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How much do we know about Matthew, who became one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus?

We know that Matthew was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). Another of Jesus' disciples, James the Lesser, is also identified as the son of Alphaeus. However, it seems unlikely that the two were closely related. The Bible clearly identifies certain disciples as brothers—like James and John or Peter and Andrew—but gives no indication that Matthew and James were.

Before Jesus called Matthew, he was called Levi, which means "to join" or "to attach." He was a tax collector, probably stationed at the fishing village of Capernaum (Mark 2:1) (Mark 2:13–14). Tax collectors like Levi extracted taxes from fishermen like Peter, James, and John. So, they may have met each other before on different sides of the tax table.

The encyclopedia "Who's Who in Christian History" says that "Matthew served King Herod Antipas in Capernaum of Galilee, collecting tariffs on goods passing on the road from Damascus to the Mediterranean Sea. To function in this capacity, Matthew would have been an educated man, acquainted with the Greek language as well as the native Aramaic, thus qualifying him to write the Gospel of Matthew."

During the ministry of Jesus, the Roman Empire had conquered Israel and was oppressing them with military force. Ruthless Roman soldiers were everywhere and could "compel" a Jew to carry things for them like a servant at their whim. We can see this in (Mark 15:21), where Simon is forced to carry the cross of Christ.

The Roman tax system was very complicated and used a process called "tax farming." The Romans auctioned the tax-collecting job in a province to the highest bidder. The winner would pay Rome in advance and then collect the taxes from the people. Whatever they charged above the normal rate, Rome considered the tax collector's salary, so the tax collectors charged the people as much as the market could bear.

The system was ripe with corruption, and the tax collectors often had a group of thugs and enforcers with them. They became skilled extortionists and would stop people on the road, make them unpack their bundles, and go through their belongings.

There was even a cart tax, in which each wheel on the cart was taxed. If you couldn't pay what they demanded, they may offer to "loan" you the money at exorbitant interest. Tax farming is believed to have contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire.

So, tax Collectors like Levi were in one of the lowest social classes in Israel during the ministry of Jesus. They were usually Jews who worked for the Roman occupiers and were considered traitors and hated by nearly everyone. In (Luke 3:13), when the tax collectors came to John the Baptist and asked how they could get right with God, he told them to collect no more than what is appointed for them.

Tax collectors like Levi could not be judges or serve as witnesses in court, and they were excommunicated from the synagogues. They were considered spiritual lepers and outcasts who were grouped with extortioners, adulterers, and prostitutes.

(Luke 18:11 NKJV) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

(Matthew 21:31 NKJV) … Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you."

One day, after teaching by the sea (Mark 2:13), Jesus passed by the tax office and saw Levi sitting at the tax booth. Something about him caught Jesus' attention:

(Mark 2:14 NKJV) As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.

The word "saw" here means "careful and deliberate vision, to know, to understand." Jesus took a long, deliberate look at Levi. No doubt their eyes met, and it melted Levi's heart. Jesus told him, "Follow Me." Then it simply reads, "So he arose and followed Him." He followed Jesus for the rest of his life.

Can you imagine what a life-changing moment that was? To get up and leave a lucrative job and everything behind you to start something new and unknown because someone spoke two words to you at work… "Follow me." Unlike Peter, James, and John, who could return to their fishing, it would be difficult for Levi to go back to collecting taxes. His position would be filled immediately as those high-paying jobs were also in high demand.

The calling of Levi demonstrates that Jesus didn't always seek out the good, holy, and righteous to follow Him. For in Levi, He sought out a despised outcast and changed his life. Whereas the religious elite of the day would not allow Levi to enter their synagogue, Jesus made him an Apostle. He gave Levi a new name, and as Jesus called Simon "Peter," He began calling Levi "Matthew," which means "Gift of God." He became one of the twelve Apostles of Christ.

All three synoptic Gospels record Jesus' calling of Matthew, though Mark and Luke continue to use the old name "Levi" while Matthew proudly uses the new name Jesus gave him (Matthew 9:9) (Mark 2:14) (Luke 5:27). Going forward in this teaching, we will use his new name as well.

After his calling, Matthew gave Jesus a great feast at his house and invited a lot of other tax collectors. It was his "going away" party, a celebration:

(Luke 5:29 NKJV) Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.

From this passage, we can learn that Matthew owned his own house, apparently a good-sized one to seat that many tax collectors and sinners at once. He was also an adult old enough to own a house, possibly in his mid-thirties like the other Apostles. He could also afford to throw Jesus a "great feast." Being a tax collector, Matthew was probably the wealthiest of the Apostles.

Matthew is listed in all four rosters of the Twelve Apostles (Matthew 10:3), (Mark 3:18), (Luke 6:15), and (Acts 1:13). Three times, Matthew is grouped together with Thomas, including his own account, which makes me wonder if when Jesus sent the Apostles out two by two if they were sent together (Mark 6:7).

(Matthew 10:2–4 NKJV) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

The last mention of Matthew is in (Acts 1:13) when he is listed in the upper room with the other Apostles, so he would have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. After that, the Bible is pretty quiet about his journey. Tradition holds that he continued to spread the Gospel until he ultimately faced martyrdom. While the Bible doesn't detail how his life ended, Foxe's Book of Martyrs records an account that places his martyrdom about thirty years after Jesus' ascension in what is now modern-day Africa:

St. Matthew: This evangelist, apostle, and martyr, was born at Nazareth, in Galilee; but resided chiefly in Capernaum, on account of his business, which was that of a tax–gatherer, to collect tribute of such as had to pass the sea of Galilee. On being called as a disciple, he immediately complied, and left every thing to follow Christ. After the ascension of his Lord, he continued preaching the gospel in Judea about nine years. Intending to leave Judea, to go and preach among the Gentiles, he wrote his gospel in Hebrew, for the use of the Jewish converts; but it was afterwards translated into Greek by St. James the Less. He then went to Ethiopia, ordained preachers, settled churches, and made many converts. He afterwards proceeded to Parthia, where he had the same success; but returning to Ethiopia, he was slain by a halberd in the city of Nadabar, about the year of Christ 60; and his festival is kept by the church on the 21st day of September. He was inoffensive in his conduct, and remarkably temperate in his mode of living.

Jesus had called others who began making excuses why their life was too busy to follow His call right now.

(Luke 9:59 NKJV) Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

Yet, Matthew immediately got up when called and followed Jesus. That is His requirement:

(John 10:27 NKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Matthew was a mighty man of God who had begun on a completely different path, but when the Master called, he dropped everything and followed Jesus for the rest of his life.

Personal note: This is all I could gather about the Apostle Matthew. If you are willing to test what you have learned so far, I have created a Bible quiz on "Who Was: Matthew." All the answers needed can be found in this teaching. God bless, and thank you for reading!

Here is the Bible Quiz:  https://www.refreshinghope.org/bible-quiz/details/58

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for another day! Please help me ignore the distractions and follow you wholeheartedly. Make what is important to You, important to me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!