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Matthew was a tax collector. In Jesus' time, tax collectors were not only considered sinners, but they were considered betrayers of their own people by the Jews, as the duty of a tax collector was to collect the taxes from Jews for the sake of the Romans. One of the most familiar teachings from this story may be the verse, "I have come to call not the righteous but sinners (9:13)." Of course, this message does not mean that Jesus actually prefers people who are living full of troubles and mistakes over people who are doing their best to live in accordance with teachings of Jesus. Rather, it is about the inner state of our ego before God... It is about the place where Jesus came to help, to help each and every one of us.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 7563)