And a certain scribe came; Revised Version, and there came a scribe. Contrast the order in Matthew 8:2. There the leper was recognized as such before ever he came near, an emphasis being laid on him and his actions by the addition of "Behold;" here the official position is of but secondary importance.
A certain; a (Revised Version); εἶς. The Hebrew numeral not uncommonly stands for an indefinite article (cf. Matthew 9:18. [Westcott and Hort]; Matthew 26:69). Trench's "'one scribe'… with, perhaps, an emphasis on the 'one' to mark how unfrequent such offers were," is tempting, but improbable.
Scribe. St. Matthew alone records his profession. Perhaps because the distinction of Jewish classes presented itself more vividly to his mind than to St. Luke's. And said unto him; Master; better, with the Revised Version margin, teacher ( διδάσκαλε).
It may be that he recognized one who was superior in an important branch of his own occupation, or, less probably, that he willingly accorded to him a title due to his occupation (cf. John 3:2; and infra, Matthew 12:38).
I will follow thee; ἀκολουθήσω (not ἐγὼ ἀκολουθήσω σοι). Self is placed in the background; he is wholly taken up with that which he proposes doing. Whithersoever thou goest. Though, as a scribe, he would naturally prefer quiet.
Contrast John 6:66 ( περιεπάτουν). But the discomforts would be greater than he expected. Observe, however, that there is no sign in him of that φιλαργυρία of which he has been accused (Cram. Cat.).
Trench strangely favours the suggestion that he was Judas. Is Revelation 14:4 a reminiscence of this offer?