Matthew 9:9 kjv
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 nkjv
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.
Matthew 9:9 niv
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Matthew 9:9 esv
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 9:9 nlt
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
Matthew 9 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 2:13-14 | He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd... He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus... said to him, "Follow Me." | Parallel account of Levi's (Matthew's) call. |
| Luke 5:27-28 | After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow Me." | Parallel account of Levi's (Matthew's) call. |
| Matt 4:18-22 | As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon... and Andrew... he called them... they immediately left. | Call of first disciples; immediate obedience. |
| John 1:43 | The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." | Another example of Jesus' direct call. |
| Luke 18:28-30 | And Peter said, "See, we have left our homes and followed you." | The disciples' sacrifice in following Jesus. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss. | Abandoning former life for Christ. |
| Matt 9:10-13 | As he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus. | Jesus' association with tax collectors/sinners. |
| Luke 5:30-32 | The Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples... "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" | Condemnation of Jesus' association with outcasts. |
| Luke 15:1-2 | Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to hear him... the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled. | Jesus' willingness to reach the marginalized. |
| Luke 19:1-10 | He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. | Call and transformation of another tax collector. |
| Mark 1:17-18 | And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left. | Call to follow and purpose, immediate response. |
| John 10:27 | My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. | Hearing and responding to Jesus' call. |
| John 8:12 | Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness." | Following Jesus brings light and truth. |
| 1 Peter 2:21 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. | Call to follow Christ's example. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-29 | For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise... but God chose what is foolish... base... | God's unconventional choices for His purposes. |
| Rom 9:15-16 | For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy." So then it depends not on human will... but on God. | God's sovereign choice in salvation. |
| Isa 65:1 | I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. | God reaching out to those previously alienated. |
| Ezek 36:26 | I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. | Inner transformation enabling obedience. |
| Acts 9:3-6 | As he went on his way... a light from heaven shone around him. And he fell to the ground... "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" | Dramatic conversion, a direct call from Christ. |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. | New identity in Christ after conversion. |
| Gal 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. | Self-abandonment in favor of Christ living in. |
| Col 3:5-10 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in you... Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self. | Putting off old self for new identity in Christ. |
| Phil 3:12-14 | Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect... but I press on toward the goal for the prize. | Discipleship as an ongoing pursuit. |
Matthew 9 verses
Matthew 9 9 Meaning
Matthew 9:9 describes the pivotal moment when Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him. This encounter demonstrates Jesus' sovereign authority to choose His disciples from any walk of life, even those considered societal outcasts. It also highlights Matthew's immediate and transformative obedience, abandoning a life of lucrative but despised profession for discipleship to Christ. The verse encapsulates a radical shift in identity and purpose, demonstrating that God's grace extends to all who respond to His call.
Matthew 9 9 Context
Matthew chapter 9 continues Jesus' display of divine authority, transitioning from His power over disease (the paralytic healed) and demonic forces, to His authority over social and religious norms. The healing of the paralytic (9:1-8) notably highlighted Jesus' authority to forgive sins, which directly challenged the scribes and Pharisees. Immediately following this controversial assertion, Jesus calls a tax collector, an individual deemed a quintessential "sinner" by Jewish society. This act further amplifies Jesus' inclusive ministry and His deliberate association with those marginalized by the religious establishment, setting the stage for the subsequent debate on eating with "sinners and tax collectors" (9:10-13) and His pronouncements about calling sinners to repentance. This context shows Jesus deliberately challenging societal boundaries and conventional piety to reveal the true nature of God's kingdom and the breadth of His mercy.
Matthew 9 9 Word analysis
As Jesus passed on from there: (Greek: kai paragōn o Iēsous ekeithen) "Passed on" (paragōn) indicates continuous movement, a purposeful journey by Jesus. This was not a casual stroll, but Jesus actively moving and seeking. The call of Matthew was not coincidental but part of Jesus' divine itinerary and purpose.
He saw: (Greek: eiden) More than merely noticing; it implies a deep, intentional gaze, recognizing Matthew's situation and potential. Jesus' sight pierces through outward appearance and societal labels to perceive the heart and individual.
a man named Matthew: The parallel accounts in Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27 identify him as Levi. The author of this Gospel identifies himself here by the name Matthew (Hebrew for "gift of the Lord"), which could be his chosen name as a disciple or a name given by Jesus, indicating his new identity and calling. It signifies a profound personal transformation.
sitting at the tax collector's booth: (Greek: telōnion kathēmenon) This identifies Matthew's occupation and place of work. A "tax collector's booth" was a customs house or toll booth. Tax collectors (telōnēs) were agents of the Roman occupying power, infamous for extortion and often collaborating with Gentiles, rendering them ritually impure and socially ostracized by their Jewish compatriots. Matthew's status as a tax collector highlights the profound grace of Jesus' call and the radical nature of Matthew's response. His sitting posture implies stability and engagement in his current work.
and He said to him, "Follow Me." (Greek: kai legei autō Akolouthei moi) A direct, authoritative imperative command from Jesus. "Follow Me" means not only to physically accompany Him but, more importantly, to become His disciple—to learn from Him, adopt His way of life, and participate in His mission. This short phrase is a call to a radical and immediate shift in loyalty and life purpose.
And he got up and followed Him: (Greek: kai anastas ēkolouthēsen autō) "Got up" (anastas) signifies immediate, decisive action. Matthew didn't hesitate or negotiate; he abandoned his profitable profession, his stable livelihood, and his former life completely. His obedience was total and without reservation, embodying the very essence of discipleship.
Words-group analysis:
- "He saw a man named Matthew... and He said to him, 'Follow Me.'": This phrase highlights Jesus' divine initiative. He perceives, chooses, and commands. It speaks to the sovereign grace of God in reaching out to those whom society would reject or ignore, showing that discipleship is fundamentally a divine calling.
- "sitting at the tax collector's booth" combined with "And he got up and followed Him.": This juxtaposition vividly portrays the profound transformation. Matthew's life shifts from a sedentary, materially focused, socially condemned profession to a dynamic, spiritual, and socially challenging path of following Christ. It signifies a complete severance from his past identity and embracing a new one in discipleship.
Matthew 9 9 Bonus section
The transformation of Matthew from Levi, the tax collector, to Matthew, the disciple and gospel writer, is one of the most remarkable examples of changed identity in the New Testament. The fact that he authored one of the Gospels that bear his name suggests not only his call to follow Jesus but also his subsequent call to bear witness to Jesus' life and teachings. His firsthand account from the perspective of a former tax collector, deeply familiar with the Jewish Law and prophesies, offered a unique lens on Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel's messianic hopes, resonating particularly with a Jewish audience. His decision to leave everything signifies that the worth of knowing Christ far outweighs any earthly wealth or status.
Matthew 9 9 Commentary
Matthew 9:9 stands as a profound testament to Jesus' expansive grace and His revolutionary approach to building His kingdom. By calling Matthew, a tax collector, Jesus defied deeply ingrained social prejudices and religious norms. The act served as a vivid demonstration that God's favor is not exclusive to the 'righteous' by human standards, but is offered to all who respond to His call for repentance and discipleship. Matthew's immediate abandonment of his lucrative trade and immediate obedience exemplify true discipleship: a complete reorientation of life priorities from worldly gain to spiritual following. This pivotal moment underscores that Jesus came not to call the self-proclaimed righteous, but sinners to new life in Him, initiating an inclusive community founded on grace, not merit.