Story of Saint Matthew

Who is Matthew in the Bible?

The Biblical Story of Saint Matthew; The tale or story of Saint Matthew made us recognize Matthew is the call of one of the Twelve Apostles that Jesus chose. He became a Roman tax collector (or, extra precisely, a tax agent) stationed at Capernaum (and despised by fellow Jews). Jesus was known to sign up for him, simply as he had finished with the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James, and John.

Traditionally, Matthew became seemed like the writer of the primary of the four gospels, which have become referred to as the Gospel of Matthew.

The query is: are we able to depend on that information as being accurate? There are troubles with a number of them. For example, the tax collector in Capernaum, who was called to discipleship by Jesus, is referred to as Levi in Mark, but Matthew is on the list of the Twelve Apostles!

Luke also names Matthew as one of the Twelve, but he no longer tells the story of Matthew’s or Levi’s decision! What a conundrum! Nowadays, most writers think that Mark’s Gospel was the first to be written.

Matthew/Levi is largely discerned withinside the gospels of Mark and Matthew due to the fact; that whoever he became, he became instrumental in asking Jesus to dinner and combining with different tax creditors and sinners.

This scandalized the wonderful and properly Galilean Jewish society, inflicting Jesus with commentary that he got here to summon sinners, now no longer the virtuous, simply as docs aren’t there for the healthy, but the sick.

A notice of modern considering the Gospel of Matthew is essential here. This Gospel carries approximately 90% of the Gospel of Mark unaltered. So, suppose Matthew’s Gospel got here first.

In that case, I’d suggest that Mark edited down Matthew, lacking such gemstones because of the infancy narrative, the Sermon at the Mount, and numerous post-resurrection stories. Why could any author pass over the great bits? 

Many writers who write the story of Saint Matthew take into account that while the content material of the Gospel we name Matthew would possibly have its roots in that apostle’s preaching, the real writing did now no longer take vicinity till possibly after AD 70, and after the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple through the Romans (September – October 70 AD), probably after Matthew’s death. 

The cause for this declaration is that Matthew’s Gospel seems to emphasize Jesus’ coaching because of the success of the Law and the Prophets to such a volume that it seems to be an try to bolster the religion of flagging Jewish converts to Christianity.

The latter has been excommunicated from synagogues, disowned through families, wholly rejected for his or her notion of Jesus, and opposite Jewish rabbinic coaching.

Matthew is the client saint of accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, customs officers, monetary officers, guards, cash managers, protection forces, protection guards, stockbrokers, and tax creditors. His dinner party is on September 21.

Matthew is a charming man or woman to theologians and historians because he became now no longer a well-appreciated individual. He became maximumly probably despised vehemently. Matthew, you see, became a publican.

On the surface, this interprets the tax collector (which can be a motive sufficient for a few to despise him); however, preserve in thoughts to which the Hebrews have been paying taxes. The Hebrews have been an issue to the Roman Empire. So Matthew became extra than only a tax collector; he became a Jewish agent for the Romans.

Hebrews of the time deeply distrusted any of their very own who labored to hold the Roman Empire, and maximum has been visible as greedy, selfish, and treacherous. There are debts that Hebrews now no longer permit Jewish publicans to marry Jewish girls or maybe worship within the synagogue.

Story of Saint Matthew’s Ministry

Everything was modified for Matthew whilst Jesus crossed his course and said,

“Follow me.”

Jesus

That’s all. Matthew, in keeping with his Gospel, heard those phrases and dropped the whole lot. He apologized to anybody he had cheated, relinquished his worldly belongings, and pledged to comply with his new master.

The Jewish government raised its eyebrows due to this. They have been already cautious of Jesus; however, now he became putting out with the bottom individuals of Hebrew society.

How Did Jesus Call Saint Matthew to Be a Disciple?

The calling of Matthew in all three gospel debts is noticeably simple. Matthew is a tax collector; whilst he met Jesus, he left the whole lot and became a disciple of Jesus. The Bible now no longer provides us with much extra information besides that Matthew throws a celebration and invitations all of his pals right away. 

Jesus upsets the non-secular leaders’ system. Nevertheless, there are righteous and sinners; however, Jesus pronounces that the “most effective God is righteous.” Jesus, who’s God, is the most effective righteous, at the same time anybody else is withinside the incorrect category.

Being righteous is performed thru a courting with Jesus, now no longer through changing your behaviors. This is clear in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ name. “Follow me” is all it takes. This is Jesus coaching Matthew that it’s far his connection to Jesus this is essential.

He’ll need to cease his tax collector’s stall. (This is what Luke emphasizes.) Matthew’s coronary heart has honestly been modified. But there is extra to it than that. Jesus is inclined to be related to this tax collector.

This tax collector is turning into certainly considered one of his ardent supporters. Jesus seeks a general alternate in place of simply ethical correction. And that is what takes place because Matthew, now no longer most effective, leaves his tax booth. However, he right away begins evolving telling his pals approximately the super news.

Sinners and tax creditors like Matthew haven’t any wish of ever turning into righteous. But the hassle is, neither do the Pharisees and scribes. They, too, are sinners. However, they cannot see it. You see, legalism would not alternate the world. The tale of Matthew’s calling reminds us that what creates alternate isn’t always legalism; it’s far from the Gospel.

The Gospel changed a despised tax collector into a devoted disciple of Jesus. There isn’t much else known about Matthew. We know Jesus summoned him and that he continued to follow Jesus. He was the author of the gospel tale that bears his name. A few other hints can be found in church history, but these cannot be validated.

Saint Matthew as a Disciple

As one of the Twelve, Matthew ceased operating as a tax collector and observed Jesus. He is mentioned as one among those to whom Jesus delegated power to educate, heal, and perform exorcisms (Matt. 10).

Jesus instructed him and the other disciples to spread the word that “the Kingdom of Heaven is nigh.” This passage of Matthew’s discipleship called for the renunciation of all earthly possessions:

“Do now not carry any gold, silver, or copper on your belts; take no bag for the journey, or larger tunic, or sandals, or a stick.”

(Mattew 10:9; Matthew 10:10)

Matthew and his colleagues have been no longer living in accommodations, however, to simply accept hospitality from any “worth person” who supplied it. They also are instructed:

“Do now no longer cross a number of the Gentiles or input any metropolis of the Samaritans,”.

a command noted simplest withinside the Gospel of Matthew 10:5; Matthew 10:6

Matthew was a privileged witness to Jesus’ ministry – soaking up every moment until the defining event in human history. He chose invisibility, however, vanishing when his Lord’s hour of judgment came and only Peter, John, and James stood with Him; Matthew’s actions during those moments will remain sadly unknown.

Thus it’s far secure to finish that he’s covered in Mark’s extensive statement: “Then all and sundry abandoned him and fled.” (See Mark 15:5) Like the different disciples, He did now no longer available to assist Jesus at Pontius Pilate’s residence, permitting the adherents of Barabbas to get their leader’s freedom whilst Jesus became condemned. He becomes additionally now no longer a gift on the crucifixion.

After Jesus’ loss of life, Matthew retreated to Galilee (Mattew 28:16), becoming one of the witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. Later, he became a number of the apostles in Jerusalem stated to be a gift on the Ascension and the election of another “Matthew” (Matthias) to update Judas Iscariot a number of the Twelve (Acts 1:10; Acts 1:11; Acts 1:12; Acts 1:13; Acts 1:14).

Later sports

Matthew’s profession withinside the apostolic age is primarily based totally on the traditions of the Church Fathers and apocryphal and mythical accounts.

According to Irenaeus of Lyon (overdue 2nd century), Matthew preached the Gospel to several Jews. Clement of Alexandria is going on to mention that he did it for 15 years. According to Eusebius, Matthew traveled to different international locations after writing the Gospel attributed to him in Hebrew.

Several writers cite “Ethiopia” as one of the international locations he evangelized; however, the United States of America is placed south of the Caspian Sea instead of in Africa. Others have noted Persia, Macedonia, and Syria.

The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, with the aid of using Caravaggio

Clement of Alexandria charges Heracleon, pointing out that Matthew did now no longer die a martyr. However, all different tales of the Church Fathers say that he certainly died for his faith. There is a huge confrontation withinside the assets as to the area of Matthew’s martyrdom and the way of his loss of life, which is variously suggested as being with the aid of using burning, stoning, stabbing, or beheading.

A mythical tale of Matthew’s loss of life within the Acta apostolorum Apocrypha has arisen within the century. The book of Matthew starts with an imaginative and prescient of the younger Jesus brought to Matthew. When Matthew inquires approximately the whereabouts of Ruler Herod I, he’s knowledgeable that this merciless king now is living in Hades/Gehenna in everlasting flames.

At Jesus’ command, Matthew travels to “Myrna,” additionally recognized as “the town of the man-eaters,” to look at Saint Andrew’s church. He meets Bishop Plato and works numerous miracles, changing many heathens after exorcising the king’s spouse and the son of a powerful demon.

Matthew’s rod blooms right into a huge fruit-bearing tree that feeds Myrna’s hordes. Alternatively, the king is enraged that his spouse has emerged as Matthew’s follower and vows to have him burned at the stake. The hearthplace that became intended to wreck Matthew is miraculously becoming in opposition to his persecutors and their gods.

The king refuses to relent, and after several greater miracles, he burns all of his idols and proclaims a proclamation that “there need to now no longer be many gods, however, one, and one simplest, the God withinside the skies” from now on. Following the loss of life of Bishop Plato, the king, whose call is likewise Matthew, takes his position.

A version of this story that appears in The Golden Legend keeps the king’s less happy ending when his bride, who had determined to spend the rest of her life in celibate chastity, despatched a swordsman to murder Matthew. The executioner “came up behind Matthew as he stood on the altar with his fingers stretched to Heaven in prayer, thrust his blade into his lower back, and thus completed the apostle’s martyrdom.”

Writings and Acts

Matthew is credited with numerous writings, the maximum high quality of which is his alleged Gospel. These paintings are internally nameless; this means that it no longer declared to be written with the aid of using Matthew’s disciple. However, the Church Fathers are unified in their notion that Matthew is the author, and this way of life dates lower back to the second century. The textual inscription “Gospel of Matthew” comes from the fourth century.

Matthew and his angel, by Carlo Dolci

Experts began to question Matthew’s authorship of this Gospel in the eighteenth century, and the majority of scholars now agree that Matthew the Disciple did not write it. It appears that Greek, rather than Hebrew or Aramaic, was the language of origin.

Most modern historians believe that Mark’s Gospel was the first to be written and that Matthew and Luke are independent updates of his work for their respective audiences. On the other hand, traditional Christians largely regard Matthew as the author of “his” Gospel.

The Pontifical Biblical Commission confirmed in 1911 that Matthew was the first Gospel written and written in Aramaic. However, the report of the same commission to Pope John Paul II on April 23, 1993, takes a much less definite approach.

Various other writings have also been attributed to Matthew. One of these, the De Ortu beatæ Mariæ et infantile Salvatoris—also known as the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew—appears to be merely a later, abridged version of the second-century Infancy Gospel of James.

Legacy

Matthew is revered as a Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, and other denomination. The feast of Saint Matthew is celebrated on September 21 in the Latin Church and on November 16 in the Greek Church. In Orthodox tradition, he is also celebrated on June 30, the Synaxis of the Holy Apostles, along with the other Apostles.

Like the other evangelists, Matthew is frequently represented in Christian art as one of the “four living beings” of Revelation 4:7. The one who follows him has the form of a winged man or a typical angel. The three paintings of Matthew by Caravaggio in San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome are among the best classic examples of Western art.

What Happened to Matthew?

The gospels and Acts do not tell us what happened to Matthew. We can assume that he persevered to the end. Otherwise, his gospel account would have been suspect. But how did he die? Where did he continue to minister?

According to early stories, Matthew resumed his ministry in Ethiopia, where he died. Cardinal Contarelli commissioned Michelangelo’s painting, The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew. He was given clear instructions on what should be depicted in the picture, notably Matthew being slaughtered by a soldier dispatched by a cruel king, surrounded by onlookers. This is related to the belief that Matthew was assassinated by an Ethiopian monarch who was displeased with Matthew’s rebuke for lusting after his niece (a believer).

In Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, it states rather simply, “The scene of his labours was Parthia, and Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A.D. 60.”

Early church fathers differ on their manner of death, though. Some have him burned, others stoned, some beheaded, and still others have him stabbed to death. One other early historian has Matthew dying a natural death. Gnostic writing is also called The Acts and Martyrdom of St. Matthew, but it is a fanciful work with little to no historical bearing. 

Ultimately, we cannot know for certain. But we do know that Matthew was radically transformed by Jesus and spent the rest of his days telling others about the good news of Christ.

Conclusion Story of Saint Matthew

Matthew in the Bible was one of Jesus’ disciples. Matthew’s Gospel, along with the Gospels of Luke, John, and Mark, is an inspired—and thus accurate and true—history of the life of Christ. His Gospel is the longest of the four, and some scholars believe it was the first to be written.

Before becoming a disciple of Christ, Matthew worked as a tax collector or “publican” in the town of Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; Matthew 10:3). Luke and Mark also refer to Matthew as Levi, the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27). Although Luke and Mark do not explicitly state, “Levi and Matthew are the same people,” we can assume from the context that the names belong to the same person.

Tax collectors were reviled by their people since they worked for the Roman government and profited themselves by collecting taxes from their people—often dishonestly collecting excessive sums (see Luke 19:8). Matthew was probably well-to-do because Luke says Levi arranged “a big dinner for Jesus” with “a huge multitude” in attendance (Luke 5:29).

Matthew’s call account matches the accounts of Levi’s call in Luke and Mark, both in language and chronological placement. Also, it is not uncommon for a person to be given a different name after an encounter with God. Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, Simon became Peter, and Saul became Paul. Matthew (meaning “gift of God”) was likely the name Jesus gave to Levi after his conversion.

Source story of Saint Matthew

https://study.com/academy/lesson/matthew-the-apostle-history-facts-death.html
https://saintmatthews.scot/the-story-of-st-matthew/
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-matthew-apostle-601
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/how-much-do-we-know-about-matthew-the-disciple.html