Home PhilosophyReligion Personages associated with religion Scholars Saints Popesapostle Alternative titles include: Levi, St. Matthew the Apostle, and St. Matthew the Evangelist are all names for the same person. All three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) make mention of him, as does the book of Acts, which lists him among the disciples. But thats it. While Jesus and his followers were eating supper at Matthews house, a large number of tax collectors and sinners joined them and ate with them. He completed graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, receiving a Masters Degree in Near Eastern Studies in 1979. . And in the Lords Prayer, Matthew makes a curious substitution. The holy city, Jerusalem, comes down from out of heaven, looking as new and innocent as a bride ready for her husband. As a tax collector, Matthews job wouldve involved meticulously recording and documenting tax information. Tax collectors had very little accountability. 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. After seeing this final miracle, the king and his kingdom of man-eaters come to realize the one true God and place their trust in Jesus as their Savior. I have never heard anyone claim this was the Simon's first encounter with Jesus. T he horrific killing of Matthew Shepard in 1998 is widely seen as one of the worst anti-gay hate crimes in American history. The early church fathers claim he was burned, stoned, stabbed, or beheaded for his faith. He knew the human heart and the longings of the Jewish people. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Of fact, this group of young Jewish men were not recognized as Christians when they arrived. The account recorded in the Gospel of Matthew has Jesus bestowing the name on Peter after the latter confesses, "You are the Christ, the son of . The Bible says were all sinners (Romans 3:23), but in ancient Judaism, the label was reserved for the worst of the worstlike tax collectors. Why? RESPONSE:As you correctly surmise, the solution to this question is somewhat shocking. Therefore, we examine the evidence through the lens of historical context as well as insights drawn from Scripture. What is the relationship between the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant? Many of these legendary accounts were pseudepigraphameaning they falsely claimed to be written by a well-known Christianand included miraculous events and Gnostic teachings. Based on the lack of other mentions of him in the biblical . It was not until Antioch, some years after Jesus resurrection, that the term Christianity was coined. Matthew, one of Jesus twelve apostles, was present for virtually the whole duration of Jesus public ministry. They clearly hadnt passed muster for special Rabbinic training, but having been with Jesus for 3 years, and seeing him alive again, gave them special qualifications: When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus. | Theme by SuperbThemes.Com. The Gospel of Matthew was written 30-40 years after Jesus' resurrection, indicating that Matthew was perhaps in his 20s when following Jesus on earth. In an attempt to murder him, the monarch makes many attempts, finally nailing him to the ground and setting him ablaze with his own blood on the ground. According to the early church fathers, he was burnt, stoned, stabbed, or beheaded for his religious beliefs. 9:12 (KJV) By addressing Matthew specifically, Jesus was announcing that no one would be barred from his movementnot even those who were deemed unredeemable by society. . He was not a rabbi who was responsible for teaching in the synagogue. Since we dont know how old he was at the time he met Jesus, we cant be certain he was born in the first century, but he certainly lived then. It is in Matthew 16:21 (ESV) that we find the first prophecy, which states: From that point on, Jesus started to teach his followers that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elder and chief priest and scribes, and be crucified, and on the third day be risen. (Matthew 16:21, English Standard Version) Matthew distinguishes this section from the others by beginning it with the words From that time. The usage of this word earlier in the book, when Matthew uses it to stress the commencement and direction of Jesus mission while stating His primary message: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, may bring this phrase back to your memory (Matthew 4:17 ESV). Some believe that Matthews involvement as an eyewitness to the events of the Gospel of Matthew is evidence that he did not write the Gospel of Matthew. Imagine this scene if the brothers were grown men (Matthew 20:20-24)! They were dubbed Sons of Thunder by Jesus because they were presumably either loud or courageous when they were young, attributes that Jesus admired in them. Matthew 8:14 mentions his infirm mother-in-law, who was a sick woman. The precise ages of Jesus followers are not specified in the Bible; nonetheless, it is probable that they were all between the ages of 13 and 30 at the time they followed Jesus. 3 Then two men were there, talking with him. To the Jews, tax collectors were the embodiment of sin. He exalts the humble and lays low those who are proud. For a short time after healing the paralytic, Jesus remains in the area of Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. Matthew makes it plain that Jesus is the King of the Jews. CHRIST ASSOCIATES WITH SINNERS TO HELP THEM. It seems that the author paid particular attention to Jesus statements about money, had a greater understanding of financial matters, and saw finance as a helpful lens to understand the gospel. Aside from a handful of mentions in the gospels, he's a surprisingly obscure New Testament figure. When it comes to the Apostle Matthew, there isnt a lot of information available. Joseph's death is not recorded in the Bible. Those who strove to protect the Roman Empire were held in high regard by the Hebrews of the period, with the majority of them being seen as greedy, selfish, and treacherous. The betrayal and execution of Jesus would be gruesome, with beatings, blood, and a crucifixion among the many horrors that would befall him. 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). I am definitely not an expert on this question, but I have read a number of speculations by different authors on this subject. Not only do we read the recorded interaction between Jesus and His followers, but as we read the tale, our gaze is drawn to the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ as well. Death, on the other hand, having been overcome, shows Him to be the genuine and better King; the suffering Servant promised by the prophet Isaiah. Matthew was saying, Jesus IS the fulfillment of Old Testament . Remember also that Jesus nicknamed them Sons of Thunder because they were probably either loud or bold, characteristics of youth. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. No children are mentioned. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. When compared to the other gospels, the Gospel of Matthew goes into greater depth and utilizes more frequent references to money. By the time they arrived at their final objective of Jerusalem, which they were well on their way there, the time for these occurrences would have come. Except for one, all of them were most likely bachelors. However, there are a few observations that may be made about their ages. 329 views, 25 likes, 5 loves, 29 comments, 6 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from The Living God Tabernacle -God's Spoken Word Evangelism: 2023-01-22 SUNDAY SERVICE _"IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN, WHERE IS. 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. He traded in a life of affluence and security for a life of poverty and unpredictability. And its also possible that its simply a matter of him having a Greek name (Matthew) and a Hebrew name (Levi), like how the Apostle Paul was also known by Saul. The author of the Gospel of Matthew is unknown, however Matthew the Apostle is widely regarded as the books primary author. 17 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James up on a high mountain. We only have speculation to go on. Jesus with Moses and Elijah. There are legends about his ministry, but no substantial records of his role in the early church. NEES, LAWRENCE, Barbara Drake Boehm, and Melanie Holcolmb. 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. Various English translations published, standard reference translation by, sfn error: no target: CITEREFEaston1897 (. Who Was Herod? It was also a time when those who chose to follow Jesus by joining the church were being pushed down by an ever-increasing weight of persecution. Its possible that out of respect, friendship, or deference, Matthew used Peters account for consistencys sake. A young man could just as truly pray that his life is fulfilled in seeing Messiah, that he can now die happy. No one dared to disagree with them since their judgments were enforced by Roman soldiers. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Lessons via video QuizzesWorksheets Integration into the classroomLesson Plans Study.com is a website that I would strongly recommend to my colleagues. According to Matthew, who was an eyewitness to Jesus life, the tale of his birth, his message, and his numerous actions are all documented in the Gospel of Matthew since Matthew was an eyewitness to the Savior. (according to the Bible) Fishermen . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. As an example, Levi becomes Matthew, which is taken from the Hebrew word meaning gift of Yahweh. Matthew is a fascinating character for theologians and historians since he was not a well-liked individual in his day. Matthew also uses money-related words the other gospels dont. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Jesus would have entered into ministry when he reached the age of thirty. These cookies do not store any personal information. Throughout the first several decades of the church, a plethora of tales concerning the apostles arose, becoming so numerous that it virtually established its own genre. When tax collectors came to be baptized by John the Baptist, they said, Teacher, what shall we do? and he told them: Collect no more than you are authorized to do (Luke 3:1213). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. According to Matthew 4:2122, James and John intentionally abandoned their father in the boat in order to follow Jesus. There are just seven mentions to him in the entire Bible, if you count parallel verses and quotations. In Matthew 17, Jesus foreshadowed the events leading up to His own death and resurrection for the second time. Answer (1 of 24): Well, yesspiritually, at least. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. Matthew was a tax collector. Over 30,000 video lesson and teaching resources are available in one convenient location. Jesus also referred to them as small children, which might have been a reference to the fact that they were several years younger than He. On the other hand, before he met Jesus, Matthew was greedy. (Mark 3.16). Major Themes Young John, perhaps 15 during the life of Jesus, would be only 85 if he wrote his gospel, letters and Revelation in the year 100. Besides this, Matthew gives Peter a good deal of positive attention in his gospel. Because Matthew's original purpose was to prove to his Jewish brethren that Jesus is their Mashiach/Messiah, he included in his Gospel nine proof texts from the Old Testament which Jesus fulfilledMatthew 1:22,23; 2:15; 2:17,18; 2:23; 4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 13:35; 27:9,10. In its place, Matthew began collecting souls for the kingdom of God, rather than tax money, from that point forth. Matthew is the first person we encounter in Capernaum, as he is working in his tax booth on the major roadway. Matthew, who was also known as Levi, was a minor character in the Bible; he is only referenced by name in the lists of apostles and in the story of his calling. Andre Iguodala compares Stephen Curry to Jesus Christ - "I think I've met the closest thing to Jesus Christ" Iguodala claims he knew Curry was destined for greatness from the moment he joined the Warriors in 2013, and even went as far to compare him to Jesus Christ when praising him Are you already a member? Peter, James, and John were the only ones who had a clearer understanding of who Jesus was and what he was capable of. He left behind the source of his riches; he left his position of security and comfort for traveling, hardship, and eventual martyrdom; he left his old life for a new life with Jesus. He becomes an active follower/disciple of Jesus. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Matthew got up and followed him. 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. St. Peter was a fisherman by trade. He had just delivered what would become the most famous sermon in history. The gospel of Matthew reveals that Jesus was about two years of age when the wise men or magi visited Him. Others have speculated that Matthew was a bit older than the others because he had a fairly important position as a tax collector. 'He should be growing old like me!' . Calling his disciples children may indicate they were mostly gasp! Compare this line in the prayer as recorded by Matthew and Luke: Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. Luke 11:4 (emphasis added), And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12 (emphasis added). As we come to see Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, and the Savior, may we also recognize that in order for any of this to be real, He had to take the route of the cross. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 66 He wore clothing made of camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey ( Matthew 3:4 ). Females are seen by Jesus as genuine persons, not simply as the objects of male desire. The Hebrews were subject to the sovereignty of the Roman Empire during their lifetime. There would be no such thing as a half-hearted belief. If they were unable to locate a rabbi who would accept them as a pupil (much like a college admission application), they entered the employment by their mid-teens. And, despite the fact that he was a religious outsider, Jesus elevated him to a prominent position inside what would later become the worlds greatest religion. A fourth point to consider is that the subsequent lives of several of the disciples provide information about their likely ages. Verse Concepts. You . And as to the plausibility of them being young enough to still be around to write about all this in the 60s 90s, there is no problem at all. This is supported by the educational tradition of the period. Neophilologus 87 (1) (01): 137-151. Various accounts say he was beheaded, stoned, burned, or stabbedone even suggests he died of natural causes like John. The term "child" is mentioned in Matthew 2: 13-14. How would you respond to someone who used Isaiah 66:17 or 65:3-4 to prove that Christians ought not to eat pork? When called by Jesus, Matthew immediately left his tax collection booth and followed the Lord ( Matthew 9:9 ). However, they all ultimately offer a different portrait of Jesus. during the Roman-Judean War that one of the revolutionary factions came to identify itself formally as the Zealots. If Matthew was, in fact, the same person who was called Levi, then his. He gave up the delights of this world in exchange for the assurance of eternal life. Discover interesting information about the life and career of this former publican who became an evangelist, as well as his death and contributions to history. After Jesus calls him, Matthew hosts a gathering at his house, and as he and his unsavory companions dine with Jesus, the Pharisees ask why Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11). You will be able to see your next lesson in 10 seconds. Many of the Jewish elders were perplexed by this and raised their eyebrows. Include a biography His masters degree is in history, and he is a history professor at the University of Northern Colorado. Think about that: they were worried about putting a tax collector in charge of their money, but Judas not only stole from the money bag (John 12:6), but ultimately betrayed Jesus. So its more than a little unclear what exactly Papias is referring to. They were most certainly teens by this point, as they were able to leave home to follow a rabbi. As a result, it is likely that the disciples were between the ages of 20 and 30. Matthew, also called Levi, was the tax collector who Jesus called to follow Him in Luke 5:27 (also mentioned in Matthew 10:3), though he doesn't get much mention after that, except. Furthermore, Jesus declared that He was the Son of God. We know that John lived until about AD 96 or 97, which is about 66 years after Jesus died. And to discover a four-drachma coin in the mouth of the fish he has caught; enough to pay the tax for two men, himself and Jesus, when he opens the fishs mouth. The Matthew recorded in the gospels as being a disciple of Jesus would of course have met him. Generally speaking, the Book of Matthew is thought to have been written by, yep, Matthew, who was a disciple, apostle, and evangelist in the early Christian community. , . He is reported by Luke to still be alive when Jesus was around 12 years old in Luke 2:41-42. Most scholars dont accept this account today. 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.. In addition to Matthews works, there are additional ancient Christian and Gnostic texts concerning him or even claiming to have been written by him, some of which surfaced hundreds of years after his death (such as the so-calledGospel of Pseudo-Matthew.) The disciples were most likely not middle-aged men, as shown in historical films and even in the most recent television miniseries, The Bible, which is currently showing. These accounts so closely parallel each other that its hard to imagine they arent speaking of the same person. ), and he is working in his tax booth on the lack of other of... Neophilologus 87 ( 1 ) ( 01 ): well, yesspiritually, at.... ( 1 ) ( 01 ): well, yesspiritually, at least taken from the others by beginning with. 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