No children are mentioned. "Synoptic" means to see (optic) the same (syn). In Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus asks Peter to fish up the tax he has been instructed to collect. 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. Young men began their studies with a Rabbi when they were 12 to 30 years old, although they normally started when they were fewer than 20 years old, according to Jewish tradition. Matthew was an accurate record keeper. In Matthew 17, Jesus foreshadowed the events leading up to His own death and resurrection for the second time. Since we dont know how old he was at the time he met Jesus, we cant be certain he was born in the first century, but he certainly lived then. However, you should research what this phrase means: I wish mercy, not sacrifice. Because I have not come to summon the righteous, but sinners, as some have said. (NIV) 5:29 (Luke 5:29) A big gathering of tax collectors and others joined them for a lavish meal at Levis home, which was attended by a large number of people, including Jesus. Little is known about this apostle. The Beginners Guide to the Bible gives you an overview of what the Bible is, what its for, and what its all about. and Peter saw more of Jesus than Matthew and was a pillar of the early church, so . Naomi, Simhony. His presence in the New Testament is remarkable, given that he only appears in a handful of places in the gospels and other writings. All three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) make mention of him, as does the book of Acts, which lists him among the disciples. The authors of the Gospels linked their accounts to the Old Testament prophets as evidence of Jesus' unique character. Your email address will not be published. [ a] Jesus encountered Matthew at a tax booth in Capernauma city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Topic:When it comes to the disciples, the question of how they could have written their letters 30 or more years after the crucifixion of the Christ tends to come up frequently. Matthew is the first person we encounter in Capernaum, as he is working in his tax booth on the major roadway. Hes mentioned in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and listed among the disciples in Acts. Almost all we know about Matthew comes straight from the gospels, which is a good thing. The education of a Jewish youngster came to an end at the age of fifteen. Not only do we read the recorded interaction between Jesus and His followers, but as we read the tale, our gaze is drawn to the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ as well. Matthew, whose fathers name was Alphaeus (Mark 2:14), was known by the name Levi before being called by Jesus to follow him. For many years in the 1980s and 1990s, I worked as a movie executive, always seeking for methods to make tales younger. Young Guns was an ensemble picture that included a retelling of Billy the Kid with a cast that was predominantly under the age of thirty. Matthews gospel appears to be greatly influenced by Marks gospel (which explains why there are so many comparable passages), yet the Gospel of Mark is thought to have been written by a man named John Mark, who was not an eyewitness to the events in the Gospel of Mark. It derives from the Greek word evangelion, which literally means good news. With their writings, these four authors spread the good news of Jesus Christ across the world. Become a member today. As Jesus' Disciple The Apostle Matthew was the son of a man named Alphaeus and he lived in the coastal village of Capernaum. Matthew was beaten by two . No other disciples wives are ever mentioned. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. His message was not polished, but blunt and to the point. Matthew is regarded as one of the Four Evangelists of the New Testament. For example, his account of the Resurrection tells that those assigned to guard the Savior's tomb saw two angels roll back the stone that covered the door of the tomb. . Matthew 8:14 mentions his infirm mother-in-law, who was a sick woman. Why did he not appear to the Pharisees & teachers of the law? 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. He was sitting at his tax collector's desk near the Sea of Galilee when Jesus told him to follow him (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14). Matthew was saying, Jesus IS the fulfillment of Old Testament . Fun fact: As a tax collector, Matthew wouldve presumably been great with money, and modern readers would think hed be an ideal candidate for the groups official treasurer. But given the reputation of tax collectors in first-century Judaism, that wouldve been a bad move politicallywhich might be why the disciples gave the job to a guy named Judas Iscariot. Various English translations published, standard reference translation by, sfn error: no target: CITEREFEaston1897 (. Youll walk away from it with enough knowledge to have a thoughtful conversation about the Bible with a pastor, an atheist, or anyone else. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matthew 9:12. But what we do havethe gospelsshows us that Matthew was one of Jesus most powerful examples of the forgiveness God offers everyone. The precise ages of Jesus followers are not specified in the Bible; nonetheless, it is probable that they were all between the ages of 13 and 30 at the time they followed Jesus. He didnt dither, and he didnt even bother to glance back. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. He completed a Th.M. Aside from a handful of mentions in the gospels, he's a surprisingly obscure New Testament figure. Matthew, Mark, and Luke have parallel accounts of Jesus calling a tax collector to become a disciple. What bolsters this case is the educational pathway of that time. But just as every parent today would be proud to have a son or daughter do much more education to become a high-status medical doctor or professor, Jewish parents would desire their boys to be selected for Rabbinic training. But thats not the case for the Acts and Martyrdom of St. Matthew. We only have speculation to go on. Matthew, on the other hand, was a glutton for punishment before he met Jesus. The children had a forceful mother called Salome, who insisted on arranging where they would sit at the dinner table with Jesus. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. It seems that the author paid particular attention to Jesus statements about money, had a greater understanding of financial matters, and saw finance as a helpful lens to understand the gospel. Little is known about this apostle. This is not the word for "baby" ( ) used in Luke 2. No one dared to disagree with them since their judgments were enforced by Roman soldiers. Missionary Teaching Trip to Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by Dr. John Oakes. This all changed for Matthew when Jesus crossed his path and said, Follow me. Thats all there is to it. He was anti-religious in his views. Matthew says that Jesus is born in Bethlehem. We do have something we dont have, which is the gospels, which demonstrate that Matthew was one of Jesus most compelling instances of the forgiveness God extends to everyone who ask. Lessons in Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by John Oakes Lessons in English and French. Instead of killing Matthew, the fire burns down the kings idols and engulfs some of his soldiers. In the words of Heracleon, the apostle died as a result of natural circumstances. The early church fathers claim he was burned, stoned, stabbed, or beheaded for his faith. All rights reserved. The only people who saw more of who Jesus was and what he was capable of were Peter, James, and John. If I had to guess, I believe that most or all of the apostles were less than 25 years or so at the time they began to follow Jesus, but I cannot prove this, nor can anyone else as far as I know. However, they all ultimately offer a different portrait of Jesus. In 2013, a group portrait of American male teenagers was taken. Which is the true religion: Christianity, Islam or Zoroastrianism, and why? Matthews gospel appears to rely heavily on Marks (which is why there are so many parallel passages), but the Gospel of Mark is believed to have been written by a man named John Mark, who was not an eyewitness. Copyright 2022 . Ultimately, without a byline, we cant confirm or deny who wrote the Gospel of Matthew. 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.. By calling Matthew, Jesus was proclaiming that no one would be excluded from his movementnot even those society considered irredeemable. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Irving Jensen: Matthew's reporting skips most of the first year of Jesus . St. Matthew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church, Saint Matthew the Apostle, patron saint archive, "Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Washington, D.C", "Introduction to New Testament History and Literature", "Pleasurable Perplexity: Reflecting the Holy City", "Visions of kingdoms: From Pompey to the first Jewish revolt", "Introduction to the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles", "The Synoptic Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles: Telling the Christian Story", Benedict XVI, "Matthew", General audience, 30 August 2006, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matthew_the_Apostle&oldid=1142212172, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 03:25. According to Matthew 4:21-22, James and John intentionally abandoned their father in the boat in order to follow Jesus. Therefore, it is anachronistic to view people acting with zeal before 68 C.E. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. Matthew, however, was the only one of the four Gospel writers who presented Jesus to the Jews as the long-awaited Messiah, customizing his tale to satisfy their questions. Think about that: they were worried about putting a tax collector in charge of their money, but Judas not only stole from the money bag (John 12:6), but ultimately betrayed Jesus. Lets get ready. After that, the Son of Man will be handed up to the chief priests and scribes, who will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles to be ridiculed, flogged, and crucified, after which he will be resurrected on the third day. Jesus and His followers had embarked on a journey to the city of Jerusalem from Galilee. Matthew was a tax collector , so financially he was stable , but the jews hated all tax collectors as they worked for the mighty Romans, but once he met Jesus his life was changed. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus' mission to the Jews was highlighted by seven miraculous signs. Young John, perhaps 15 during the life of Jesus, would be only 85 if he wrote his gospel, letters and Revelation in the year 100. 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. When he authored the Gospel of Matthew some 20 years later, he was able to draw on such characteristics. Aside from a handful of mentions in the gospels, hes a surprisingly obscure New Testament figure. It is, however, the end of the story. This isnt simply some haphazard attempt by a lone individual to document the events of his life. Did Jesus encourage the apostles to break the Sabbath? Consider this: they were concerned about placing a tax collector in charge of their money, but Judas not only stole from the money bag (John 12:6), but he also betrayed Jesus at the end of the story. Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism: Which is the true religion and why? Of course, the news that Jesus imparted would be devastating to Peter and the rest of the disciples. So what do we really know about him? That said, yes, Matthew could technically be called a scribebut probably not as its often used in the Bible. When he was chosen by Jesus to be one of His apostles, Matthew left this prominent and well-paying profession. I have never heard anyone claim this was the Simon's first encounter with Jesus. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. 66 He wore clothing made of camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey ( Matthew 3:4 ). But Matthew mentions them 28 times. According to Matthews Gospel, which was written 3040 years after Jesus resurrection, he was in his 20s when he followed Jesus on earth, implying that Matthew was in his 20s when following Jesus on earth. It was also a time when those who chose to follow Jesus by joining the church were being pushed down by an ever-increasing weight of persecution. 2 There He was transfigured before them. Peter is the exception to this, but because his brother Andrew is not married, and theyre working with James and John (Luke 5:10 perhaps their two families have a joint business venture), it stands to reason they are roughly the same age. Some argue that the Gospel of Matthew includes internal evidence linking it to Matthews profession, which could indicate he was the biblical author. Another relevant fact is that John lived until at least AD96 when Revelation was written, which is 66 years after Jesus died. It is reasonable to assume that John was at least 20 years old at the time of the crucifixion, given his ability to care for Jesus mother (John 19:2627). What we know is that his personal promise from God was fully kept. as members of a sect called the Zealots." Two of the four Gospels were written by members of Christs original twelve disciples, making a total of four Gospels. We should not be made to feel unqualified because of our physical appearance, lack of education, or previous experiences in our lives. In the same way, Matthew used the word in this passage to call our attention to the direction in which Jesus ministry is now heading. Matthew, on the other hand, goes on to describe two further events in which Jesus disclosed these truths to His followers. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Having witnessed this final miracle, the king and his kingdom of man-eaters recognize the one true God and put their faith in Jesus. John 18:1-13. We think that Jesus began his public ministry around the age of thirty, which is consistent with the rabbinical traditions of the period. 2023 Proven Way On the basis of Lukes specific aging in 3:23, everyone accepts that Jesus was around 30 years old throughout his ministry. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 64 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 3 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Mt. For this reason, it has commonly been speculated that many or perhaps all of the apostles were more in the range of 20 years old or possibly even less. Various accounts say he was beheaded, stoned, burned, or stabbedone even suggests he died of natural causes like John. 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. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd before announcing, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.". And despite his position as a religious outsider, Jesus gave him a prominent position within what would eventually become the largest religion in the world. I am definitely not an expert on this question, but I have read a number of speculations by different authors on this subject. Levi did this promptly. The richer they were, the worse they were assumed to be. If Matthew was, in fact, the same person who was called Levi, then his. He was loyal to Jesus and once committed, he never wavered in serving the Lord. JESUS CALLS MATTHEW, THE TAX COLLECTOR. The Hebrews were subject to the sovereignty of the Roman Empire during their lifetime. (according to the Bible) Fishermen . The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Lexham, England). *shrug*. By the time they arrived at their final objective of Jerusalem, which they were well on their way there, the time for these occurrences would have come. Sermons in Merced by Dr. John Oakes Ezekiel II Dramatic Symbolism. God has the ability to utilize anybody to assist him in his job. Matthew 2:17 quotes Jeremiah 31:15. The wealthier they were, the worse it was considered that they were. According to this interpretation, Matthew (which is likely to mean Yahwehs Gift) would appear to be the Christian name of Levi (whom Mark refers to as Levi the son of Alphaeus), who had been working as a tax collector in the service of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee at the time of Jesus birth. As we come to see Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, and the Savior, may we also recognize that in order for any of this to be real, He had to take the route of the cross. Mattew put together a masterpiece that, like any genuinely great narrative, instills perspective and inspires understanding while constantly directing us to the true Christ. Matthew McConaughey cuts 10-year-old son Livingston's hair as brother Levi, . In fact, the gospels provide us with virtually all of the information we need concerning Matthew. No other disciples wives are mentioned in the Bible at any other time. In John 1:40-42, Andrew goes and gets Simon Peter and they follow Jesus. Additionally, we can assume Jesus' age through the Book of John in which three Passovers are recorded (John 2:13, 6:4, 11:55). He may or may not have been that well educated. That makes St. Peter between 63 and 66 years old when he died. Another important thing to remember is that John lived until at least AD96, when the book of Revelation was published, which is 66 years after Jesus death and resurrection. You should research what this phrase means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice to be the time! 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