9And as Jesus was passing on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and said to him: Follow me. And he rose and followed him. [9:10] And it happened as he was reclining at table in the house, look — many tax collectors and those living outside the law came and reclined at table with Jesus and his disciples. [9:11] And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples: Why does your teacher eat with the tax collectors and those living outside the law? [9:12] And he, having heard, said: Those who are strong have no need of a physician — but those who are ill do. [9:13] Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but those living outside the law.
MAT 9:9-13
Jesus Calls Matthew
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Galilee, tax collectors were deeply despised figures, seen as collaborators with Roman imperial authority and often accused of extortion. They were excluded from synagogue life and considered ritually impure, aligning them with 'sinners' —those who habitually violated Jewish law or lived outside its boundaries. The (tax booth) where Matthew sat was a symbol of Roman exploitation and Jewish marginalization. For Jesus to call Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him was a radical act, undermining social and religious boundaries. The subsequent meal scene, where Jesus reclines with tax collectors and sinners, would have shocked Pharisees, who upheld strict purity codes and avoided such associations. Reclining at a meal was a sign of fellowship and equality, further emphasizing Jesus’ disregard for societal hierarchies. The Pharisees’ question reflects their concern for ritual purity and their assumption that a righteous teacher would not associate with the impure. Jesus’ response frames His mission as directed toward those in need, challenging the Pharisees’ understanding of righteousness and inclusion.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MAT 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.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- And as Jesus was passing on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and said to him: Follow me. And he rose and followed him.
MAT 9:10
- KJV
- And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
- BSB
- Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthewʼs house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.
- Koinōnos
- And it happened as he was reclining at table in the house, look — many tax collectors and those living outside the law came and reclined at table with Jesus and his disciples.
MAT 9:11
- KJV
- And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
- BSB
- When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
- Koinōnos
- And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples: Why does your teacher eat with the tax collectors and those living outside the law?
MAT 9:12
- KJV
- But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
- BSB
- On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
- Koinōnos
- And he, having heard, said: Those who are strong have no need of a physician — but those who are ill do.
MAT 9:13
- KJV
- But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
- BSB
- But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- Koinōnos
- Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but those living outside the law.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 9:9
- tax booth,:The word translated 'tax booth' refers to a customs house or toll booth, a place where taxes and duties were collected, often associated with publicans.
MAT 9:10
- is reclining:The term 'is reclining' describes the common dining posture of the time, where people would lean on their left elbow on low couches around a table, rather than sitting upright in chairs.
- tax collectors:The word translated 'tax collectors' referred to individuals who bought the right to collect taxes for the Roman government, often extorting more than required, making them deeply unpopular and socially ostracized.
- sinners:The word translated 'sinners' in this context often referred to those who were considered outside the religious and social norms of the community, including those who did not adhere to Jewish law or had disreputable professions.