How Old Was Matthew When He Met Jesus

How old were Jesus’ disciples?

Answer Neither the Bible nor any other source specifies the ages of any of Jesus’ initial twelve apostles. However, there are a few observations that may be made about their ages. First and foremost, according to Scripture, Jesus was around 30 years old when He began His public ministry (Luke 3:23). Students (or disciples) were often younger than their teachers in Jewish culture. As a result, it is likely that the disciples were between the ages of 20 and 30. 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.

According to Matthew 4:21–22, James and John intentionally abandoned their father in the boat in order to follow Jesus.

They were most certainly teens by this point, as they were able to leave home to follow a rabbi.

Matthew 8:14 mentions his infirm mother-in-law, who was a sick woman.

A fourth point to consider is that the subsequent lives of several of the disciples provide information about their likely ages.
It had been 60 years since Jesus had walked with them.
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 19:26–27).
According to Matthew’s Gospel, which was written 30–40 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.
After that, if the youngster was clever and motivated in continuing his religious studies, he would seek out and follow a rabbi who would mentor him, and he would model his life after the rabbi until he was 30 years old.
In most cases, a young man’s discipleship instruction under the supervision of a rabbi begins between the ages of 13 and 15.
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.

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.

How Old Were The Disciples?

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. 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. So, how old were they when they died? (Of course, the ages are approximate.) RESPONSE:As you correctly surmise, the solution to this question is somewhat shocking.

How the disciples could be living and writing about the events of Jesus’ life as late as 95-100 A.D.
According to prevailing expectations, even the other writers of the New Testament, like Matthew, Peter, and Paul, appear to be too old to be writing when they do, in their mid-60s and beyond – especially considering the life expectancies at the period.
Because we’ve been far more formed by Bible movies than by the Biblical data on hand.
On the basis of Luke’s specific aging in 3:23, everyone accepts that Jesus was around 30 years old throughout his ministry.

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.

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.

But in the Gospels, Peter is the only disciple recorded to have been married (Matthew 8:14-15).
No other disciples’ wives are ever mentioned.
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.
You’d have to show proficiency and it’s assumed many students had very large portions of the Law and Prophets committed to memory.
If your son didn’t merit this honor, they would enter the workforce by their mid-teens, and in almost every case, apprentice under their fathers in the family trade.
One, it means that if most of the disciples are apprenticing at their trades when called, as in the case of James and John working in the family fishing business, they must have been older than 15.
Peter is the exception to this, but because his brother Andrew is not married, and they’re 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.
Two, because we find them working in trades at the time Jesus calls them, none of the disciples likely were “star students”.
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.
(Luke 5:11).

They clearly hadn’t 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.

But, as I said, we don’t 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.
Four, the Mishnah explains why Jesus didn’t start his ministry until age 30 even though his mission of redemption by death could have been accomplished at any age.
Well, no Rabbi would take disciples until age 30, and no disciples would seek out a Rabbi younger than that.
So really, Jesus begins at the very moment it was possible to begin – when it was culturally appropriate to assume authority and take on disciples.
But think of other indicators of the youthfulness of the disciples: In Matthew 11:25, Mark 10:24, Luke 10:21, and John 13:33, Jesus calls his trainees “little children” or “little ones”.
But let’s not void Jesus human nature and the nature of his patriarchal cultural.
Calling his disciples “children” may indicate they were mostly – gasp!

Or at least much younger than their Master.

Imagine this scene if the brothers were grown men (Matthew 20:20-24)!

Remember also that Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder” because they were probably either loud or bold, characteristics of youth.

In Exodus 30:14-15, we read that every male over the age of 20 was to pay a tax to maintain the “Sanctuary” or Temple.

But all the disciples are present (“ theycame to Capernaum” vs 24).

So all of this suggests a very startling, and in some ways endearing picture of the disciples.

Mostly older teenagers, young Jewish bachelors, and not blue-chip Harvard stars either.

Don’t our hearts go out to them more as they struggle to grasp all that Jesus is saying to them?

Don’t we have more patience with their blunders and pride?

(Matt 11:25). And as to the plausibility of them being young enough to still be around to write about all this in the 60’s – 90’s, there is no problem at all. 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.

Saint Matthew

Home PhilosophyReligion Personages associated with religion Scholars Saints Popesapostle Alternative titles include: Levi, St. Matthew the Apostle, and St. Matthew the Evangelist are all names for the same person. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the traditional author of the firstSynoptic Gospel. 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).

According to this interpretation, Matthew (which is likely to mean “Yahweh’s 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.

Luke 18:15–17).

Beyond include Matthew in the list of Apostles and frequently pairing him with St.

Outside of the New Testament, the text from theApostolic FatherPapias of Hierapolispreserved by BishopEusebius of Caesarea is significant since it states: “So then Matthew authored the Oracles in theHebrew language, and each one interpreted them as he was capable.” The Gospel is a collection of stories about Jesus Christ.

Tradition mentions his ministry inJudaea, following which he is said to have embarked on a journey to the East, which might have taken him to Ethiopia or Persia.

Matthew’s relics were allegedly unearthed in the Italian city of Salerno in 1080.

Those in charge of editing the Encyclopaedia Britannica Melissa Petruzzello was the author of the most recent revision and update to this article.

Who Was Matthew the Apostle? The Beginner’s Guide

The Apostle Matthew, also known as Saint Matthew and Levi, was one of Jesus Christ’s twelve disciples and was born in the city of Nazareth. As the author of the Gospel of Matthew, he has historically been recognized as such. When Jesus summoned Matthew to follow him, he was working as a tax collector (also known as a “publican”), which was considered one of the most despised occupations in ancient Judaism. There is very little information available about this apostle. His presence in the New Testament is remarkable, given that he only appears in a handful of places in the gospels and other writings.

Despite the fact that Matthew is revered as a martyr, no one knows for certain where or how he perished.

He is mentioned in traditions regarding his preaching, but there are no reliable records of his contributions to the early church.

In the end, how much do we actually know about him? Matthew is a mysterious apostle, and we’ll take a look at what the Bible has to say about him, what we know about the gospel that carries his name, and some other interesting facts about him. First and foremost, here are some short facts.

Who was Matthew in the Bible?

Almost all we know about Matthew comes straight from the gospels, which is a good thing. All three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) make mention of him, as does the book of Acts, which lists him among the disciples. But that’s all there is to it. There are just seven mentions to him in the entire Bible, if you count parallel verses and quotations. Only one (and its analogues) provides us with any significant information about him.

Also known as Levi

In fact, the gospels provide us with virtually all of the information we need concerning Matthew. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all mention him, and he is included in the list of the disciples in the book of Acts. It is, however, the end of the story. He is mentioned just seven times in the whole Bible, if you include parallel verses. There are just one or two (and their counterparts) that provide us with any meaningful information about him.

A tax collector (or publican)

In the texts above (Matthew 9:9, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27–28), we discovered that Matt was a tax collector, also known as a publican—someone who was employed by the Roman government to collect taxes on their behalf. As a Jew, entering this profession amounted to a betrayal of his people, which was difficult to swallow. Tax collectors were held to a low standard of responsibility. They would be instructed to collect a specific amount of money, but they would be able to convince individuals that they owed a different amount, and they would have no ability to contest the amount they said they owed.

Tax collectors were considered to be the epitome of sin by the Jews.

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.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first —Matthew 10:2–4 (New International Version) Fun fact: As a tax collector, Matthew would’ve undoubtedly been quite good with money, and modern readers might assume he’d make an excellent candidate for the position of “official treasurer” for the ring of thieves.

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.

A “sinner”

Although the Bible declares that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), the term “sinner” was reserved for the worst of the worst in ancient Judaism, such as tax collectors. Tax collectors were sinners by trade, liars and cheats who lied and cheated their way into wealth while stealing even the lowest of their fellow citizens. They were considered religious outcasts since the manner in which they carried out their profession publicly flouted the Law of Moses. The wealthier they were, the worse it was considered that they were.

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.'” 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.

9:12 (KJV) By addressing Matthew specifically, Jesus was announcing that no one would be barred from his movement—not even those who were deemed unredeemable by society.

An eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry

Matthew, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, was present for virtually the whole duration of Jesus’ public ministry. Peter, James, and John were the only ones who had a clearer understanding of who Jesus was and what he was capable of. Some believe that Matthew’s involvement as an eyewitness to the events of the Gospel of Matthew is evidence that he did not write the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s gospel appears to be greatly influenced by Mark’s 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.

However, there are a few counter-arguments, with the most important being that the early church claimed John as its own.

*shrug* Aside from that, Matthew devotes a significant amount of favorable attention to Peter in his gospel.

An evangelist

Matthew is regarded as one of the “Four Evangelists” of the New Testament. 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. 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.

A scribe?

Matthew is one of the “Four Evangelists,” as the term suggests.

This is a designation designated for the traditional writers of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Evangelion is derived from the Greek word for “good news,” which is evangel. Each of these four writers used their writings to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

When and where did Matthew live?

Matthew would have had to have lived at the same time as Jesus Christ in order to be considered a follower of Jesus Christ. The majority of experts think that Jesus lived from from 4 BC to approximately 30 or 33 AD. We can’t be definite that he was born in the first century since we don’t know how old he was when he encountered Jesus, but we can be confident that he lived throughout that time period. The exact date of his passing is unclear. Jesus and Matthew first met at a tax booth at Capernaum, a city on the edge of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus was preaching.

How did Matthew die?

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how Matthew died, as it is with the majority of the apostles. There are a number of contradicting tales of how he passed away. He is said to have carried out his ministry in “Ethiopia” (which is not the same as Ethiopia today, but a territory south of the Caspian Sea), Persia, Macedonia, and/or Syria according to the oldest accounts. In his commentary on the New Testament, Clement of Alexandria quotes Heracleon, one of the earliest commentators, as saying that Matthew died naturally: “But neither will this utterance be found to have been spoken universally; for all the saved have confessed in accordance with the confession made by the voice, and have departed.” “Among them are Matthew, Philip, Thomas, Levi, and a host of other individuals.” Stromata is a slang term for a woman who is pregnant.

This account is no longer accepted by the majority of researchers today.

According to the early church fathers, he was burnt, stoned, stabbed, or beheaded for his religious beliefs.

60, brought him to martyrdom in the latter nation.

Who wrote the Book of Matthew?

The author of the Gospel of Matthew is unknown, however Matthew the Apostle is widely regarded as the book’s primary author. According to the early church, he composed it, and the attribution “according to Matthew” was probably first inserted around the time of the first century AD. Despite the fact that there are compelling reasons against his authorship, no alternate author has been identified. 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 term “written” can also refer to “compiled,” “organized,” or “composed,” depending on the context.

Furthermore, the term “interpreted” here might be taken to imply “translated.” Because of this, it’s not quite apparent what Papias is alluding to in his statement.

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.

However, this does not rule out the possibility that Matthew wrote this gospel as well.

Internal evidence for Matthew’s authorship

Certain scholars believe that Matthew’s Gospel has internally referenced evidence that ties it to Matthew’s profession, which might suggest that he was the biblical author. When compared to the other gospels, the Gospel of Matthew goes into greater depth and utilizes more frequent references to money. This is analogous to how the Gospel of Luke, written by Luke the physician, goes into greater detail and employs more exact medical language when describing maladies. In Mark, gold and silver are only referenced once, whereas in Luke, they are mentioned four times.

The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-20), which is well-known across the world, is found solely in the Gospel of Matthew.

For example, consider this passage from the prayer as reported by Matthew and Luke: “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” —Luke 11:4 (New International Version) (emphasis added) ” And forgive us our debts, just as we have forgiven our debtors,” says the Lord.

As recorded in Matthew 17:24, the temple tax was two drachmas, and the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” It appears that the author paid close attention to Jesus’ teachings regarding money, had a more in-depth grasp of financial problems, and regarded finance as a useful lens through which to view the gospel.

Ultimately, we won’t be able to affirm or deny who wrote the Gospel of Matthew until we have a byline.

Acts and Martyrdom of St. Matthew

Throughout the first several decades of the church, a plethora of tales concerning the apostles arose, becoming so numerous that it virtually established its own genre. Pseudepigrapha, or erroneously claimed to be written by a well-known Christian, were common among these mythical narratives, which featured miraculous experiences as well as Gnostic doctrines. 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.

Matthew.

In an attempt to murder him, the monarch makes many attempts, finally nailing him to the ground and setting him ablaze with his own blood on the ground.

After seeing this final miracle, the king and his kingdom of man-eaters come to realize the one true God and place their trust in Jesus as their Savior.

In addition to Matthew’s works, there are additional ancient Christian and Gnostic texts concerning him or even claiming to have been written by him, some of which surfaced hundreds of years after his death (such as the so-calledGospel of Pseudo-Matthew.) Do you wish you had a greater understanding of the Bible?

It’s a great introduction to the Bible. Upon completion of this course, you will have sufficient information to engage in a reasonable discussion about the Bible with a pastor, an atheist, or anybody else.

The sinner turned saint

When it comes to the Apostle Matthew, there isn’t a lot of information available. We do have something we don’t 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. However, Jesus accepted and loved this tax collector for who he was, regardless of his background. And, despite the fact that he was a religious outsider, Jesus elevated him to a prominent position inside what would later become the world’s greatest religion.

How old were the disciples of Jesus when they joined him?

Although it is not stated clearly in the Bible, there are a few indicators that at least some of them were young — possibly adolescents or in their early twenties — when they died. 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. As a result, the majority of the apostles would have been teens when Jesus asked them to join him. 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.

Additional evidence may be found in Matthew 17:24-27.

The other disciples were present (as evidenced by the preceding passages), but it does not appear that they paid the tax.

We know that a number of them had well-established occupations, such as fisherman (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) or tax collector (James and John) (Matthew).

Matthew the Apostle: History, Facts & Death – Video & Lesson Transcript

Christopher Muscato is the instructor. Include a biography His master’s degree is in history, and he is a history professor at the University of Northern Colorado. Matthew the Apostle was the author of one of the four gospels included in the New Testament of the Bible. Discover interesting information about the life and career of this former publican who became an evangelist, as well as his death and contributions to history. Date last updated: January 19, 2022

Matthew

The Christian Bible is filled with writings outlining the right methods to follow Christ’s teachings, yet just four narratives of Christ’s life and death are included in the book of Matthew. The Gospels are the four books that make up this collection. Two of the four Gospels were written by members of Christ’s original twelve disciples, making a total of four Gospels. For example, the Book of Matthew is one of these. Generally speaking, the Book of Matthew is thought to have been written by, yep, Matthew, who was a disciple, apostle, and evangelist in the early Christian community.

Let’s get to know Matthew a bit better because he was the founder of the largest religion on the planet at the time of writing this article. When attempting to load this video, an error occurred. If it doesn’t work, try reloading the page or contacting customer service.

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Life of Matthew

With the exception of his father’s name being Alphaeus and the possibility that his original given name was Levi, we know nothing about Matthew’s life before he became a disciple (student) of Jesus Christ. 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). As an example, Levi becomes Matthew, which is taken from the Hebrew word meaning “gift of Yahweh.” Matthew is a fascinating character for theologians and historians since he was not a well-liked individual in his day.

You see, Matthew was a member of the Republican Party.

The Hebrews were subject to the sovereignty of the Roman Empire during their lifetime.

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.

Matthew’s Ministry

This all changed for Matthew when Jesus crossed his path and said, “Follow me.” That’s all there is to it. Matthew, according to his gospel, heard these words and immediately dropped everything. 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. Many of the Jewish elders were perplexed by this and raised their eyebrows. They had already formed a negative opinion of Jesus, but now he was associated with the lowest strata of Hebrew society.

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Jesus’ Bachelors: The Disciples Were Most Likely Under The Age Of 18

In 2013, a group portrait of American male teenagers was taken. Jesus’ twelve disciples were virtually all under the age of eighteen, with some as young as fifteen, which suggests that they were in their early teens. Except for one, all of them were most likely bachelors. In the Bible, there is no indication of a definite age for any of the disciples. Therefore, we examine the evidence through the lens of historical context as well as insights drawn from Scripture. In the time of Jesus, a Jewish male could only marry after reaching the age of eighteen.

Peter was the only one who had been married that was known to have existed. The Bible tells us that Peter had a wife when Jesus cured his mother-in-law, according to Matthew 8:14-15. No other disciples’ wives are mentioned in the Bible at any other time.

Education Of That Time

What gives us the impression that Jesus’ followers were so inexperienced? This is supported by the educational tradition of the period. The education of a Jewish youngster came to an end at the age of fifteen. Higher education consisted of studying under the supervision of a local rabbi for individuals who were intelligent (or affluent). If they were unable to locate a rabbi who would accept them as a pupil (much like a college admission application), they entered the employment by their mid-teens.

The majority of the disciples were already learning their crafts, as was the case with James and John, who were both apprentices.

A Rabbi At The Age of 30

Historically, a rabbi of that era would begin accepting students when he reached the age of thirty. We think that Jesus began his public ministry around the age of thirty, which is consistent with the rabbinical traditions of the period. Why was Jesus regarded odd by the establishment? He was not a rabbi who was responsible for teaching in the synagogue. He gave lectures near the seaside and from the top of a mountain. He was anti-religious in his views. His message was revolutionary. No one has ever heard of Jesus’ concept of loving everyone.

Furthermore, Jesus declared that He was the Son of God.

(See also John 14:6)

The Way

Of fact, this group of young Jewish men were not recognized as “Christians” when they arrived. Almost certainly, they were only students of the Rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, who taught them. According to what we can gather from the book of Acts, the early Jesus movement was referred to as “The Way” (Acts 9:2; Acts 24:14). It was not until Antioch, some years after Jesus’ resurrection, that the term “Christianity” was coined. (See Acts 11:27 for further information.) The disciples were most likely not middle-aged men, as shown in historical films and even in the most recent television miniseries, The Bible, which is currently showing.

Matthew was the only one who may have been older than the others, except from Peter.

“Here are a few biblical indices of youth development”:

The use of the term “little ones”

In Matthew 11:25, Luke 10:21, and John 13:33, Jesus refers to his followers as “little ones,” referring to them as children. If they were males, this would be considered a bit disrespectful, regardless of how radical or mild the rabbi is!

James and John

These two gentlemen were brothers. The children had a forceful mother called Salome, who insisted on arranging where they would sit at the dinner table with Jesus.

If the brothers were grown men, Salome’s obstinacy would be quite incomprehensible. (Matthew 20:20-24; Mark 10:20-24). They were dubbed “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus because they were presumably either loud or courageous when they were young, attributes that Jesus admired in them.

Only Peter Is Known to Have been Paid the Temple Tax

Every male above the age of 20 who visits the temple of God is required to give a half-shekel as a census offering, according to Jewish law, which is found in Exodus 30:14-15. In Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus asks Peter to “fish up” the tax he has been instructed to collect. And to discover a four-drachma coin in the mouth of the fish he has caught; enough to pay the tax for two men, himself and Jesus, when he opens the fish’s mouth. This is solely for Peter and Jesus, according to Jesus’ request. You may come to the conclusion that the others were minors and hence did not have to pay.

“Young Guns”

Teenagers have always played an important role in the moviegoing experience. Today, the physical movie theater remains a popular destination for teens, mostly because it provides them with opportunities to meet up with friends, go on dates, hang out, and so on. 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.

With the disciples, it’s possible that we had a “Young Guns”-style cast.

The fact that you are a young disciple does not affect the truth of the Gospel.

How Did Matthew Go From Crooked Tax Collector to Apostle?

Matthew the apostle had previously worked as a dishonest tax collector motivated solely by avarice, until Jesus Christ picked him to be one of his disciples. 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. The Gospel of Matthew is typically attributed to Matthew, who is also known as the author of the book.

Life Lessons from Matthew the Apostle

God has the ability to utilize anybody to assist him in his job. We should not be made to feel unqualified because of our physical appearance, lack of education, or previous experiences in our lives. Jesus is on the lookout for those who are truly committed. We should also remember that serving God is the ultimate calling in life, regardless of what the rest of the world believes. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is incomparably more valuable than money, celebrity, and power. Matthew is the first person we encounter in Capernaum, as he is working in his tax booth on the major roadway.

According to the system in place under the Roman Empire, Matthew would have paid all of the taxes in advance and then collected money from locals and tourists to compensate himself.

No one dared to disagree with them since their judgments were enforced by Roman soldiers.

Matthew the Apostle

Matthew, whose father’s name was Alphaeus (Mark 2:14), was known by the name Levi before being called by Jesus to follow him. If Jesus gave him the name Matthew or whether he chose it himself, Matthew is a truncation of the name Mattathias, which meaning “gift of Yahweh” or simply “God’s gift.” Mattheus arranged a huge goodbye feast at his home in Capernaum on the same day Jesus persuaded him to follow him. He invited his friends as well so that they may all meet Jesus. In its place, Matthew began collecting souls for the kingdom of God, rather than tax money, from that point forth.

From Crooked Sinner to Transformed Saint

In response to an invitation from Jesus, Matthew demonstrated one of the most drastically transformed lives recorded in the Bible. He didn’t dither, and he didn’t even bother to glance back. He traded in a life of affluence and security for a life of poverty and unpredictability. He gave up the delights of this world in exchange for the assurance of eternal life. What will happen to Matthew for the rest of his life is undetermined. Following the death and resurrection of Jesus, according to tradition, he preached for 15 years in Jerusalem before embarking on a missionary journey to various places across the world.

In the words of Heracleon, the apostle died as a result of natural circumstances.

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs also lends support to the martyrdom narrative of Matthew, saying that he was killed in the city of Nabadar with a halberd (a combined spear and battleax).

Accomplishments

Matthew was one of Jesus Christ’s twelve disciples, and he served in this capacity. 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. He also worked as a missionary, bringing the good news to people in different parts of the world.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Matthew was meticulous in his record-keeping. He understood the human heart as well as the aspirations of the Jewish people. He was devoted to Jesus, and once he made the decision to serve the Lord, he never looked back. Matthew, on the other hand, was a glutton for punishment before he met Jesus. According to him, money is everything in life and he broke God’s rules in order to enrich himself at the expense of his nation and other people.

Key Bible Verses

Matthew 9:9-13 is a Bible verse that describes the life of Jesus. As Jesus continued his journey, he came upon a guy called Matthew who was working at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he said, as Matthew rose to his feet and followed him. While Jesus and his followers were eating supper at Matthew’s house, a large number of tax collectors and sinners joined them and ate with them. Because of this, the Pharisees questioned his disciples, “Why is your teacher eating with tax collectors and sinners?” They were perplexed.

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 Levi’s home, which was attended by a large number of people, including Jesus.

Sources

Matthew’s death on the cross. Matthew the Apostle, according to the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 4, p. 643). The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Lexham, England)

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

The level of craftsmanship with which The Gospel According to Matthewwas written never ceases to astound me. This isn’t simply some haphazard attempt by a lone individual to document the events of his life. No, Matthew wasn’t a shady writer in the traditional sense. Mattew put together a masterpiece that, like any genuinely great narrative, instills perspective and inspires understanding while constantly directing us to the true Christ. He was inspired by the Holy Spirit and learned from Jesus’ brilliance by actually walking with Him and learning from His teaching.

Matthew’s Gospel points us in the right way in this regard.

Revealing Christ is our current series where we are delving further into the Scriptures of Matthew 15:29 – 17:23, where Peter declared Jesus to be “the Christ, the Son of God,” and where Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration.

As we approach the first of three instances on which Jesus prophesied both His death and resurrection to His followers, I’d like to take a minute to look forward to these three occurrences in particular.

3 Times Jesus Foretold His DeathResurrection

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).

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.
“You are the Christ, the Son of God,” Peter responded when Jesus went further and asked who the disciples believed He was (Matthew 16:16 ESV).
This prophecy of His own death and resurrection aimed to let people recognize Him as Christ in the proper light, for to confess Him as Christ while denying Him the cross would be to have incorrect expectations of what He was capable of.
I promise you that this will never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22 ESV).

I can’t help but think of the scene from The Chronicles of Narnia: When it comes to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, In the middle of the night, Susan and Lucy are strolling with Aslan through the woods, gripping his mane and falling in love with him, only to realize that they are actually travelling with him to the Stone Table.

Of course, the news that Jesus imparted would be devastating to Peter and the rest of the disciples.
There is good news beyond Jesus’ death, although it appears to have escaped Peter’s awareness, and that good news is that Jesus will be risen from the grave on the third day.
Death, on the other hand, having been overcome, shows Him to be the genuine and better King; the suffering Servant promised by the prophet Isaiah.
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.
In Matthew 17, Jesus foreshadowed the events leading up to His own death and resurrection for the second time.
Matthew, on the other hand, goes on to describe two further events in which Jesus disclosed these truths to His followers.

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.

At the very least, Jesus’ motivation to live and die in complete surrender to His Father’s will, knowing that His Father’s goals and mission are the best shows itself in this prophecy when considered in its context.

You will notice that there was no reply this time; there was simply distress, and because Matthew’s account moves on to a different scenario directly after this paragraph, we should feel the weight of this essential pause at the end of this verse in Matthew 17:22-23 (ESV): In Galilee, while they were assembling, Jesus appeared to them and told them, “The Son of Man is going to be put into the hands of mankind, and they will murder him, and he will be risen on the third day.” And they were in a great deal of anguish.

Third and last point: Jesus’ prophecies about His own death and resurrection add to the dramatic tension of this most ultimate of redemption stories.

Let’s 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.

Jesus had not informed them when or where His death and resurrection would take place; all He had told them was that it was coming, that it was essential, and that He was fully committed to the mission.
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.
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.
The betrayal and execution of Jesus would be gruesome, with beatings, blood, and a crucifixion among the many horrors that would befall him.

There would be no such thing as a half-hearted belief. You’d have to be completely convinced that Jesus is who He claims to be, that His is the only path to genuine life, and that it’s definitely worth it to push through the muck and gloom in order to see the beauty.

Moving Forward Together

When we get to this third section at Redemption Church, as we continue our journey through Matthew, we will be officially kicking off Lent as a community of believers. We don’t 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. A period of preparation is underway, and we will be encouraging you to walk through that season intentionally; knowing that at the end of the road lies a bloody cross and our Saviour, who rose from the dead and is God with us.

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.

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.