Matthew says that Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Site design and hosting by . JESUS CALLS MATTHEW, THE TAX COLLECTOR. 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 . He was born to Joseph and Mary sometime between 6 bce and shortly before the death of Herod the Great (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5) in 4 bce. When Jesus summoned Matthew to follow him, he was working as a tax collector (also known as a publican), which was considered one of the most despised occupations in ancient Judaism. 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. 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. Matthew is a tax collector, he meets Jesus, he leaves everything and becomes a disciple of Jesus. He was loyal to Jesus and once committed, he never wavered in serving the Lord. When called by Jesus, Matthew immediately left his tax collection booth and followed the Lord ( Matthew 9:9 ). He invited his friends as well so that they may all meet Jesus. 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. To learn the history of John, the disciple of Jesus, we begin with his life before he met Jesus. The Bible tells us that Peter had a wife when Jesus cured his mother-in-law, according to Matthew 8:14-15. New Testament citations: John 1:29, John 1:36, John 19:33, John 19:36, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, 1 Peter 1:19. Peter was the only one who had been married that was known to have existed. According to the scripture, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. The end. If the brothers were grown men, Salomes obstinacy would be quite incomprehensible. Little is known about this apostle. 2 There He was transfigured before them. These two gentlemen were brothers. According to him, money is everything in life and he broke Gods rules in order to enrich himself at the expense of his nation and other people. Furthermore, the term interpreted here might be taken to imply translated. Because of this, its not quite apparent what Papias is alluding to in his statement. How the disciples could be living and writing about the events of Jesus life as late as 95-100 A.D. Log InBack to top. The education of a Jewish youngster came to an end at the age of fifteen. There were no records of his early life, but he introduced himself as a tax collector (publican) in his own book during the time of Herod Antipas (Matthew 9:9; 10:3). Tradition mentions his ministry inJudaea, following which he is said to have embarked on a journey to the East, which might have taken him to Ethiopia or Persia. Follow me, he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9, As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collectors booth. Virtually everything we really know about Matthew comes directly from the gospels. Hardcover, 304 pages. 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 first heaven and earth are passed away, and the sea is gone. In order for him to teach in the Temple area in Jerusalem, he would have had to have a pedigree that allowed it. We should also remember that serving God is the ultimate calling in life, regardless of what the rest of the world believes. 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. Matthew 4:18-22 relates that Andrew and Peter were fishing, plying their trade when called, and James and John were mending nets with their father. 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. Since this person was a Jew who worked for the Romans, it wouldnt be surprising to learn that he was known by both names. 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 fact, the gospels provide us with virtually all of the information we need concerning Matthew. They were considered religious outcasts since the manner in which they carried out their profession publicly flouted the Law of Moses. . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Dont we have more patience with their blunders and pride? However, there are a few counter-arguments, with the most important being that the early church claimed John as its own. Jesus likens him to a person bringing forth treasures new and oldthe old being those acquired as a tax collector (such as gifts for accuracy and organization), the new being Jesus teachings; about the kingdom of heaven. As a man doubly equipped, Matthew is now ready for further scribal activitythe writing of the book that bears his name. Walter A. Elwell and B.J. Joseph's death is not recorded in the Bible. . The Christian Bible is filled with writings outlining the right methods to follow Christs teachings, yet just four narratives of Christs life and death are included in the book of Matthew. . Others have speculated that Matthew was a bit older than the others because he had a fairly important position as a tax collector. Moses: The Old Testaments Greatest Prophet. The scripture that can be confusing in this connection is Mark 1:14-20. Did Jesus encourage the apostles to break the Sabbath? He completed a Th.M. Tc gi: www.britannica.com Third and last point: Jesus prophecies about His own death and resurrection add to the dramatic tension of this most ultimate of redemption stories. Two, because we find them working in trades at the time Jesus calls them, none of the disciples likely were star students. We know that a number of them had well-established occupations, such as fisherman (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) or tax collector (James and John) (Matthew). In 2013, a group portrait of American male teenagers was taken. But thats it. Required fields are marked *. Additionally, we can assume Jesus' age through the Book of John in which three Passovers are recorded (John 2:13, 6:4, 11:55). John 18:1-13. 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. . He may or may not have been that well educated. 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. 60, brought him to martyrdom in the latter nation. Females are seen by Jesus as genuine persons, not simply as the objects of male desire. Jesus with Moses and Elijah. I cant help but think of the scene from The Chronicles of Narnia: When it comes to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, In the middle of the night, Susan and Lucy are strolling with Aslan through the woods, gripping his mane and falling in love with him, only to realize that they are actually travelling with him to the Stone Table. 2023 Proven Way There are legends about his ministry, but no substantial records of his role in the early church. (Matt 11:25). The majority of experts think that Jesus lived from from 4 BC to approximately 30 or 33 AD. (Mark 3.16). Every male above the age of 20 who visits the temple of God is required to give a half-shekel as a census offering, according to Jewish law, which is found in Exodus 30:14-15. Its as if my teacher waved a magic wand and took care of everything for me. He gave lectures near the seaside and from the top of a mountain. 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 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. February 27, 2023. Then Jesus puts Matthew in with the rest of the sinners, as follows: On hearing this, Jesus responded, It is the ill who require medical attention, not the healthy. Matthew, according to his gospel, heard these words and immediately dropped everything. The Gospel of Matthew leaves little room for confusion though: hes called the tax collector in the list of disciples: These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Matthew 10:24. Since Zacchaeus was "short in stature," he ran ahead. 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.. T he horrific killing of Matthew Shepard in 1998 is widely seen as one of the worst anti-gay hate crimes in American history. CHRIST ASSOCIATES WITH SINNERS TO HELP THEM. So why would an eyewitness use an account written by someone who wasnt there? Or at least much younger than their Master. According to the early church fathers, he was burnt, stoned, stabbed, or beheaded for his religious beliefs. Matthew 9:9-13 is a Bible verse that describes the life of Jesus. Assuming that the identification of Matthew with Levi is correct, Matthew (probably meaning "Yahweh's Gift") would appear. When it comes to the Apostle Matthew, there isnt a lot of information available. Then Jesus lumps Matthew in with the sinners: On hearing this, Jesus said, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. So the Synoptic Gospels actually begin later in Jesus' ministry. With the disciples, its possible that we had a Young Guns-style cast. The richer they were, the worse they were assumed to be. Jasmine A.L. Therefore, it is anachronistic to view people acting with zeal before 68 C.E. There is good news beyond Jesus death, although it appears to have escaped Peters awareness, and that good news is that Jesus will be risen from the grave on the third day. Despite the fact that Matthew is revered as a martyr, no one knows for certain where or how he perished. Furthermore, Jesus declared that He was the Son of God. In passages parallel to Matthew 9:9, both Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27 describe Jesus's calling of the tax collector . Irving Jensen: Matthew's reporting skips most of the first year of Jesus . Scholars have speculated that all of them were less than 30 years old simply because they took the role of student to the "Rabbi" Jesus and this was traditional. (according to the Bible) Fishermen . According to Matthew 4:21-22, James and John intentionally abandoned their father in the boat in order to follow Jesus. But all the disciples are present ( theycame to Capernaum vs 24). Christopher Muscato is the instructor. But think of other indicators of the youthfulness of the disciples: In Matthew 11:25, Mark 10:24, Luke 10:21, and John 13:33, Jesus calls his trainees little children or little ones. Lon has been on the Board of Jews for . He was devoted to Jesus, and once he made the decision to serve the Lord, he never looked back. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He is mentioned in traditions regarding his preaching, but there are no reliable records of his contributions to the early church. Do you know where should I look for information on how old were the apostles when they joined Jess? Again, this in itself does not clinch the matter. While in Jerusalem he chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables. The betrayal and execution of Jesus would be gruesome, with beatings, blood, and a crucifixion among the many horrors that would befall him. He was a meticulous record keeper who was also a good watcher of people. Levi did this promptly. 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. The earliest records say he carried out his ministry in Ethiopia (not what we consider Ethiopia, but a region south of the Caspian Sea), Persia, Macedonia, and/or Syria. 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. According to what we can gather from the book of Acts, the early Jesus movement was referred to as The Way (Acts 9:2; Acts 24:14). 1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. Jeremiah 23:5-6 He would be David's kingly heir. Simeon was a patient man. We only have speculation to go on. St. Matthew, also called St. Matthew the Evangelist, St. Matthew the Apostle, or Levi, (flourished 1st century ce, Palestine; Western feast day September 21, Eastern feast day November 16), one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and the traditional author of the first Synoptic Gospel (the Gospel According to Matthew ). Matthew 8:14 mentions his infirm mother-in-law, who was a sick woman. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. *shrug*. But the simplicity of this passage speaks volumes. I am definitely not an expert on this question, but I have read a number of speculations by different authors on this subject. 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. The exact date of his passing is unclear. These accounts so closely parallel each other that its hard to imagine they arent speaking of the same person. Teenagers have always played an important role in the moviegoing experience. As one of the twelve apostles, Matthew was there throughout almost all of Jesus ministry. Matthew 14:14. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. But after that, the consistent picture of the disciples is of an older Peter and James with long beards, some gray hair, or balding heads, clearly middle aged, and clearly older than their strapping young Rabbi. Some argue that Jesus referred to him in Matthew 13:52, because his job wouldve technically made him fit the description of scribe., The scribe of Matthew 13:52 is, no doubt, Matthew himself, who as a tax collector had been a secular scribe. One of these signs is Walking on water Feeding the 5,000 Matthew's Gospel names no audience for its message other than that which is implied in its Great Commission. While there are credible arguments against his authorship, no alternative writer has been named. To some extent, this proof of His foresight speaks volumes about His divinity, and Matthew is surely conveying this point for his audience with this storyline. RESPONSE:As you correctly surmise, the solution to this question is somewhat shocking. Tax collectors had very little accountability. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. But what we do havethe gospelsshows us that Matthew was one of Jesus most powerful examples of the forgiveness God offers everyone. Again crowds come to him, and he begins teaching them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. Which is the true religion: Christianity, Islam or Zoroastrianism, and why? Except for one, all of them were most likely bachelors. Those in charge of editing the Encyclopaedia Britannica Melissa Petruzzello was the author of the most recent revision and update to this article. Only one (and its parallels) gives us any substantial details about him. The term "child" is mentioned in Matthew 2: 13-14. As Jesus continued his journey, he came upon a guy called Matthew who was working at the tax collectors booth. You will be able to see your next lesson in 10 seconds. Of whom are Matthew, Philip, Thomas, Levi, and many others. Stromata. To the Jews, tax collectors were the embodiment of sin. 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