“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Matthew 9:13 — Greek Interlinear
Church Fathers on Matthew 9:13
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.'
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.
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.