Matthew, whose name means “gift of the Lord,” was a tax collector who left his work to follow Jesus (9:9-13). In Mark and Luke he is called by his other name, Levi. Date and Place of Writing. Matthew began following Jesus partway through Jesus’s journeys, and his gospel account includes the story of his own call to become a disciple. He was an eyewitness of the events and a member of Jesus’s inner circle. Matthew is the name of one of the Twelve Apostles that Jesus chose. He was a tax collector (or more accurately, a tax agent) for the Romans (and therefore hated by fellow Jews), stationed at Capernaum. Jesus called him to follow him, just as he had done to Peter, Andrew, James and John, who worked in the fishing industry. Traditionally, Matthew was considered as the writer of the first of the four gospels, which as a result is called the Gospel of Matthew.
The question is: can we rely on these details as being completely accurate? There are problems with some of them. For example, the tax-agent at Capernaum, called to discipleship by Jesus, is called Levi in Mark, but Matthew in the list of the Twelve apostles! Luke also lists Matthew among the Twelve, but does not tell the tale of the call of either Matthew or Levi! A puzzle! Nowadays most writers believe Mark’s gospel was the first to be written.
Matthew/Levi is an important figure in the gospels of Mark and Matthew, because whoever he was, he was instrumental in inviting Jesus to dinner, and to mingle with other tax-collectors and sinners. This caused scandal among the great and good of Galilean Jewish society, prompting Jesus to declare that he came to call sinners and not the virtuous, in the same way as doctors are not there for the healthy, but for the sick.
A note on current thinking about the gospel of Matthew is important here. This gospel contains about 90% of the gospel of Mark unaltered. So, if Matthew’s gospel came first, it would mean that Mark edited down Matthew, missing out such gems as the infancy narrative, the Sermon on the Mount, and various post-resurrection stories. Why would any writer miss out the best bits? Many writers today consider that whereas the content of the gospel we call Matthew might have its roots in that apostle’s preaching, the actual writing did not take place until perhaps after AD 70, and after the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Romans (September – October 70 AD), presumably after Matthew’s death. The reason for this claim is that Matthew’s gospel shows every sign of highlighting the teaching of Jesus as the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets to such an extent that it looks like an attempt to bolster the faith of flagging g Jewish converts to Christianity who had been excommunicated from synagogues, disowned by families, utterly rejected for their belief in Jesus, and contrary to the teaching of the Jewish rabbis.
St. Matthew’s Feast is celebrated on 21 September, and Matthew is considered patron saint of:
accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, customs officers, financial officers, guards, money managers, security forces, security guards, stock brokers, tax collectors;
Trier, Germany; diocese of Washington, DC; archdiocese of Asiago, Italy; Ortignano Raggiolo, Italy, Salerno, Italy; San Marco in Lamis, Italy; Villa d’Ogna, Italy; San Mateo, Ibiza, Spain.
Matthew 9 9-13
9
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Hos 6:1 5:13 7:1
13
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentan.
Matthew 10:3
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Matthew 9:9
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
So you can see, Matthew was a very important person to Jesus. In order to get people to become children of Our Heavenly Father. Like tax collectors and other people like that.
Closing Prayer; Heavenly Father we pray that the people that read this enjoy it. it is a story of Matthew made by Appostles. We also pray that they understand how you care about everyone and you want them to be Children of Our Heavenly Father. We ask Jesus to help them do that. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
For those who wish to become a child of Our Heavenly Father or wish to be stronger in his eyes, please say the following prayer below.
Dear Heavenly Father, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
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