21st September 2020

Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Matthew was born in the 1st century AD. Meet Matthew the Apostle, Ex-Tax Collector Matthew was contracted by the Roman Empire to collect taxes from the Jew in . (:9, :14, Luke 5:27–28) Tax collectors were known for lying about how much people owed and pocketing the difference. To the Jews, tax collectors were the embodiment of . By calling Matthew, was proclaiming that no one would be excluded from his movement—not even those society considered irredeemable.

Matthew transformed himself from being a crooked tax collector to a follower of Jesus and later became a writer. Matthew displayed one of the most radically changed lives in the in response to an invitation from Jesus. He did not hesitate; he did not look back. He left behind a life of wealth and security for poverty and uncertainty. He abandoned the pleasures of this world for the promise of eternal life. Matthew the Apostle Matthew, whose father was (Mark 2:14), was named Levi before his call by Jesus. We don't know whether Jesus gave him the name Matthew or whether he changed it himself, but it is a shortening of the name Mattathias, which means "gift of Yahweh," or simply "the gift of God." Matthew served as one of the 12 disciples of Jesus . As an eyewitness to the Saviour, Matthew recorded a detailed account of Jesus' life, the story of his birth, his message, and his many deeds in the . He was one of the witnesses of the . Matthew, the Evangelist Matthew the Apostle, also known as Matthew and as Levi, was, according to the , one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. According to Christian tradition, he was also one of the and thus is also known as Matthew the Evangelist. Matthew preached the Gospel to the Jewish community in , before going to other countries.

Life lessons from Matthew the Apostle

Before he met Jesus, Matthew was greedy. He thought money was the most important thing in life and violated God's laws to enrich himself at the expense of his countrymen.

On the other hand, Matthew was an accurate record keeper. He knew the human heart and the longings of the Jewish people. He was loyal to Jesus and once committed, he never wavered in serving the Lord.

God can use anyone to help him in his work. We should not feel unqualified because of our appearance, lack of education, or our past. Jesus looks for sincere commitment. We should also remember that the highest calling in life is serving God, no matter what the world says. Money, fame, and power cannot compare with being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Key Bible Verses

Matthew 9: 9 to 13 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (NIV)

Luke 5:29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. (NIV)

Stained-glass depiction of Saint Matthew at St. Matthew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina