Matthew 9:9
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Matthew's own account, by calling himself "Matthew," subtly highlights his transformation, as the name means "gift of God." This choice subtly frames his new life in Christ as a divine present, a stark contrast to the "gift of taxes" his former profession offered.
Jesus has just healed a paralytic in Capernaum and is leaving the house, moving on to his next encounter. As he walks past the local tax collection booth, he spots a man named Matthew, a tax collector, and simply calls him to follow. This immediate call and Matthew's swift, decisive obedience to leave his profession and follow Jesus marks the beginning of his discipleship and sets the stage for Jesus' controversial meal with other tax collectors and sinners.
Imagine sitting at your job, focused on the day's transactions, when someone walks by and simply says, 'Follow me.' What would you do? This moment with Matthew, a tax collector, was not just a casual invitation.
Jesus' call to Matthew wasn't out of the blue. While Matthew's profession as a tax collector made him an outcast among his own people, Jesus saw beyond that.
A Man of Business
Matthew was 'sitting at the receipt of custom,' deeply engrossed in his work. This was a place where he'd interact with many people, likely dealing with goods coming in and out of Capernaum. It wasn't a position of honor in Jewish society; tax collectors were often seen as collaborators with the Roman oppressors and were viewed with deep suspicion and disdain.
A Radical Invitation
Yet, Jesus' command, 'Follow me,' was immediate and absolute. It wasn't a lengthy sermon or a debate about qualifications. It was a direct call that demanded an instant response. This highlights Jesus' authority and the compelling nature of his presence.
Matthew's instantaneous obedience is astounding. What could compel a man to leave his livelihood and social standing so quickly?
The power behind Jesus' simple command, 'Follow me,' was supernatural. It wasn't just a suggestion; it was a divine summons that resonated deep within Matthew's soul.
A Transformative Encounter
Commentaries suggest Matthew likely had some prior awareness of Jesus, perhaps having heard him teach or witnessed his miracles in Capernaum. This prior exposure might have prepared his heart. However, the immediate and decisive action of rising and following points to more than just curiosity or admiration.
Divine Authority
Jesus' words carried an inherent authority, a divine pull that bypassed Matthew's occupational concerns and societal status. This call was not merely an invitation to join a group, but a life-altering summons to discipleship, empowered by the very Spirit of God.
Understand the original words
telōnēs · Greek Noun
A person authorized by the Roman government to collect taxes. In Jewish society, they were often viewed as traitors and extortioners, and were socially marginalized as religious outsiders.
akoloutheō · Greek Verb
To come after or adhere to someone. Discipleship involves walking in the path of the teacher, imitating their life, and total obedience to their instruction.
Matthew's call highlights Jesus' radical inclusion of societal outcasts and His power to transform lives, even those entangled in deeply unpopular and corrupt systems like Roman tax collection.
Early 1st century AD
Roman tax collection in Galilee
The Roman Empire controlled Galilee, and its provinces were overseen by governors who appointed tax collectors (publicans). These collectors, often local Jews, were notorious for their greed and extortion, leading to deep resentment among their own people. The publicans' work was essential for Roman administration and funding.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' ministry in Capernaum
Jesus established Capernaum as a base for His Galilean ministry. He frequently taught and performed miracles there, drawing crowds but also attracting the attention of religious leaders and Roman authorities.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus calls Matthew
Jesus, passing by a tax booth in Capernaum, saw Matthew (also known as Levi) and directly called him to be a disciple. Matthew, a tax collector deeply unpopular with his Jewish countrymen, immediately left his occupation to follow Jesus.
Early 1st century AD
Feast with tax collectors and sinners
This passage recounts the same event, highlighting that Matthew (there called Levi) 'left all' to follow Jesus, emphasizing the radical nature of his commitment.
Mark 2:14Similar to Matthew's account, Mark also calls the tax collector Levi and places his calling at the customs booth, underscoring the consistent witness across the Gospels.
Matthew 11:19Jesus' defense of eating with tax collectors and sinners, calling himself 'a friend of tax collectors and sinners,' directly addresses the societal scorn Matthew likely faced and validates Jesus' choice to call him.
1 Timothy 1:15Paul's declaration that 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost,' echoes Matthew's own story as a powerful example of Christ's redemptive work reaching the most unlikely individuals.
2 Corinthians 5:17This verse speaks of being 'a new creation' in Christ, which perfectly describes Matthew's transformation from a despised tax collector to an apostle and Gospel writer.
bensonMatthew 9:9: "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."
Matthew 9:9 . And as Jesus passed from thence — That is, from the house in which the paralytic had been cured, he saw a man named Matthew — Modestly so called by himself: the other evangelists call him by his more honourable name, Levi; setting at the receipt of custom — In the very height of his business. The expr…
barnesMatthew 9:9: "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."
He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom - That is, at the place where "custom," or "tribute," was received; or, in other words, he was a "publican" or tax-gatherer. See the notes at Matthew 5:47 . This man was the writer of this gospel. The same account is found in Mark 2:14 , and Luke 5:27-28…
Matthew's own account, by calling himself "Matthew," subtly highlights his transformation, as the name means "gift of God." This choice subtly frames his new life in Christ as a divine present, a stark contrast to the "gift of taxes" his former profession offered.
Jesus has just healed a paralytic in Capernaum and is leaving the house, moving on to his next encounter. As he walks past the local tax collection booth, he spots a man named Matthew, a tax collector, and simply calls him to follow. This immediate call and Matthew's swift, decisive obedience to leave his profession and follow Jesus marks the beginning of his discipleship and sets the stage for Jesus' controversial meal with other tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus has just healed a paralytic in Capernaum and is leaving the house, moving on to his next encounter. As he walks past the local tax collection booth, he spots a man named Matthew, a tax collector, and simply calls him to follow. This immediate call and Matthew's swift, decisive obedience to leave his profession and follow Jesus marks the beginning of his discipleship and sets the stage for Jesus' controversial meal with other tax collectors and sinners.
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Why does the Bible call him 'Matthew' here, but 'Levi' in other Gospels? And why is his own account so brief?
The way Matthew presents his own calling reveals significant truths about his character and the nature of the Gospel.
A Name Change
Matthew, the writer of this Gospel, is called Levi in Mark and Luke. Scholars suggest several possibilities: Levi might have been his original name, and Matthew his new, 'apostolic' name given by Jesus, signifying his new identity. Or, he may have simply preferred the name Matthew, perhaps because of its meaning ('gift of God'), or because it carried less of the stigma associated with 'Levi' due to his former profession.
Humble Self-Portrayal
Matthew's own account is remarkably concise. He doesn't boast about leaving 'all,' as Luke mentions, nor does he dwell on the societal disapproval of his former job. Instead, he simply states the facts: he was called, and he followed. This humility underscores the focus of the Gospel: not on the greatness of the disciple, but on the glory and grace of the Savior who calls.
Following Matthew's calling, Jesus attended a banquet hosted by Matthew, where many other tax collectors and 'sinners' were present. This act of fellowship with outcasts scandalized the religious elite but demonstrated Jesus' mission to reach those on the margins of society.
"As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him." — Matthew's own account, by calling himself "Matthew," subtly highlights his transformation, as the name means "gift of God." This choice subtly frames his new life in Christ as a divine present, a sta…
