Matthew 9:9
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| Matthew 9:9 | |
|---|---|
← 9:8 9:10 → | |
 The Calling of St. Matthew, by Vittore Carpaccio, 1502. | |
| Book | Gospel of Matthew |
| Christian Bible part | New Testament |
Matthew 9:9 is the ninth verse in the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.
In the original Greek according to Westcott-Hort this verse is:
- Καὶ παράγων ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκεῖθεν εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον καθήμενον ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον, Ματθαῖον λεγόμενον, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Ἀκολούθει μοι. Καὶ ἀναστὰς ἠκολούθησεν αὐτῷ.
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
- 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.
The New International Version translates the passage as:
- 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.
Analysis
Tradition holds that this custom house (τελώνιον) was located in Capernaum.
"Named Matthew:" Lapide notes that Matthew names himself, "both out of humility, that he might confess to the whole world that he had been a publican and a sinner," and also perhaps from gratitude, so he might make it widely known the exceeding grace of Jesus Christ to him. In the same manner St. Paul writes, "It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (1 Tim. 1:15.)[1]
MacEvilly notes the condescension of Christ in calling Matthew, "the publican, and a man so infamous among the Jews, not only to grace but to His family and intimate friendship and Apostleship." He also comments on the efficacy of Christ's calling, and the ready obedience of Matthew. "Thus then as a magnet draws iron unto it, so did Christ draw Matthew."[2]
Bridget of Sweden is said to have had a vision of this scene in which claims that Matthew said, “It was my desire at the time I was a publican to defraud no man, and I wished to find out a way by which I might abandon that employment, and cleave to God alone with my whole heart. When therefore He who loved me, even Jesus Christ was preaching, His call was a flame of fire in my heart; and so sweet were His words unto my taste, that I thought no more of riches than of straws: yea, it was delightful to me to weep for joy, that my God had deigned to call one of such small account, and so great a sinner as I to His grace. And as I clave unto my Lord, His burning words became fixed in my heart, and day and night I fed upon them by meditation, as upon sweetest food.”
