SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:9
¶ Y pasando Jess de allí, vio a un hombre que estaba sentado al banco de los tributos pblicos , el cual se llamaba Mateo; y le dice: Sígueme. Y se levant, y le sigui.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 9:9
Verse 9. Named Matthew] Generally supposed to be the same who wrote this history of our blessed Lord. Mathai signifies a gift in Syriac; probably so named by his parents as implying a gift from God. The receipt of custom] The custom-house, telwnion-the place where the taxes levied by the Romans of the Jews, were collected.
Follow me.] That is, become my disciple.
And he arose, and followed him.] How blessed it is to be obedient to the first call of Christ-how much happiness and glory are lost by delays, though conversion at last may have taken place!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. And as Jesus passed forth from thence , etc.] That is, from Capernaum to the sea side; where, as Mark says, the multitude resorted, and he taught them; he saw a man named Matthew ; the writer of this Gospel. The other evangelists call him Levi, who was the son of Alphaeus: he went by two names; Mark and Luke call him by the name, which perhaps was the more honourable, or the least known, on purpose to conceal the former life of the apostle, which might expose him to the contempt of some; but he himself chooses to mention the name by which he was most known, as an apostle, and that the grace of God might appear the more illustrious in his calling and conversion. The Jews say f542 , that one of Christs disciples was called yatm , Matthew, which, as Levi, is an Hebrew name; for though he was a publican, yet a Jew; for it was common with the Jews either to be employed by the Roman officers in collecting the toll or tribute, or to farm it of them. Sitting at the receipt of custom , or at the custom house, or toll booth; which both the Syriac version, and Munsters Hebrew Gospel, call skm , or askwm tyb , the publicans house. In the Talmud mention is made of it, in the following parable, upon citing ( Isaiah 61:8) it is like, (say the doctors,) to a king of flesh and blood, who passing by skmh tyb , the toll booth, or publicans house, says to his servants, give toll to the publicans: they reply to him, is not all the toll thine? he says to them, all that pass by the ways will learn of me, and will not avoid the toll; so says the holy blessed God, etc.
The publicans had houses, or booths built for them, at the foot of bridges, at the mouth of rivers, and by the sea shore, where they took toll of passengers that went to and fro: hence we read of bridges being made to take toll at, and of publicans being at the water side f545 , and of skwm yryq f546 , the tickets, or seals of the publicans; which, when a man had paid toll on one side of a river, were given him by the publican, to show to him that sat on the other side, that it might appear he had paid: in which were written two great letters, bigger than those in common use f547 .
Thus Matthew was sitting in a toll booth, near the seashore, to receive the toll of passengers that came, or went in ships or boats. And he saith unto him, follow me ; notwithstanding the infamous employment he was in, as accounted by the Jews: this was no bar in the way of his call to be a disciple of Christ; and shows, that there was no merit and motive in him, which was the reason of this high honour bestowed upon him; but was entirely owing to the free, sovereign, and distinguishing grace of Christ, and which was powerful and efficacious: for without telling him what work he must do, or how he must live, and without his consulting with flesh and blood, at once, immediately he arose, and followed him : such a power went along with the call, that he directly left his employment, how profitable soever it might be to him, and became a disciple of Christ.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9 - Matthew was in his calling, as the rest of those whom Christ called. A Satan comes with his temptations to the idle, so Christ comes with his calls to those who are employed. We are all naturally averse from thee Of God; do thou bid us to follow thee; draw us by thy powerful word, an we shall run after thee. Speak by the word of the Spirit to our hearts the world cannot hold us down, Satan cannot stop our way, we shal arise and follow thee. A saving change is wrought in the soul, by Christ as the author, and his word as the means. Neither Matthew' place, nor his gains by it, could detain him, when Christ called him He left it, and though we find the disciples, who were fishers occasionally fishing again afterwards, we never more find Matthew a his sinful gain.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ παραγων 3855 5723 V-PAP-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM εκειθεν 1564 ADV ειδεν 1492 5627 V-2AAI-3S ανθρωπον 444 N-ASM καθημενον 2521 5740 V-PNP-ASM επι 1909 PREP το 3588 T-ASN τελωνιον 5058 N-ASN ματθαιον 3156 N-ASM λεγομενον 3004 5746 V-PPP-ASM και 2532 CONJ λεγει 3004 5719 V-PAI-3S αυτω 846 P-DSM ακολουθει 190 5720 V-PAM-2S μοι 3427 P-1DS και 2532 CONJ αναστας 450 5631 V-2AAP-NSM ηκολουθησεν 190 5656 V-AAI-3S αυτω 846 P-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Receipt of custom (telwnion). Rev., place of toll. Wyc., tollbooth, toll-booth, or toll-cabin, which is an excellent word, though obsolete. Sitting at, is, literally sitting on: the elevated platform or bench which was the principal feature of the toll-office, as in modern custom-bazaars, being put for the whole establishment. This customs-office was a Capernaum, the landing-place for the many ships which traversed the lake or coasted from town to town; and this not only for those who had business in Capernaum, but for those who would there strike the great road of eastern commerce from Damascus to the harbors of the West. Cicero, in his oration on the Consular Provinces, accuses Gabinius, the pro-consul of Syria, of relieving the Syrians and Jews of some of their legitimate taxes, and of ordering the small building to be taken down, which the publicans had erected at the approaches to bridges, or at the termination of roads, or in the harbors, for the convenience of their slaves and collectors.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
9:9 {At the place of toll} (epi to telwnion). The tax-office or custom-house of Capernaum placed here to collect taxes from the boats going across the lake outside of Herod's territory or from people going from Damascus to the coast, a regular caravan route. "{Called Matthew}" (maqqaion legomenon) and in #10:3 Matthew the publican is named as one of the Twelve Apostles. Mark (#Mr 2:14) and Luke (#Lu 5:27) call this man Levi. He had two names as was common, Matthew Levi. The publicans (tel"nai) get their name in English from the Latin _publicanus_ (a man who did public duty), not a very accurate designation. They were detested because they practised graft. Even Gabinius the proconsul of Syria was accused by Cicero of relieving Syrians and Jews of legitimate taxes for graft. He ordered some of the tax-officers removed. Already Jesus had spoken of the publican (#5:46) in a way that shows the public disfavor in which they were held.
