Jesus Commandeth Matthew to Follow Him

Jesus stands beneath a stone archway at a waterfront tax station, extending His call to Matthew, the tax collector seated among ledgers, coins, scales, soldiers, and bystanders. Behind them, boats rest along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, placing the encounter within the daily commerce of first-century life. The moment captures the turning point when Matthew leaves his booth and his former identity to become a disciple of Christ.

The scene reflects the Gospel witness that Jesus did not avoid those despised by religious society. By calling a tax collector, He reveals the mercy of God toward sinners and the authority of His invitation: “Follow me.” This artwork is well suited for teaching on discipleship, repentance, grace, evangelism, and the calling of ordinary people into the kingdom of God.