At the time of Jesus, people had to pay lots of different taxes to the Romans. Tax collectors were very unpopular. Not only were they helping the Romans, but most tax collectors overcharged. Tax collectors were shunned by religious people and by those who hated the Romans. Yet Jesus called a tax collector to be one of his followers.

Jesus went back again to the shore of Lake Galilee. A crowd came to him, and he started teaching them. As he walked along, he saw a tax collector, Matthew, sitting in his office. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Matthew got up, left everything and followed him.

That evening Jesus and his followers had a meal at Matthew's house. Other tax collectors came to join them at the table. Some religious teachers saw that Jesus was eating with tax collectors, so they asked some of Jesus' followers, "Why does he eat with such people?"

Jesus heard them and answered, "People who are well don't need a doctor, but only those who are sick. I have not come to call good people. I have come to call sinners to change their hearts and lives!"