When Jesus met Matthew, he worked for the occupying Romans collecting taxes from other Jews, making a tidy profit from the business. Needless to say, tax collectors, or “publicans," were despised by most Jews. It was shocking for Jesus to call one of them to become his close disciple. In the words of Matthew’s own gospel: "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12b-13)
