The calling of St Matthew is one of the most dramatic stories in the Gospels. It has inspired many paintings, especially Caravaggio's wonderful masterpiece. In his Spiritual Exercises [#175], St Ignatius mentions the calling of Matthew along with the conversion of St Paul as examples of an immediate response when God calls in such a way that there can be no doubt.

In Caravaggio's painting the scene takes place indoors, not outdoors on the street, as the Gospel account seems to indicate. This artistic licence allows the artist to depict Jesus bringing light into a darkened room: "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). Jesus is accompanied by Peter. Between them and Matthew's group there is a gap, over which Jesus stretches his hand to point to Matthew. In painting Jesus' gesture, Caravaggio imitates Michelangelo's painting of creation, where God's finger almost touches Adam's finger. The artist is hinting that the call of Jesus is like a new creation. Matthew points to himself as if in disbelief that Jesus could be calling him. Only Matthew receives the call, the others do not respond to the light which Jesus brings, for there are people who do not see the light because they prefer the dark (cf. John 3:17).