As Jesus passed on his way to Jerusalem, he saw Matthew engaged in his business of tax-gathering. He was a Jew, but when he became a publican his brethren despised him. The Jewish people were continually irritated on account of the Roman yoke. That a despised and heathen nation should collect tribute of them was a constant reminder that their power and glory as an independent nation had departed. Their indignation knew no bounds when one of their own people so far forgot the honor of his exalted race as to accept the office of tax-gatherer. {2SP 186.2}

Da Jesus gik på vejen til Jerusalem, så han Mattæus, hvis forretning var at opkræve told (eller skat). (187) Han var en jøde; men da han blev en tolder, foragtede hans brødre ham. Jøderne var hele tiden forbitret over det romerske åg. At en hedensk nation som de foragtede, krævede skat af dem, erindrede dem hele tiden om, at deres magt og ære som et uafhængigt folk var væk. Deres forbitrelse kendte ingen grænser, når en af deres egne i den grad forglemte sit folks ære, at han modtog embede som en tolder.