The Gospel of Matthew - The Call of Matthew | Matthew Chapter 9 : 9 - 13

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus encounters Matthew, a tax collector, sitting at the tax booth. Jesus invites Matthew to follow him, and Matthew immediately gets up and follows Jesus. Later, Jesus is reclining at a meal in Matthew's house, and many other tax collectors and sinners join them. The Pharisees question Jesus' choice to associate with such people, but Jesus responds by saying that he came not for the righteous, but for sinners who need repentance. This passage highlights Jesus' willingness to extend grace and forgiveness to those who are considered outcasts or sinners, emphasizing his mission to call sinners to repentance and salvation.