Matthew (Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–32; Matthew 10:2–4; Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16; Acts 1:12–14)

The Publican at the Place of Toll

A publican sitting at the place of toll whom Jesus called with the words Follow me; he arose and followed, and many publicans and sinners sat at meat with Jesus in the house.

Matthew appears briefly. “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” (Matthew 9:9).

The same call at the place of toll is told in the Gospels of Mark and Luke of a man named Levi: “he saw Levi the son of Alphæus sitting at the place of toll” (Mark 2:14); “a publican, named Levi” (Luke 5:27). The study reads these verses as telling of Matthew's call.

The Gospel of Luke adds that “he forsook all, and rose up and followed him” (Luke 5:28), and that “Levi made him a great feast in his house” (Luke 5:29), and the Gospel of Mark has “he was sitting at meat in his house” (Mark 2:15). Matthew is named among the twelve as “Matthew the publican” (Matthew 10:3) and among those in the upper chamber in Acts (Acts 1:13). The Gospel of Matthew does not name its author; whether the apostle wrote it is a question Christians answer differently.

Strengths

• Readiness to leave all
• Hospitality

Themes

• Call
• Mercy for sinners
• Table fellowship

Called from the place of toll (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:13–14; Luke 5:27–28)

Jesus sees a man called Matthew at the place of toll, says Follow me, and he arises and follows.

Called from the place of toll

“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” (Matthew 9:9).

The Gospel of Mark names the man “Levi the son of Alphæus” (Mark 2:14) and the Gospel of Luke “a publican, named Levi” (Luke 5:27), and the Gospel of Luke says “he forsook all, and rose up and followed him” (Luke 5:28). The same call is told of Matthew in one Gospel and of Levi in the other two, and the study treats Levi's verses as Matthew's.

Publicans and sinners at the table (Matthew 9:10–13; Mark 2:15–17; Luke 5:29–32)

Many publicans and sinners sit with Jesus and his disciples in the house; the Pharisees ask why, and Jesus answers.

Publicans and sinners at the table

“And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them” (Luke 5:29).

When the Pharisees asked why Jesus ate with publicans and sinners, he answered, “They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick” (Matthew 9:12), and “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13).

Named among the twelve (Matthew 10:2–4; Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16)

Matthew the publican is listed among the twelve apostles.

In the upper chamber (Acts 1:12–14)

Matthew is named among the apostles who abode in the upper chamber, continuing in prayer.

Jesus (Matthew 9:9–10; Luke 5:27–29)

Called him from the place of toll and sat at meat with him in the house.

Publicans and sinners (Matthew 9:10–13; Mark 2:15–17)

Sat down with Jesus and his disciples in the house.

The Pharisees (Matthew 9:11; Luke 5:30)

Asked the disciples why Jesus ate with publicans and sinners.

Major sections

• Matthew 9:9–13
• Mark 2:13–17
• Luke 5:27–32
• Matthew 10:2–4

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