Matthew 9:9 Meaning: When Jesus Called the Least Likely

The Greek word behind “follow me” is akolouthei, a present imperative, literally “be following me.” It is not a one-time invitation; it is a continuous, day-by-day command. Jesus calls Matthew into an ongoing relationship, not just a single decision.

Matthew was sitting at the telōnion, the tax booth. The word describes a small building or bench at a toll station. In Capernaum, that booth sat at the crossroads of trade routes. It was a place of profit built on exploitation. Vincent’s Word Studies notes that publicans often set up at harbors and bridges, extracting money from travelers. When Matthew left that booth, he left his livelihood and his reputation as a traitor.

Matthew’s response uses two key verbs: anastas (having arisen) and ēkolouthēsen (he followed). Both are aorist, decisive, completed actions. He stood up and he followed. There was no going back. The grammar matches the abruptness of the story: Jesus speaks, and a life turns.

Christians across traditions have found this story a powerful picture of grace. Calvin, writing from a Reformed perspective, calls Matthew’s call “a striking instance of the grace of God.” He says Jesus chose a publican to show that our calling depends not on our righteousness but on Christ’s pure kindness. Matthew Henry (Presbyterian) notes that Matthew humbly calls himself by his old name rather than the more honorable Levi, emphasizing his unworthiness. Catholic teaching honors Matthew as an apostle and evangelist, seeing his response as a model of immediate obedience. All traditions agree: Jesus did not choose Matthew because he was good. He chose him to show that he came for sinners, not for the self-righteous.

A common misreading is to think Jesus called Matthew because he saw some hidden potential or spiritual hunger in him. In fact, the text gives no indication of that. Matthew was simply sitting at his tax booth, doing his dishonest work. Jesus took the initiative with no preconditions. The scandal of the story is that Jesus calls the unworthy, not the promising. Grace comes first, and then Matthew responds.

Maybe you feel disqualified by your past, a job you are ashamed of, a reputation you cannot shake, a habit you think makes you unusable. Jesus does not wait for you to clean yourself up. He sees you exactly where you are, at your own “tax booth,” and he says the same two words: “Follow me.”

This week, take an honest look at the thing that defines you most, the thing you think keeps Jesus at a distance. It might be your work, a broken relationship, a secret you carry. Imagine Jesus walking by, looking right at you, and inviting you to leave it behind. You do not need to figure out the whole future. You only need to get up and follow.