi-bodziyo. Mu bukhu lomwe Mateu adanemba, adalewa bza iye yekha kuti: ‘Ndipo pa nthawe ibodzi-bodziyo iye [Mateuyo] adamuka, acimutewera.’ (Mateu 9:9) Tenepo Mateu adasiya basa lace ninga nyakukhomesa mtsonkho acikhala nyakutewera wa Jezu.

Patapita nthawe, Mateu adakonza madyo makulu kwene-kwene kumui kwace. Pinango iye adacita bzimwebzi kuti alatize kutenda mwayi wakukhala nyakupfunza wa Jezu. Kupambula Jezu na anyakupfunza wace, kodi mbani winango omwe adacemeredwambo pa madyopo? Mateuyo adacemerambo anyakukhomesa mtsonkho winango omwe akhaphata nawo basa, pomwe akhanati kukhala mteweri wa Jezu. Iwo akhakhomesa mtsonkho m’mbuto mwa boma la Roma lomwe wanthu akhaliwenga kwene-kwene, ndipo akhakhomesa mtsonkho sitima za m’madzi, ngolo zomwe zikhafamba m’misewu mikulu-mikulu, na mitolo yakucokera m’madziko manango. Kodi Ajuda akhawawona tani wanthu amwewa? Akhawengana nawo thangwe iwo akhambalipirisa kobiri zizinji kuposa zomwe akhafunika kupereka. Ku madyoko akhalipombo wanthu ‘wapikado’ omwe akhadziwika kuti akhacita bzinthu bzakuipa.—Luka 7:37-39.

Afarizeu omwe akhabziti mbakulungama, pomwe adawona Jezu ankudya pabodzi na wanthu amwewa, adabvunza anyakupfunza wace kuti: ‘N’thangwe ranyi mpfunzisi wanu ankudya pabodzi na anyakukhomesa mtsonkho na anyapikado?’ (Mateu 9:11) Pomwe Jezu adabva bzimwebzi, iye adawatawira kuti: ‘Wanthu wakulimba ambafunika lini dotolo, koma wanthu omwe ankuduwala. Tenepo, ndokoni mukapfunze thandauzo la mafala yakuti: “Ndin’funa nsisi, sikuti nsembe.” Pakuti ndiribe kubwera kudzacemera anyakulungama, koma anyapikado.’ (Mateu 9:12, 13; Ozeya 6:6) Pomwe Afarizeu adacemera Jezu kuti Mpfunzisi iwo akhalewa mwacinyengo, koma adatenga pfunziro na momwe Jezuyo adawatawirira.

Bzinkuwoneka kuti Mateu adacemera anyakukhomesa mtsonkho pabodzi na wanthu wapikado na cakulinga cakuti adzabve mafala ya Jezu na kupozedwa mwauzimu, ‘ndipo kumweko kukhana wanthu azinji omwe akhamutewera.’ (Marko 2:15) Jezu akhafuna kuthandiza wanthuwa kuti akhale pa uxamwali na Mulungu. Mwakusiyana na Afarizeu omwe akhabziti mbakulungama, Jezu akhawanyoza lini wanthu amwewa. Iye akhawabvera nsisi na kuwadekera mtima wanthuwa ndipo akhawathandiza mwauzimu ninga momwe dotolo ambacitira na atenda.

Jezu adacitira nsisi wanthu wakukhomesa mtsonkho pabodzi na wanthu wapikado, sikuti akhadekedwa na pikado zawozo, koma akhafuna kuwathandiza mwakudeka mtima ninga momwe adathandizira wanthu omwe akhaduwala. Mwa ciratizo kumbukirani kuti pomwe adapoza munthu wa mapere, Jezu adamuphata thangwe ra kumubvera nsisi ndipo adamuuza kuti: ‘Ndin’funa! Khala wakucena.’ (Mateu 8:3) Bzingakhale bwino ifepano kumbabverambo nsisi wanthu ticiwathandiza maka-maka mwauzimu.