Our next apostle had a mind for numbers and could write well. He was a quiet worker who hailed from Capernaum. He didn't ask questions, but he recorded all he saw and learned, which he eventually put into the first gospel of the Bible.
Matthew, also called Levi, experienced complexities none of the others dealt with as apostles of Jesus.
First, he came to the group as the Roman government's tax collector with whom the men were acquainted. He knew exactly how they and other Jews viewed him. Like scum. No one liked him. Given the choice, the rest of Jesus's followers wouldn't have chosen him to be part of the inner group that would support and learn from Jesus. But he was chosen by Jesus. So, for some time, he was the outsider to the insider group - the odd man out - so to speak.
I don't know how long it took, but we can see in the other gospels he is simply called Matthew. In other words, they forgave him. They saw a change in him and accepted him. Including him in as part of the group. He even continued as one of them after the master's death. (Acts 1) However, he never forgot this fact about
himself. Years later when he wrote his gospel, he referred to himself as the "tax-collector".
One has to wonder what he had to do to change the minds of those in the inner circle? Did the dinner party he threw for the group at his house help? Luke 5 mentions it was a great feast with other tax collectors and back-slidden Jews in attendance, thus giving the opportunity for the word to get out to those he knew. Point in fact here, Matthew had a very large house to host all those people.
This brings up another point about Matthew. He was well respected among his fellow tax collectors or they wouldn't have gone to the dinner. I mean, why would they have attended a meal where the man who pulled Matthew away from a profitable business wants to talk to them? Yet, they came to hear what Matthew and Jesus had to say.
By his own writings we know two things. He attended the Sermon on the Mount because he recorded all that Jesus taught. Two long chapters of notes. He shares several stories before he documents Jesus calling him to leave the tax collecting business. Like Andrew, he chose to leave money making behind and follow Jesus when he was called.
Which brings up an interesting aspect of Matthew. He was experienced at handling money as a tax collector, yet he was not given the job of handling the money box. That job was given to Judas, who reportedly over time skimmed funds from the container. How hard was it for Matthew to see that happen? I'm sure he knew he could do a better job.
I can relate to Matthew on so many levels. I sometimes have trouble forgiving myself for past actions that others have long forgotten. It takes reminding myself I am forgiven so that I don't let it bring me despair. I've also been overlooked for jobs and positions for which I was qualified. This has not been an easy thing to experience. But, if I wait long enough I do see God's reason for the let down.
It is through Matthew that Jesus showed the disciples, and us, that He accepts all people. Even those who are thought to be among the lowest sinners. Jesus not only accepts them but calls those rejected by others to be close to Him and in the inner group who follow Him. How sweet is that? Can you relate to that?
Matthew is thought to have preached in Parthia and Ethiopia, where tradition says he died as a martyr. In his gospel you can read how he viewed Jesus as fulfilling prophecy as the Messiah, the King of the Jews, with a focus on His teachings. In the following passages you can read about him: Matthew 9, 10; Mark 2, 3; Luke 5, 6; Acts 1, 5.
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