Matthew 9:9 · Bible study
Matthew 9:9 Commentary: Study: The Grace That Calls a Sinner
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Jesus choose Matthew, a despised tax collector, to follow him?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus calls a despised tax collector to be his disciple, showing grace to the outcast and demanding total allegiance.
- Key words: telōnion (tax booth), akolouthei (present imperative: keep following).
- Main debate: Whether the feast in v.10 was at Matthew’s house or Jesus’ house; whether Matthew had prior contact with Jesus.
- Theological theme: The grace of Jesus’ call to sinners; the cost of discipleship; the reversal of social and religious boundaries.
- Best use: Teaching the inclusive nature of the kingdom and the radical response required of a disciple.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
WEB World English Bible 2000
As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the place of toll: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Jesus passing by thence, saw a man sitting at the tax-office, named Matthew, and saith to him, `Be following me,' and he, having risen, did follow him.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Jesus, passing on thence, saw a man sitting at the tax-office, called Matthew, and says to him, Follow me. And he rose up and followed him.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And when Jesus passed on from thence, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he saith to him: Follow me. And he arose up and followed him.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y pasando Jesús de allí, vió á un hombre que estaba sentado al|strong="G1909, G3588" banco de los públicos tributos, el cual se llamaba Mateo; y dícele|strong="G3004, G0846": Sígueme|strong="G0190, G3427". Y se levantó, y le siguió.
E Jesus, ao passar dali, viu um homem sentado na coletoria de impostos, chamado Mateus; e disse-lhe: Segue-me. Então este se levantou e o seguiu.
De là étant allé plus loin, Jésus vit un homme assis au lieu des péages, et qui s’ appelait Matthieu. Il lui dit: Suis-moi. Cet homme se leva, et le suivit.
Und da Jesus von dannen ging, sah er einen Menschen am Zoll sitzen, der hieß Matthäus; und er sprach zu ihm: Folge mir! Und er stand auf und folgte ihm.
En Jezus, van daar voortgaande, zag een mens in het tolhuis zitten, genaamd Mattheus; en zeide tot hem: Volg Mij. En hij opstaande, volgde Hem.
Poi Gesù, partitosi di là, passando, vide un uomo, chiamato Matteo, che sedeva al banco della gabella; e gli disse: Seguimi. Ed egli, levatosi, lo seguì.
A odchodząc stamtąd Jezus, ujrzał człowieka siedzącego na cle, którego zwano Mateusz, i rzekł mu: Pójdź za mną; tedy wstawszy, szedł za nim.
Проходя оттуда, Иисус увидел человека, сидящего у сбора пошлин, по имени Матфея, и говорит ему: следуй за Мною. И он встал и последовал за Ним.
耶穌 從那裡 往前走，看見 一個人 名叫 馬太，坐 在 稅關上，就 對他 說：「你跟從 我來。」他就 起來 跟從了 耶穌。
And when Jesus was going from there, he saw a man whose name was Matthew, seated at the place where taxes were taken; and he said to him, Come after me. And he got up and went after him.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 9:9
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Matthew's call displays Jesus' radical grace toward the morally outcast. Barnes and Calvin note that tax collectors were hated as traitors and extortioners, yet Jesus called one to be an apostle and gospel writer. The Greek present imperative akolouthei (“be following”) commands ongoing commitment, not a single decision. Matthew's immediate response, leaving his tax booth, shows the power of Christ's word to produce instant action. Clarke emphasizes the blessedness of obeying at once; Matthew Henry points out that Jesus found Matthew busy at work, not in a pious setting. All see this as a living illustration of Jesus' own mission statement in verse 13: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” The consensus is that Jesus deliberately chose a social outcast to demonstrate that the kingdom is open to the undeserving.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus calls a tax collector, who leaves his post and follows, demonstrating the radical grace of the kingdom.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The location of the feast (v.10) | All traditions agree the feast follows immediately from the call and involves many tax collectors and sinners. | Lange argues it was in Matthew's house, while Meyer holds it was in Jesus' house. The synoptic parallels (Luke 5:29) specify Levi's house, which most scholars follow. |
| Whether Matthew had prior contact with Jesus | All agree this is the first recorded call of Matthew in the Gospel narrative. | Lange suggests Matthew 'probably had already, at a former period, entered into closer relationship with the Lord.' Others (Calvin, Clarke) assume no prior acquaintance, emphasizing the suddenness of grace. |
| The origin of the name 'Matthew' | The name means 'gift of God' in Syriac/Hebrew, and it is the name by which the apostle is known in the Gospels. | Some (Cambridge Bible, Henry) think Matthew adopted the name when he became a disciple; others (Matthew Henry also notes) think Jesus may have given it, similar to Peter's new name. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jesus had just healed a paralytic in Capernaum, declaring the Son of Man’s authority to forgive sins (9:6). From there he walked toward the Sea of Galilee, a busy commercial hub. Tax collectors (telōnai) sat at toll stations (telōnion) to collect duties on goods and travelers. Vincent describes these as small booths on elevated platforms at bridges, harbors, and roads, an everyday obstacle. But the occupation was infamous. Tax collectors worked for the Roman occupiers, often extorting extra money for themselves. Jewish society considered them impure, dishonest, and traitors to Israel; they were lumped with sinners and prostitutes (Matthew 21:31, 32). Any devout Jew would avoid their company.
With Jesus, that social boundary collapsed. His call to Matthew echoes prophetic calls like Elijah throwing his mantle on Elisha while he plowed (1 Kings 19:19). But there is a stark difference: Elisha was a farmer; Matthew was a publican. Jesus intentionally picked someone whose whole reputation made him an unlikely candidate for the kingdom. The shock of this choice forces readers to ask: If Jesus can call a tax collector, who is beyond his reach?
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The reading is stable across the manuscript tradition.
Reception History
From the early church, Matthew’s call has been read as a paradigm of grace. The Gospel itself bears the name of the converted tax collector, so the verse functions as an autobiographical testimony of redemption. Early interpreters such as Chrysostom and Jerome emphasized Matthew’s immediate obedience and saw the tax booth as a symbol of the world’s greed that Jesus overcomes. In medieval art, Matthew is frequently depicted with a money bag or seated at a table with coins, conveying his former life. Reformation commentators (Calvin, Luther) used the call to underscore salvation by grace alone, noting that Matthew did nothing to deserve being chosen. Across traditions, this verse has comforted believers who feel their past disqualifies them from God’s service.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Jesus calls in the middle of our work. Matthew was sitting at his tax booth, not in a synagogue or prayer meeting. Christ comes to ordinary life and interrupts it with an invitation.
- Jesus chooses the unexpected. He bypassed religious leaders and called a man everyone else despised. Grace is not earned; it is given to the ones no one else would pick.
- Following Jesus costs everything. Matthew left his source of income, his social network, and his future security. Discipleship is a total reorientation.
Five-point outline
- Who Matthew was: a tax collector, hated, dishonest, complicit with Rome. His occupation defined him as an outcast.
- Where the call happened: at the toll booth, in the middle of a workday. No preparation, no clean slate.
- What Jesus said: “Follow me.” Two words in Greek, carrying the force of an ongoing command: keep following, make it your life.
- What Matthew did: “He got up and followed him.” Luke adds that he “left all.” There is no delay, no negotiation.
- Why this matters: Jesus did not come for those who think they are good enough. He came for people like Matthew, and like us.
Illustration hooks
- A person in a morally compromising job (a used-car salesman known for shady deals, a bartender in a difficult neighborhood) is invited into a new kind of community. The call does not wait for them to clean up first.
- Picture an employee at a debt-collection agency, someone whose daily work makes them hated. A friend invites them to a Bible study. The shame feels overwhelming, but the invitation is real.
- The moment of interruption: a phone call, a letter, a chance conversation that asks you to walk away from everything familiar. Matthew’s story gives courage to answer.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Jesus called Matthew while he was still a tax collector. Does that mean I should stay in my sinful patterns and still follow him?”
- “What do I have to leave behind to follow Jesus? Does it always mean a career change or financial loss?”
- “I feel that my past is too shameful for God to use me. How does Matthew’s call speak to that fear?”
Leading a Discussion
Matthew’s call is one of the most dramatic examples of Jesus’ grace in the Gospels. Open by reading the event alongside its immediate sequel (the feast with tax collectors in 9:10-13). Notice that Matthew does not defend his past or try to bargain with Jesus. He simply gets up and goes. What does that kind of trust look like today?
Discussion questions
- Read Matthew 9:9. What strikes you most about Jesus’ choice of this man?
- Why do you think Matthew includes the detail that he was “sitting at the tax office”? What does it tell us about his life before this moment?
- In the parallel accounts (Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27), Matthew is called Levi. Why do you think he records himself as “Matthew” here? What does that suggest about his humility or identity?
- How does the context of Jesus’ healing of the paralytic (9:1-8) prepare us for this call? What does it say about Jesus’ authority?
- The Greek verb “follow” is a present imperative, a command to keep following, not just start. How does this shape our understanding of discipleship as ongoing?
- Matthew’s obedience was immediate. What makes immediate obedience hard for us? What do we hesitate to leave behind?
- How does this passage challenge the idea that we need to clean up our lives before coming to Jesus? What does it mean for how we invite others?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Kings 19:19 | So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and put his mantle on him. |
| I Kings 19:21 | He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, killed them, and boiled their meat with the oxen’s equipment, and gave to the people; and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him. |
| Matthew 4:18 | Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. |
| Matthew 4:22 | They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him. |
| Matthew 10:3 | Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus; |
| Matthew 21:31 | Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you. |
| Matthew 21:32 | For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him. |
| Mark 2:14 | As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that Matthew's name in Syriac means "gift," suggesting his parents may have seen him as a gift from God. He then stresses the blessing of obeying Christ's call at once, observing how much happiness is lost by delaying, even if conversion eventually comes.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that Matthew, also called Levi, omits the detail that he “left all” to follow Jesus, a point Luke includes. This omission shows Matthew’s humility and the evangelists’ general unwillingness to praise themselves. No writers were further from self-promotion than the gospel authors.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Christ chose Matthew, a despised tax collector, to be both a witness of grace and a living proof of it. Matthew's willingness to record his shameful past displays his gratitude, showing that God's calling rests not on human merit but on pure kindness.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator sees the identification of Matthew with Levi as nearly certain, since the Gospel accounts describe identical circumstances for the call. The name Matthew, meaning "Gift of God," was likely adopted by the apostle after he began following Jesus. The "receipt of custom" is better understood as the toll-house or custom-house.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And as Iesus passed foorth from thence, hee sawe a man sitting at the custome, named Matthewe, and saide to him, Followe me. And he arose, and followed him.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that Matthew deliberately uses his apostolic name rather than his more honorable name Levi, so the grace of God shines brighter in his calling. He also stresses that Matthew was a despised tax collector sitting at a toll booth, yet Christ called him freely, with no merit in Matthew, and his immediate obedience showed the power of that call.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights Matthew's humility in naming himself: though he could have used his family name Levi, he instead calls himself Matthew and openly mentions his despised tax-collector job, so the grace that called him from it stands out more clearly. Jesus' command "Follow me" had an irresistible power that Matthew immediately obeyed.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees Matthew’s call as a miracle of grace that unfolds precisely because the Pharisees reject the Gospel. When those with a historical claim refuse Christ, He turns to those spiritually ready—publicans and sinners. The call of an outcast to the apostolate signals that salvation now moves toward the humble and needy.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Matthew humbly used the name he was known by as a tax collector rather than the more honorable name Levi. He also highlights that Christ called Matthew while he was actively working at his post, showing that Jesus often summons people who are already engaged in their daily occupations.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the Greek word for "receipt of custom" literally means a place of toll, and "sitting at" refers to sitting on an elevated platform. He explains that this customs office was in Capernaum, a busy port and trade junction. He also cites Cicero's mention of tax collectors' booths being removed.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that Matthew modestly calls himself by a less honorable name, while the other evangelists use his more dignified name, Levi. He also notes that Jesus saw Matthew at the peak of his business, sitting at the tax collection booth.