09/30/2025
1. UNDERSTANDING THE NAME MATTHEW
Hebrew: The name "Matthew" derives from the Hebrew "מַתִּתְיָהוּ" (Mattityahu), which means "gift of Yahweh" or "present of God."
Greek: In Greek, it is transliterated as "Matthaíos" (Matthaíos).
2. UNDERSTANDING THE STORY OF MATTHEW | WHO WAS MATTHEW IN THE BIBLE
Now we will learn more about this character's story. To make it easier to read, we will divide it into topics:
2.1 The Call of Matthew
The call of Matthew is a crucial moment recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke):
Matthew 9:9: "As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. He said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and beat him."
Mark 2:14: "As he was passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. He said to him, 'Follow me.' He got up and urged him on."
Luke 5:27-28: "After this, he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. He said to him, 'Follow me.' So he left everything and cried out and followed him."
Matthew immediately left his job and improvements for Jesus, demonstrating a remarkable readiness to abandon his old life and embrace a new path of faith.
2.2 Banquet at Matthew's House
Soon after his calling, Matthew hosted a great banquet at his home, inviting Jesus, other tax collectors, and sinners. This event underscored Jesus' mission to seek and save the lost and marginalized:
Matthew 9:10: "And it came to pass, as he sat at meat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples."
Mark 2:15: "And it came to pass, while Jesus sat at meat in the house of Matthew, that many tax collectors and sinners sat down with him and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him."
Luke 5:29: "And Levi gave him a great banquet in his house: and many tax collectors and others sat down with them."
The three evangelists wrote about this dinner; let's now consider the book of Matthew:
Jesus with Tax Collectors and Sinners: Matthew, a tax collector, invites Jesus and his disciples to dinner at his house. Many tax collectors and sinners were present, coming with Jesus and his disciples.
Criticism from the Pharisees: The Pharisees, seeing this, asked Jesus' disciples why their teacher had come with tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus' Response: Jesus hears this criticism and responds: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
2.2.1 WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS DINNER?
Jesus' Inclusivity
The dinner at Matthew's house highlights Jesus' radical inclusion.
By eating with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus breaks with the social and religious norms of his time, demonstrating that his mission is to reach those who are despised and marginalized by society.
This act emphasizes that the Kingdom of God is open to all, regardless of their background or social status.
Criticism and Response
The criticism of the Pharisees and scribes reveals the resistance of the religious authorities to Jesus' message and method.
They do not understand why a respected teacher would associate with people considered unclean.
Jesus' response, using the metaphor of the doctor and the sick, emphasizes that his mission is to save the lost and bring spiritual healing to those in need.
A Call to Repentance
Jesus not only associates with sinners but also calls them to repentance and transformation. He demonstrates that mercy and compassion are at the heart of his ministry, as quoted in Hosea 6:6 ("I desire mercy, not sacrifice").
About the Banquet
The dinner at Matthew's house is a powerful event that encapsulates the essence of Jesus' ministry: inclusion, compassion, and a call to repentance.
It challenges the religious norms of its time and demonstrates that God's love is available to all, especially those deemed unworthy by society.
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2.3 Matthew as an Apostle
Matthew is mentioned in the lists of the twelve apostles in the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles, confirming his position as one of Jesus' closest disciples. Read:
Matthew 10:2-4
Mark 3:16-19
Luke 6:14-16
Acts 1:13
2.4 Traditions about Matthew's Death
The Bible does not provide details about Matthew's death. However, later Christian traditions provide some information:
Ethiopia: According to one tradition, Matthew preached in Ethiopia and was martyred there. One version suggests he was stoned to death, while another suggests he was beheaded.
Persia: Another tradition suggests that Matthew may have traveled to Persia, where he