In brief
Matthew is a tax collector, sitting at the tax booth, whom Jesus calls with a simple “Follow me.” He gets up and follows him. The Gospels of Mark and Luke tell the same call and name him Levi, and Christian tradition identifies him with Matthew. In his house, he gives a great feast where Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners, to the scandal of the Pharisees. He is one of the Twelve. We remember that Jesus calls those whom others reject.
What does the name Matthew mean?
The name Matthew is generally linked to the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning gift of Yahweh. The Bible gives no explanation of it. Mark and Luke also name him Levi, son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14), a name that tradition identifies with Matthew.
The story of Matthew
A Man Sitting at the Tax Booth
Matthew 9:9After healing a paralytic in Capernaum, Jesus sees a man sitting at the tax booth, named Matthew. A tax collector, he works for the Roman occupier and his trade makes many Jews think badly of him. Jesus simply says to him: “Follow me.” Matthew gets up and follows him.
Levi in the Other Gospels
Mark 2:13-14Mark tells the same scene with another name: Jesus sees Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth, and tells him to follow. Levi gets up and follows him. Luke adds that he leaves everything to follow Jesus. This man thus gives up a secure income for the life of a disciple.
A Great Feast in His House
Luke 5:27-32Levi gives a great feast for Jesus in his house. Many tax collectors and other guests sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees and the scribes grumble and ask why they eat with tax collectors and sinners. Matthew thus invites his friends to meet Jesus.
Jesus’ Answer to the Pharisees
Matthew 9:10-13The Pharisees question the disciples about Jesus’ choice to eat with tax collectors. Jesus answers that it is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick. He quotes the saying about mercy and explains that he came to call sinners. This event sums up the meaning of Matthew’s call.
What Matthew teaches us
- Jesus calls those whom society rejects or judges: Matthew’s trade and past did not close the door.
- Answering Jesus’ call means getting up and leaving something behind, as Matthew leaves the tax booth.
- Whoever has been welcomed by Jesus wants to invite others: Matthew’s feast is a first act of witness.
- Jesus does not fear the bad reputation of those he spends time with, because he came to call sinners.
- Grace turns a man who was despised into a witness and an apostle.
Key verses
Jesus sees a man sitting at the tax booth, named Matthew, and says to him: “Follow me.” The man gets up and follows him. The call is brief, and the response is immediate.
Passing by, Jesus sees Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth and says to him: “Follow me.” Mark gives another name to the same call, which explains why we speak of Matthew, also called Levi.
Levi gives a great feast for Jesus, with many tax collectors at the table. The Pharisees and the scribes grumble, but this welcome shows that the encounter with Jesus is meant to be shared.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Jesus choose Matthew, a tax collector?
The Bible gives no personal explanation, but it shows the meaning of his choices: Jesus declares that he came to call sinners, not those who think they are righteous (Matthew 9:12-13). Choosing a tax collector, despised by many, illustrates that priority.
What does the name Matthew mean?
The name Matthew is generally linked to the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning gift of Yahweh. The Bible gives no explanation of it. The Gospels of Mark and Luke call the tax collector Levi, and Christian tradition identifies Levi with Matthew.
Where can I find the story of Matthew in the Bible?
Matthew’s call is told in three Gospels: Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:13-17 and Luke 5:27-32. Mark and Luke name him Levi. The three accounts mention the meal that follows his call, with many tax collectors, and the reaction of the Pharisees.