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MATTHEW 9:10 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 9:9Matt 9:11
“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.”
And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. The meal at the tax collector's house — likely Matthew's own home from Luke 5:29 — is the enacted demonstration of the kingdom's table: tax collectors and sinners reclining alongside Jesus and the disciples. The reclining together communicates covenant fellowship — the same posture as the kingdom feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matthew 8:11). The sinners who gather around Jesus are not being affirmed in their sin but are being included in the fellowship that makes transformation possible. Luke 15 will later explain the theological rationale: the father runs to the returning son.

Church Fathers on Matthew 9:10

Having wrought this miracle, Christ would not abide in the same place, lest He should rouse the envy of the Jews. Let us also do thus, not obstinately opposing those who lay in wait for us. 'And as Jesus departed thence,' (namely from the place in which He had done this miracle,) 'he saw a man sitting at the receipt of custom, Matthew by name.'

Chrysostom · 4th century · Hom., xxx

The other Evangelists from respect to Matthew have not called him by his common name, but say here, Levi, for he had both names. Matthew himself, according to that Solomon says, 'The righteous man accuses himself,' [Prov 18:17] calls himself both Matthew and Publican, to shew the readers that none need despair of salvation who turn to better things, seeing he from a Publican became an Apostle.

Jerome · 4th century

He says, 'sitting at the receipt of custom,' that is, in the place where the tolls were collected. He was named Telonarius, from a Greek word signifying taxes.

Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · ap Anselm
Read all 31 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Matthew 9:10 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy