BIBLE BIOGRAPHY – Matthew

Matthew was a tax collector who decided to follow Jesus. He is famous for being one of the twelve disciples and for writing the Book Of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament. This is his story.


CONSIDERED A TRAITOR

Before he met Jesus and became a disciple, Matthew's name was Levi (Mark 2:14). The name Levi indicates that he probably was a Levite (The Levites served as priests to God). But instead of serving God he decided to become a tax collector for the Roman government.

Now tax collectors were absolutely despised among the Jews. They were known to charge more taxes than what was owed and lent money to people at very high rates. They were regarded as sinners (Matt. 18:17,Mark 2:15) and a Jew that served as a tax collector (like Matthew) was regarded as a traitor.

Why would Matthew turn his back on his people and his God to work in a field such as this? We may find a clue in the book of the Bible he would later write. The word "hypocrites" appears more times in Matthew (twelve) than it does anywhere else in the Bible. Perhaps he saw so many people who were hypocrites -- people that said they loved God but proved otherwise by their actions -- that he decided he was finished with God.

But what Matthew didn't realize was that God wasn't finished with him.


JESUS FOUND HIM

In Matthew 9:9 we find Jesus traveling through town when He found Matthew. He spoke two words to Matthew that change his life forever:

"Follow Me"

Matthew had searched religion and found man's attempt to impress God lacking. He had searched the world and found its money unsatisfying. But in Jesus he discovered something real, something fulfilling. Jesus was offering Matthew a personal relationship with God even though he didn't deserve it. Jesus was offering grace. Matthew got up, followed Jesus, and was never the same again.


PART OF GOD'S PLAN

The name Matthew means, "gift of God" . An appropriate name because here was a man that had turned his back on God. He wasn't seeking God, but God was seeking him, and through His grace He offered Matthew the gift of God, which is a personal relationship with Him.

Through Matthew we learn that God allows us to go through certain situations in order to prepare us for a greater cause. Matthew had a background as a Levi so he knew the scriptures. Later he was a tax collector --skilled in writing and keeping accurate records. God used all these skills when the time came to write the Book of Matthew, said to be the most read book in all the world. The Book of Matthew does a beautiful job of showing the harmony between the Old and New Testaments and is an accurate,organized, account of Jesus' life.

The day Jesus said "follow Me" He saw Matthew not as he was, but what he would become though Him.

He looks at you and I the same way.