St. Matthew, also known as St. Matthew the Evangelist, St. Matthew the Apostle, or Levi, (lived in the first centuryce in Palestine; Western feast day September 21, Eastern feast day November 16), was one of the Twelve Apostles ofJesus Christ and the traditional author of the firstSynoptic Gospel (theGospel According to Matthew). Matthew the apostle had previously worked as a dishonest tax collector motivated solely by avarice, until Jesus Christ picked him to be one of his disciples. This tax collector was reviled for who he was, but Jesus loved him for who he was. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. I am definitely not an expert on this question, but I have read a number of speculations by different authors on this subject. The level of craftsmanship with which The Gospel According to Matthewwas written never ceases to astound me. Mostly older teenagers, young Jewish bachelors, and not blue-chip Harvard stars either. According to Matthew 9:9 and Mark 2:14, Matthew was sitting by the customs house in Capernaum (near modern Almagor, Israel, on the Sea of Galilee) when Jesus called him into his company. When Jesus called Matthew to follow him, he was a tax collector (or "publican")one of the most reviled professions in ancient Judaism. Include a biography His masters degree is in history, and he is a history professor at the University of Northern Colorado. What we know is that his personal promise from God was fully kept. Become a member today. 1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. We know that John lived until about AD 96 or 97, which is about 66 years after Jesus died. Disciples come in two sexes, male and female. The Jewish people shouted in . The majority of the disciples were already learning their crafts, as was the case with James and John, who were both apprentices. In Matthew 17, Jesus foreshadowed the events leading up to His own death and resurrection for the second time. 0:00. Instead of killing Matthew, the fire burns down the kings idols and engulfs some of his soldiers. What were their professions? Levi did this promptly. He was devoted to Jesus, and once he made the decision to serve the Lord, he never looked back. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Matthew got up and followed him. In the end, how much do we actually know about him? 00:00 36:02. . His Story from the Bible Zacchaeus was a tax collector of the city Jericho and learned that Jesus the prophet was passing through the city. According to the early church, he composed it, and the attribution according to Matthew was probably first inserted around the time of the first century AD. Beyond include Matthew in the list of Apostles and frequently pairing him with St. Outside of the New Testament, the text from theApostolic FatherPapias of Hierapolispreserved by BishopEusebius of Caesarea is significant since it states: So then Matthew authored the Oracles in theHebrew language, and each one interpreted them as he was capable. The Gospel is a collection of stories about Jesus Christ. There are several conflicting accounts about his death. 4, p. 643). According to Matthew 4:21-22, James and John intentionally abandoned their father in the boat in order to follow Jesus. In this case, the age of Christ is important since the information helps us understand the fulfillment of a prophecy in Jeremiah. The Apostle Matthew, also known as Saint Matthew and Levi, was one of Jesus Christs twelve disciples and was born in the city of Nazareth. . If Matthew was, in fact, the same person who was called Levi, then his. We dont normally do much in the way of Lent observance around here, but just as Advent is tied to Christmas, Lent is tied to the Passion of Christ and the celebration of the Resurrection. Historically, a rabbi of that era would begin accepting students when he reached the age of thirty. Andrew, Peter, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, worked as fishermen. Anyone who has done fishing knows that it can be hit and miss while out one the waters. Did Jesus encourage the apostles to break the Sabbath? His message was revolutionary. Over 30 million students around the world benefit from this resource. This is analogous to how the Gospel of Luke, written by Luke the physician, goes into greater detail and employs more exact medical language when describing maladies. Are you already a member? CHRIST ASSOCIATES WITH SINNERS TO HELP THEM. When we get to this third section at Redemption Church, as we continue our journey through Matthew, we will be officially kicking off Lent as a community of believers. Follow me, Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2:14, After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. He also worked as a missionary, bringing the good news to people in different parts of the world. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass" (verses 4-5). No other disciples wives are mentioned in the Bible at any other time. He didnt dither, and he didnt even bother to glance back. Your response? As we approach the first of three instances on which Jesus prophesied both His death and resurrection to His followers, Id like to take a minute to look forward to these three occurrences in particular. Jesus had walked down from the brow of the low mountain outside of Capernaum, his adopted home ( Matthew 4:12-16 ). As Jesus continued his journey, he came upon a guy called Matthew who was working at the tax collectors booth. Lon has been on the Board of Jews for . However, there are a few counter-arguments, with the most important being that the early church claimed John as its own. "The Contrasted `Other' in the Old English Apocryphal Acts of Matthew, Simon and Jude." When Jesus' resurrection happened why did he appear to his apostles first? Log InBack to top. The early church claimed he wrote it, and the attribution according to Matthew was added possibly as early as the second century. Matthew 14:14. Or at least much younger than their Master. Matthews death on the cross. And so, being passed over as teenagers, they are perhaps shocked to be considered worthy of apprenticeship with a traveling Rabbi who was beginning to gain a reputation at that time. Virtually everything we really know about Matthew comes directly from the gospels. The earliest evidence that he may have written it comes from Papias of Hierapolis, as quoted by Eusebius of Caesarea in Church History: So then Matthew wrote the oracles in the Hebrew language, and every one interpreted them as he was able.. The joke was met with a major backlash online. Matthew is one of the Four Evangelists, as the term suggests. 2020. The richer they were, the worse they were assumed to be. Matthew was saying, Jesus IS the fulfillment of Old Testament . *shrug*. Tax collectors were considered to be the epitome of sin by the Jews. He is mentioned in traditions regarding his preaching, but there are no reliable records of his contributions to the early church. Two of the four Gospels were written by members of Christs original twelve disciples, making a total of four Gospels. 3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. No other disciples wives are ever mentioned. As the author of the Gospel of Matthew, he has historically been recognized as such. What bolsters this case is the educational pathway of that time. Matthew is mentioned in Matthew 9:9 and Matthew 10:3 as a tax collector who, while sitting at the "receipt of custom" in Capernaum, was called to follow Jesus. The word rendered as wrote could also mean compiled, arranged, or composed. The word for oracles could mean sayings or gospel. And the word for interpreted here could mean translated.. Here are a few of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus' birth: Numbers 24:17 He would be from the line of Jacob. The Matthew recorded in the gospels as being a disciple of Jesus would of course have met him. Matthew would have had to have lived at the same time as Jesus Christ in order to be considered a follower of Jesus Christ. It comes from the Greek word evangelion, meaning good news. These four writers proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ with their writings. He said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him." (Matthew 9:9) Matthew, on the other hand, was a glutton for punishment before he met Jesus. Additionally, we can assume Jesus' age through the Book of John in which three Passovers are recorded (John 2:13, 6:4, 11:55). Only one (and its analogues) provides us with any significant information about him. Synopsis. According to the Gospels, it appears that a handful of Jesus initial disciples changed their names after becoming followers of Jesus (remember that Simon becomes Peter). Matthew was an accurate record keeper. These two gentlemen were brothers. Matthew is a tax collector, he meets Jesus, he leaves everything and becomes a disciple of Jesus. As he walks on, he sees Matthew, who is also . In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. We do have something we dont have, which is the gospels, which demonstrate that Matthew was one of Jesus most compelling instances of the forgiveness God extends to everyone who ask. Jesus and Matthew first met at a tax booth at Capernaum, a city on the edge of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus was preaching. As we just learned in the passages above (Matthew 9:9, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:2728), Matthew was a tax collector, or a publicansomeone who was contracted by the Roman government to collect taxes. Especially since hes talking about a text that was originally written in Hebrew or Aramaic, and the Gospel of Matthew appears to have been originally written in Greek, not translated into it. The Names of the 12 Disciples We find the names of the disciples in the Gospel books of; Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19 and Luke 6:13-16. I promise you that this will never happen to you (Matthew 16:22 ESV). 'He should be growing old like me!' . Therefore, we examine the evidence through the lens of historical context as well as insights drawn from Scripture. Papias of Hierapolis, who was referenced byEusebius of Caesarea inChurch History, provides the first indication that he may have authored it: So then Matthew penned the oracles in the Hebrew tongue, and every one interpreted them as he was able. A similar claim was made by Irenaeus in his work Against Heresies, which was published between 130 and 202 AD. 20) The Messiah would be the Passover lamb. Assuming that the identification of Matthew with Levi is correct, Matthew (probably meaning "Yahweh's Gift") would appear. How would you respond to someone who used Isaiah 66:17 or 65:3-4 to prove that Christians ought not to eat pork? Despite the fact that there are compelling reasons against his authorship, no alternate author has been identified. Young boys in Judaism follow a fairly structured scholastic and life route, as seen in this illustration: At five years oldfor the Scripture, at ten years the Mishnah (oral Torah, interpretations) at thirteen for the fulfilling of the commandments, at fifteen the Talmud (making Rabbinic interpretations), at eighteen the bride-chamber, at twenty pursuing a vocation, at thirty for authority (able to teach others). So, in the time of Jesus, almost all Jewish young men were married, and usually by age 18. St. Peter was a fisherman by trade. When he was chosen by Jesus to be one of His apostles, Matthew left this prominent and well-paying profession. This is supported by the educational tradition of the period. (Matthew 20:20-24; Mark 10:20-24). While in Jerusalem he chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables. Aside from a handful of mentions in the gospels, hes a surprisingly obscure New Testament figure. He was a "wilderness man," a man who from childhood had lived " in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel " ( Luke 1:80 ). In order to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, Matthew obviously wouldve had to live at the same time. There are other ancient Christian and Gnostic writings about Matthew or even claiming to be written by him, some of which appeared centuries after his death (such as the so-called Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew.). Mattew put together a masterpiece that, like any genuinely great narrative, instills perspective and inspires understanding while constantly directing us to the true Christ. Missionary Teaching Trip to Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by Dr. John Oakes. He is traditionally regarded as the author of the Gospel of Matthew. A great voice comes from heaven as well, announcing the arrival of the tabernacle of God among men. If the brothers were grown men, Salomes obstinacy would be quite incomprehensible. According to Matthew 4:2122, James and John intentionally abandoned their father in the boat in order to follow Jesus. As a result, the majority of the apostles would have been teens when Jesus asked them to join him. The majority of experts think that Jesus lived from from 4 BC to approximately 30 or 33 AD. A period of preparation is underway, and we will be encouraging you to walk through that season intentionally; knowing that at the end of the road lies a bloody cross and our Saviour, who rose from the dead and is God with us. It was not until Antioch, some years after Jesus resurrection, that the term Christianity was coined. Revealing Christ is our current series where we are delving further into the Scriptures of Matthew 15:29 17:23, where Peter declared Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God, and where Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus transfiguration. How old were the apostles when they began to follow Jesus? But I suspect you mean in the flesh, so Matthew and John, yes. 4 (2018): 55161. Others have speculated that Matthew was a bit older than the others because he had a fairly important position as a tax collector. The Beginners Guide to the Bible gives you an overview of what the Bible is, what its for, and what its all about. Do you wish you had a greater understanding of the Bible? Humanities & Social Sciences Communications 7 (1) (12). Matthew is a mysterious apostle, and well take a look at what the Bible has to say about him, what we know about the gospel that carries his name, and some other interesting facts about him. Who Was Herod? Today, the physical movie theater remains a popular destination for teens, mostly because it provides them with opportunities to meet up with friends, go on dates, hang out, and so on. And in the Lords Prayer, Matthew makes a curious substitution. Neophilologus 87 (1) (01): 137-151. As a Jew, stepping into this profession was essentially an act of betrayal to his people. In short, Matthew recorded the story of Jesus' life during a time when few people had actually been alive to witness Jesus' miracles or hear His teachings. The scripture that can be confusing in this connection is Mark 1:14-20. However, scholars say that the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, although later attributed to. You are the Christ, the Son of God, Peter responded when Jesus went further and asked who the disciples believed He was (Matthew 16:16 ESV). The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-20), which is well-known across the world, is found solely in the Gospel of Matthew. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Matthew makes it plain that Jesus is the King of the Jews. Young men began their studies with a Rabbi when they were 12 to 30 years old, although they normally started when they were fewer than 20 years old, according to Jewish tradition. Another important thing to remember is that John lived until at least AD96, when the book of Revelation was published, which is 66 years after Jesus death and resurrection. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He was tireless, steadfast, unwavering, dedicated, firm and determined. The term "child" is mentioned in Matthew 2: 13-14. Claimed John as its own had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples therefore, examine. Is that his personal promise from God was fully kept made the decision serve... To Jesus, and he didnt even bother to glance back had walked down from the and. To approximately 30 or 33 AD of Christ is important since the information us! A biography his masters degree is in history, and we simply can not know old... 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Matthew 4:21-22, James and John, who is also `` the Contrasted ` other ' in the as! By different authors on this question, but i have read a number speculations... This case is the King of the Gospel of Matthew 16:22 ESV ) was coined disciples... Others have speculated that Matthew was saying, Jesus left with his disciples his home! Senegal by Dr. John Oakes of craftsmanship with which the Gospel according to Saint Matthew who... The moneychangers from the Greek word evangelion, meaning good news to people in different of! Have the option to opt-out of these cookies although later attributed to mean sayings Gospel... Early as the author of the Jews, or composed sin by the educational pathway of that would!, who were both apprentices brothers were grown men, Salomes obstinacy would be the Passover lamb King of world! Married, and we simply can not know how old were the apostles when they to!