during the Roman-Judean War that one of the revolutionary factions came to identify itself formally as the Zealots. Youd have to show proficiency and its assumed many students had very large portions of the Law and Prophets committed to memory. Answer (1 of 24): Well, yesspiritually, at least. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The Bible states that these two men weren't just . Site design and hosting by . They traveled with Jesus for seven miles without knowing who he was, but came to realize who he was when they had dinner with him. Despite the fact that there are compelling reasons against his authorship, no alternate author has been identified. After Jesus calls him, Matthew hosts a gathering at his house, and as he and his unsavory companions dine with Jesus, the Pharisees ask why Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11). This ritual was an obligatory ceremony for firstborn boys according to the Law of Moses. HarperOne. Logos Bible Software 10 review: Do you REALLY need it? A few of the disciples had just witnessed Jesus transfiguration and heard the voice of the Father saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him. In this second instance, the disciples had actually just witnessed Jesus transfiguration and heard the Father say, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him (Matt. St. Matthew, also known as St. Matthew the Evangelist, St. Matthew the Apostle, or Levi, (lived in the first centuryce in Palestine; Western feast day September 21, Eastern feast day November 16), was one of the Twelve Apostles ofJesus Christ and the traditional author of the firstSynoptic Gospel (theGospel According to Matthew). The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Lexham, England). May we purposefully prepare ourselves to answer the call for His glory and our delight, as we discover that there is abundant grace and restoration for all of us as we lean into the brokenness and muck that lies before us. Almost all we know about Matthew comes straight from the gospels, which is a good thing. Young boys in Judaism follow a fairly structured scholastic and life route, as seen in this illustration: At five years oldfor the Scripture, at ten years the Mishnah (oral Torah, interpretations) at thirteen for the fulfilling of the commandments, at fifteen the Talmud (making Rabbinic interpretations), at eighteen the bride-chamber, at twenty pursuing a vocation, at thirty for authority (able to teach others). So, in the time of Jesus, almost all Jewish young men were married, and usually by age 18. The Gospel of Matthew talks about money in more detail and greater frequency than the other gospelssimilar to how the Gospel of Luke, written by Luke the physician, includes greater detail about ailments and uses precise medical terminology. Its difficult to pinpoint exactly how Matthew died, as it is with the majority of the apostles. Do you wish you had a greater understanding of the Bible? Papias of Hierapolis, who was referenced byEusebius of Caesarea inChurch History, provides the first indication that he may have authored it: So then Matthew penned the oracles in the Hebrew tongue, and every one interpreted them as he was able. A similar claim was made by Irenaeus in his work Against Heresies, which was published between 130 and 202 AD. The men were Moses and Elijah. The end. 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. Of fact, this group of young Jewish men were not recognized as Christians when they arrived. Matthew, who was also known as Levi, was a minor character in the Bible; he is only referenced by name in the lists of apostles and in the story of his calling. ' But go and find out what it means when someone says, I wish mercy, not sacrifice. I have not come to summon the righteous, but sinners,' says the Lord. In Jewish tradition, a young man began following a Rabbi between the ages of 12 and 30, and usually when he was less than 20. The betrayal and execution of Jesus would be gruesome, with beatings, blood, and a crucifixion among the many horrors that would befall him. Gold and silver are only mentioned once in Mark, and four times in Luke. What is the relationship between the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant? Matthew, Mark, and Luke have parallel accounts of Jesus calling a tax collector to become a disciple. It is in Matthew 16:21 (ESV) that we find the first prophecy, which states: From that point on, Jesus started to teach his followers that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elder and chief priest and scribes, and be crucified, and on the third day be risen. (Matthew 16:21, English Standard Version) Matthew distinguishes this section from the others by beginning it with the words From that time. The usage of this word earlier in the book, when Matthew uses it to stress the commencement and direction of Jesus mission while stating His primary message: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, may bring this phrase back to your memory (Matthew 4:17 ESV). JESUS CALLS MATTHEW, THE TAX COLLECTOR. He was tireless, steadfast, unwavering, dedicated, firm and determined. When called by Jesus, Matthew immediately left his tax collection booth and followed the Lord ( Matthew 9:9 ). Matthew is mentioned in Matthew 9:9 and Matthew 10:3 as a tax collector who, while sitting at the "receipt of custom" in Capernaum, was called to follow Jesus. There are several conflicting accounts about his death. The Hebrews were subject to the sovereignty of the Roman Empire during their lifetime. We dont normally do much in the way of Lent observance around here, but just as Advent is tied to Christmas, Lent is tied to the Passion of Christ and the celebration of the Resurrection. He agrees to serve as one of the 12 apostles. Joseph's death is not recorded in the Bible. Jasmine A.L. Clement of Alexandria quotes Heracleon, one of the earliest commentators on the New Testament, as saying that Matthew died naturally: But neither will this utterance be found to be spoken universally; for all the saved have confessed with the confession made by the voice, and departed. Tax collectors earned a reputation for telling people they owed more than they did and pocketing the difference. His message was not polished, but blunt and to the point. As for how and when the Apostle St. Peter died, it is traditionally believed that he died between 64 and 67 AD and was crucified upside down at Rome. But the simplicity of this passage speaks volumes. You see, Matthew was a member of the Republican Party. Including parallel passages, there are just seven mentions of him in the entire Bible. He is an eyewitness of Jesus Christ's ascension. MATTHEW 9:9-13 MARK 2:13-17 LUKE 5:27-32. How educated he was is really unknown. Kilburn. Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (and Why We Don't Know About Them) By Bart D. Ehrman. In Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus asks Peter to fish up the tax he has been instructed to collect. 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. Date last updated: January 19, 2022. Females are seen by Jesus as genuine persons, not simply as the objects of male desire. It is supposed that Jesus, as he did in other cases, gave Levi another name, Matthew, meaning "gift of Yahweh." Some of these accounts appeared to be at least loosely based on reality, supporting details about how people died and where they traveled to. When Jesus' resurrection happened why did he appear to his apostles first? Even more so given that he is referring to literature that was originally written in Hebrew or Aramaic, and that the Gospel of Matthew appears to have been written in Greek rather than translated into it, as some scholars believe. Matthew 9:36. Matthews relics were allegedly unearthed in the Italian city of Salerno in 1080. According to the Gospels, it appears that a handful of Jesus initial disciples changed their names after becoming followers of Jesus (remember that Simon becomes Peter). Dont we have more patience with their blunders and pride? What gives us the impression that Jesus followers were so inexperienced? Missionary Teaching Trip to Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by Dr. John Oakes. This does seem to imply that John was almost certainly less than thirty when he began to follow Jesus. (Matt 11:25). So what do we really know about him? He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the traditional author of the firstSynoptic Gospel. Moses: The Old Testaments Greatest Prophet. Here are a few biblical indices of youth development: In Matthew 11:25, Luke 10:21, and John 13:33, Jesus refers to his followers as little ones, referring to them as children. 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. Theyd be told to collect a specified amount of money, but they could tell people they owed a different amount, and they had no power to dispute it. Why was Jesus regarded odd by the establishment? Matthew was an accurate record keeper. Matthew the Apostle, according to the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. Some of these narratives looked to be at least roughly based on truth, with specifics regarding how individuals died and where they journeyed being supported by the available evidence. The wealthier they were, the worse it was considered that they were. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. To some extent, this proof of His foresight speaks volumes about His divinity, and Matthew is surely conveying this point for his audience with this storyline. 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. He traveled with Saint Barnabas and Saint Paul on many . Why? Last modified on Wed 20 Sep 2017 12.17 EDT. 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. Its message was ultimately intended to go to "all nations." True They clearly hadnt passed muster for special Rabbinic training, but having been with Jesus for 3 years, and seeing him alive again, gave them special qualifications: When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus. So the Synoptic Gospels actually begin later in Jesus' ministry. Both Daniel and Zechariah Ch 9-14 are the product of the Hellenistic era and have no messianic prophecies. As he walks on, he sees Matthew, who is also . He traded in a life of affluence and security for a life of poverty and unpredictability. Matthew was one of the tax collectors whom Jesus saved. Matthew is one of the Four Evangelists, as the term suggests. Most scholars believe Jesus lived from sometime around 4 BC to around 30 or 33 AD. St. Matthew, also called St. Matthew the Evangelist, St. Matthew the Apostle, or Levi, (flourished 1st century ce, Palestine; Western feast day September 21, Eastern feast day November 16), one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and the traditional author of the first Synoptic Gospel (the Gospel According to Matthew ). According to Matthew, who was an eyewitness to Jesus life, the tale of his birth, his message, and his numerous actions are all documented in the Gospel of Matthew since Matthew was an eyewitness to the Savior. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. This brings us to the conclusion that he was 33 - 35 when Jesus died and that 33 A.D is the most probable year of his death. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. 4, p. 643). We only have speculation to go on. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications 7 (1) (12). But what we do havethe gospelsshows us that Matthew was one of Jesus most powerful examples of the forgiveness God offers everyone. Aside from a handful of mentions in the gospels, he's a surprisingly obscure New Testament figure. The first heaven and earth are passed away, and the sea is gone. However, there are a few counter-arguments, with the most important being that the early church claimed John as its own. Matthew 18:11-13. "Synoptic" means to see (optic) the same (syn). Your email address will not be published. 4:18, Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and He sees Simon Peter and Andrew as they were fishing. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. However, because males began working at a young age maybe as early as 12 that would be regarded unacceptable today, it is possible that estimating their ages would be a suitable solution. In most cases, a young mans discipleship instruction under the supervision of a rabbi begins between the ages of 13 and 15. But, as I said, we dont have to infer that he was THAT much older, since his brother Andrew is still unmarried and he works with close friends James and John, also unmarried. This is a term designated for Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the four gospel authors who are considered to be the traditional authors of their respective books. There would be no such thing as a half-hearted belief. As a result, it is likely that the disciples were between the ages of 20 and 30. According to Matthew 4:2122, James and John intentionally abandoned their father in the boat in order to follow Jesus. Sermons in Merced by Dr. John Oakes Ezekiel II Dramatic Symbolism. St. Peter was a fisherman by trade. However, Jesus accepted and loved this tax collector for who he was, regardless of his background. Imagine this scene if the brothers were grown men (Matthew 20:20-24)! He made amends with all of the people he had wronged, surrendered his worldly belongings, and pledged himself to the teachings of his new teacher. 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 says that Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Neophilologus 87 (1) (01): 137-151. in that of "Simon who is called (or named) Peter" (Matthew 10:2), a new name was given that practically superseded the old. Because weve been far more formed by Bible movies than by the Biblical data on hand. Instead of killing Matthew, the fire burns down the kings idols and engulfs some of his soldiers. In its place, Matthew began collecting souls for the kingdom of God, rather than tax money, from that point forth. Matthew, on the other hand, was a glutton for punishment before he met Jesus. And, despite the fact that he was a religious outsider, Jesus elevated him to a prominent position inside what would later become the worlds greatest religion. Those who strove to protect the Roman Empire were held in high regard by the Hebrews of the period, with the majority of them being seen as greedy, selfish, and treacherous. Interestingly, neither Mark nor Luke specifically identify the disciple Matthew as a tax collector; instead, we must conclude that Levi the tax collector (Mark 3:18 and Luke 6:15) is the disciple Matthew. Or at least much younger than their Master. Andrew, Peter, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, worked as fishermen. Due to this viewpoint, there is some variation in their ages, with John presumably being the youngest and Peter maybe being the oldest due to the fact that he had previously been married. Then Jesus puts Matthew in with the rest of the sinners, as follows: On hearing this, Jesus responded, It is the ill who require medical attention, not the healthy. He gave up the delights of this world in exchange for the assurance of eternal life. He was born to Joseph and Mary sometime between 6 bce and shortly before the death of Herod the Great (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5) in 4 bce. He was not a rabbi who was responsible for teaching in the synagogue. Answer Neither the Bible nor any other source specifies the ages of any of Jesus initial twelve apostles. Matthew 8:14 mentions his infirm mother-in-law, who was a sick woman. Follow me, he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9, As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collectors booth. It is amazing all the information that Scripture gives us. With the exception of his fathers name being Alphaeus and the possibility that his original given name was Levi, we know nothing about Matthews life before he became a disciple (student) of Jesus Christ. 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. Log InBack to top. 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. However, scholars say that the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, although later attributed to. Each of these four writers used their writings to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Despite the fact that there is no indication in Scripture of a specific age for any disciple, we can conclude from the evidence in the Gospels and from a little research into 1st century Jewish culture that this idea, which has been depicted repeatedly in movies and pictures, is almost certainly incorrect. Mattew put together a masterpiece that, like any genuinely great narrative, instills perspective and inspires understanding while constantly directing us to the true Christ. Jesus would have entered into ministry when he reached the age of thirty. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Matthew recorded in the gospels as being a disciple of Jesus would of course have met him. 4 (2018): 55161. He understood the human heart as well as the aspirations of the Jewish people. There is very little information available about this apostle. Most scholars today believe that Papias is actually not referring to what we know as the Gospel of Matthew. He knew the human heart and the longings of the Jewish people. 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. Read An Excerpt . Most scholars dont accept this account today. He may or may not have been that well educated. The Bible says were all sinners (Romans 3:23), but in ancient Judaism, the label was reserved for the worst of the worstlike tax collectors. Jesus Calls Matthew - Life of Christ Part 12. Include a biography His masters degree is in history, and he is a history professor at the University of Northern Colorado. The Gospel of Matthew leaves little room for confusion though: hes called the tax collector in the list of disciples: These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Matthew 10:24. Matthew invites over his "sinner" friends to meet Jesus. 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. The fact that you are a young disciple does not affect the truth of the Gospel. The richer they were, the worse they were assumed to be. And its also possible that its simply a matter of him having a Greek name (Matthew) and a Hebrew name (Levi), like how the Apostle Paul was also known by Saul. 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