Matthew
The figure of Matthew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and traditionally the author of the first Gospel of the New Testament, is of paramount importance for understanding the Christian message. His story is a vivid testimony to the transforming grace of God and the radical inclusion in the Kingdom of Christ.
From a despised tax collector to one of the pillars of the early church, the life of Matthew illustrates Jesus' ability to call and empower those whom society deemed unworthy. His literary contribution, the Gospel that bears his name, offers a unique and deeply theological perspective on the life, teachings, and redemptive work of the Messiah.
1. Etymology and meaning of the name
The name Matthew derives from the Greek Matthaios (Ματθαῖος), which in turn is a transliteration of the Aramaic Mattai (מַתַּי) or, more formally, the Hebrew Mattityahu (מַתִּתְיָהוּ). The etymological root of the name combines mattat (מַתָּת), meaning "gift" or "present," and Yah (יָהּ), an abbreviated form of the tetragrammaton YHWH (יהוה), the name of God.
Thus, the literal meaning of the name Matthew is "gift of Yahweh" or "gift of God." This onomastic significance is profoundly ironic and theological, considering Matthew's initial profession as a tax collector, an occupation that made him socially marginalized and spiritually despised by the Jews of his time.
Despite his name meaning "gift of God," he was seen as a traitor and a sinner. However, Jesus transformed him into a true "gift" for the Kingdom of God, an apostle and evangelist. The name, therefore, prefigures the divine grace that would reach him, making him a valuable instrument in the proclamation of the Gospel.
It is important to note that Matthew is also identified as Levi, son of Alphaeus, in Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27. Early Christian tradition generally accepts that Levi and Matthew are the same person. It was not uncommon for Jews to have two names, one Hebrew/Aramaic and another possibly Greek or Roman, or even a family name and a personal name.
The name Levi, in itself, has a priestly connotation, being the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, from which priests were descended. If Matthew was indeed from the tribe of Levi, his choice of such a profane profession as that of a tax collector would be even more shocking and indicative of the depth of his social and religious fall.
However, there are no other prominent biblical characters named Matthew who are directly comparable to him in terms of theological significance or role in the New Testament narrative. The uniqueness of his story and name reinforces the message of God's sovereignty in choosing and transforming.
1.1. Name variations and their relevance
The identification of Matthew with Levi is crucial for understanding the depth of his conversion. Levi was a name of great religious prestige in Israel, while Matthew (as a tax collector) was a name that evoked disgrace. The change or alternate use of these names can symbolize the transition from his old life to his new identity in Christ.
The mention of "Levi, son of Alphaeus" by Mark and Luke, and simply "Matthew" by his own Gospel (Matthew 9:9), may be an act of humility by the author himself. He may have chosen to use the name that identified him with his life as a sinner, rather than a name that carried priestly connotations, to emphasize the grace that saved him.
This choice underscores the central message of the Gospel of Matthew: the coming of Jesus to save sinners and call the marginalized. The name "gift of God" thus becomes a fulfilled prophecy in his own life and ministry, where he became a living testimony to the redemptive power of Christ.
2. Historical context and biblical narrative
The life of Matthew unfolds in 1st-century AD Galilee, a region under Roman rule but with a strong Jewish identity. This period was marked by intense political, social, and religious tensions. Judea and Galilee were Roman provinces, and the presence of tax collectors was a constant reminder of the foreign occupation.
Tax collectors, or publicans (from the Latin publicani), were Jews who worked for the Roman Empire, collecting taxes from their own compatriots. They were widely despised, considered traitors to their people, thieves, and impure, as they often demanded more than was due and dealt with Gentiles.
The Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 9:9) and the Gospels of Mark (Mark 2:14) and Luke (Luke 5:27) describe Matthew's call while he was sitting at the tax collector's booth in Capernaum. Capernaum was an important port city on the northwest coast of the Sea of Galilee, a commercial and fishing hub, ideal for a customs house.
Jesus' call of Matthew is one of the most emblematic moments of his ministry, demonstrating the inclusive and revolutionary nature of the Kingdom of God. While Jewish society ostracized him, Jesus called him to be one of his closest disciples, an apostle.
2.1. Matthew's call and banquet
The narrative of Matthew's call is concise yet powerful. Jesus, passing by the customs house, simply says: "Follow me" (Matthew 9:9). Matthew's response is immediate and without hesitation: "He got up and followed him" (Matthew 9:9). This instant obedience is a testament to his faith and Jesus' irresistible authority.
After his call, Matthew hosts a great banquet at his house, where Jesus and his disciples sit at the table with many tax collectors and other "sinners" (Matthew 9:10 Mark 2:15 Luke 5:29). This event provokes the indignation of the Pharisees and scribes, who question Jesus' conduct.
Jesus' response to this criticism is fundamental to the theology of his mission: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:12-13, quoting Hosea 6:6). This is one of the key verses that defines Matthew's inclusion.
This episode not only highlights Matthew's new life but also serves as a living parable of Jesus' mission to reach the marginalized and those who recognize themselves as sinners. Matthew's house becomes a place of fellowship and demonstration of divine grace, not of exclusion.
2.2. Matthew as an apostle
After his call, Matthew is included in the list of the twelve apostles in all the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 10:3 Mark 3:18 Luke 6:15) and in Acts 1:13. His name consistently appears in the seventh or eighth place in the apostolic lists, usually associated with Thomas or James, son of Alphaeus.
The inclusion of a tax collector among the twelve is a radical act that challenges the social and religious conventions of the time. This underscores the universality of Jesus' call and the diversity of those He chooses to be His messengers, regardless of their past or social status.
Beyond his presence in the lists, the Scriptures provide little additional information about Matthew's activities after his call and inclusion in the apostolic circle. This discretion, especially in his own Gospel, can be interpreted as a sign of humility and focus on the message of Christ, rather than on himself.
3. Character and role in the biblical narrative
Matthew's character, though little detailed in the Gospels, is profoundly revealed by his occupation and his response to Jesus' call. As a tax collector (telōnēs, τελώνης), Matthew was in a profession that required writing, accounting, and organizational skills, characteristics that may have been useful in his role as an evangelist.
Nevertheless, society viewed him as a public sinner, an extortionist, and a traitor to his people. This social perception shaped his identity and isolated him from the religious community. Jesus' choice of Matthew, therefore, was not merely an act of grace, but also a prophetic declaration about whom Jesus came to save.
Matthew's most prominent virtue is his immediate and unconditional obedience to Jesus' call. Without questioning, without hesitation, he "got up and followed him" (Matthew 9:9). This readiness to abandon a life of profit and status (though socially despised, it was financially advantageous) demonstrates genuine faith and a heart open to the message of Christ.
His humility is also evident. In his own Gospel, he identifies himself as "Matthew, the tax collector" (Matthew 10:3), while Mark and Luke simply call him Levi. This self-identification with his sinful past serves to magnify the grace of God that transformed him, a central theme for evangelical theology.
Matthew's role in the biblical narrative is, first and foremost, that of an apostle, an eyewitness to the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He was commissioned to proclaim the Gospel and to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). His presence among the twelve validates the breadth of Jesus' reach to sinners.
3.1. The role of the transformed tax collector
Matthew's profession as a tax collector is crucial for understanding his symbolic and theological role. He represents the quintessential sinner who is reached by God's grace. His inclusion among the apostles broke social and religious barriers, showing that the Kingdom of God is not exclusive to the "righteous" or the religious.
Jesus' decision to dine at Matthew's house with other tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:10-11) was a deliberate act that challenged the norms of Jewish purity. This event not only marked Matthew's acceptance but also demonstrated Jesus' love and mercy for those who were considered impure and unworthy.
Matthew's transformation from an agent of the Roman Empire, who oppressed his own people, to a herald of the Kingdom of God is a powerful testimony to redemption. He became a living example of the truth that no one is beyond the reach of Christ's saving grace, regardless of their past or reputation.
Although the Scriptures do not record significant actions of Matthew after the call and the banquet, his inclusion in Jesus' inner circle and, subsequently, among the apostles who received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:13), indicates his loyalty and continuous commitment to Christ's mission. His greatest contribution, however, would be his authorship of the Gospel.
4. Theological significance and typology
Matthew's theological significance is multifaceted, serving as a powerful example of God's sovereign grace and the inclusive nature of the gospel. His story demonstrates that salvation does not depend on human merit or social status, but on divine mercy and faith in Christ's call.
Matthew is a living prefiguration of Jesus' message in Luke 19:10: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." He was "lost" in the eyes of society and, probably, in his own eyes, but was found and restored by Jesus, becoming a "gift of God" in its truest sense.
His conversion also reinforces the theme of the new covenant, where ritual purity and social distinctions are secondary to inner transformation and faith. The inclusion of a publican among the apostles signals the breaking down of barriers that separated the "righteous" from the "sinners" in the old Jewish order.
Jesus' quotation of Hosea 6:6 in Matthew 9:13 ("I desire mercy, not sacrifice") is central to understanding Matthew's calling and Jesus' mission. It emphasizes that true religion resides in compassion and active love, rather than in ritualistic observance or the exclusion of the impure.
Matthew's life illustrates the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. He was not called because he was worthy, but was made worthy by God's grace. His story is a testament to the truth that "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27).
4.1. The Gospel of Matthew and its theology
Matthew's greatest theological contribution is, without a doubt, the Gospel that bears his name. Although the Gospel itself does not explicitly declare its authorship, early church tradition, from Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60-130 AD), consistently attributed authorship to Matthew, the tax collector and apostle.
The Gospel of Matthew is notable for its Jewish perspective and its emphasis on Jesus as the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. It frequently uses the formula "that what was said by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled," quoting Old Testament prophecies to demonstrate that Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel's messianic expectations.
This Gospel presents Jesus as the new Moses, who delivers the new law in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and as the King of David's lineage, whose Kingdom is spiritual and universal. The genealogy at the beginning of the Gospel (Matthew 1:1-17) traces Jesus' lineage back to David and Abraham, establishing his messianic credentials and his connection to the covenant promises.
The Gospel of Matthew is also known for its focus on discipleship, the ethics of the Kingdom, and the nature of the Church (the only time the word ekklēsia, church, appears in the Gospels is in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17). It emphasizes the need for obedience to Jesus' teachings and the importance of global mission.
Matthew's theology, as an author, reflects his own conversion experience: God's grace extended to the marginalized, the transformation of sinners into disciples, and the universality of Christ's Kingdom that transcends ethnic and social barriers. He demonstrates that Jesus came to save both Jews and Gentiles, calling all to repentance and faith.
5. Biblical-theological legacy and canonical references
Matthew's legacy in biblical theology is immense, primarily through his Gospel, which holds a prominent position in the New Testament canon. The Gospel of Matthew has historically been the entry book for many Christians, serving as a crucial bridge between the Old and New Testaments.
His authorship is a testament to God's ability to use people from all walks of life, even those considered socially low, for divine purposes. Early church tradition, as attested by Papias, Irenaeus, and Origen, indicates that Matthew originally wrote his Gospel in Aramaic (Hebrew), which may explain his profound knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures and his Jewish approach to Jesus' message.
The literary contributions of the Gospel of Matthew include exclusive narratives such as the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12), the Flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23), the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), various parables of the Kingdom (e.g., the Weeds and the Wheat, Matthew 13:24-30 the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13), and details of the final judgment (Matthew 25:31-46).
Matthew's influence on biblical theology is profound. He shaped the early church's understanding of Jesus' messianic identity, the continuity between Old Testament promises and their fulfillment in Christ, and the nature of the Kingdom of God. His emphasis on the ethics of the Kingdom and discipleship continues to be fundamental to the Christian faith.
In Reformed and evangelical theology, Matthew is celebrated as an example of God's transforming grace and sovereign election. His story is often cited to illustrate that salvation is for all, regardless of their past, and that God calls the unworthy to accomplish His work.
5.1. Matthew in tradition and the church
Extra-canonical Christian tradition offers some information about Matthew's life after Jesus' ascension. He is traditionally considered a martyr, although accounts of the location and manner of his death vary. Some traditions place him preaching in Ethiopia, others in Parthia, Persia, or Syria.
These traditions, although non-canonical, reflect the early church's understanding of Matthew's apostolic commitment to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). He is venerated as a saint by various Christian denominations, with his feast day celebrated on September 21.
The Gospel of Matthew is fundamental to understanding the relationship between law and grace, Jesus' Jewish identity, and the universality of his mission. It provides a robust theological framework for understanding the foundation of the Church and the ethics of discipleship, serving as a constant reference in theological studies and sermons.
In summary, the figure of Matthew, the tax collector who became an apostle and evangelist, is an eloquent testimony to the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. His name, "gift of God," resonates with the truth that God chooses the humble and despised to be instruments of His grace, offering a biblical-theological legacy that continues to inspire and instruct the Church in all generations.