Matthew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and the traditionally ascribed author of the first gospel account of the life of Jesus (Matthew 1:1). Matthew’s gospel provides important details about Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection, as well as an account of the origins and early history of the church. Here is an overview of what the Bible tells us about Matthew and his significance:
Matthew the Disciple
Matthew first appears in the gospel accounts as a tax collector in Capernaum who was called by Jesus to become one of his twelve disciples (Matthew 9:9, Matthew 10:3). Prior to following Jesus, Matthew worked for Herod Antipas, collecting taxes from the Jewish people for the Roman government. Tax collectors were viewed as traitors and outcasts by many Jews because of their cooperation with Rome.
As a tax collector, Matthew would have been relatively well-off financially. By leaving his profitable business to follow Jesus, Matthew demonstrated his commitment to his newfound Messiah and Savior. The other gospel accounts all explicitly mention Matthew’s connection to tax collecting when listing the twelve disciples (Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15).
Matthew’s former profession as a tax collector would have given him skills that assisted his later work in documenting the life and ministry of Christ. As a tax collector, Matthew would have been literate and familiar with keeping careful records. He would also have been accustomed to handling money and transactions.
In listing the twelve disciples, the Gospel of Matthew humbly refers to him as “Matthew the tax collector” rather than “Matthew the evangelist” as the other gospels do when mentioning the authors of their respective accounts (Matthew 10:3). This fits with Matthew’s modesty in not drawing attention to himself personally throughout his gospel account.
Beyond his calling as a disciple, the Gospel of Matthew gives us little direct information about Matthew. A few key insights can be drawn from the gospel accounts:
- Matthew followed Jesus’ call to discipleship by leaving his business behind (Matthew 9:9). This shows his obedience and willingness to make sacrifices to become a follower of Christ.
- Matthew hosted a banquet for Jesus attended by other tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:10). This shows his network of relationships among other outcasts.
- Matthew was still living when Jesus gave the Great Commission after his resurrection (Matthew 28:16-20), so he would have been eyewitness to many of the events in Christ’s ministry, death, and resurrection.
Church history also records some additional possible details about Matthew. The apostle was likely martyred for his faith, though accounts differ about whether he died in Ethiopia or Persia. Some traditions say he was stabbed to death, while others say he was burned alive. But the exact circumstances of his later life and death remain uncertain.
Matthew the Gospel Author
In addition to the apostle Matthew, Christian tradition strongly affirms that the Gospel According to Matthew was authored by the same Matthew who was one of the twelve disciples. The gospel directly points to Matthew’s authorship in its opening verse: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).
Several early church fathers, including Papias of Hierapolis, Irenaeus, Origen, and Eusebius, all attest to Matthew’s authorship of the gospel account bearing his name. There is no credible evidence from the first centuries of church history to suggest any alternative author for the first gospel. Matthew has been recognized as canonical and authoritative since the earliest lists of New Testament books.
The Gospel of Matthew appears first in the New Testament in part because of its apostolic origins and connection to one of the twelve disciples. As an apostolic gospel account, Matthew provided a foundational way for the early church to learn about Jesus’ life and teaching.
Matthew’s background as a Jewish tax collector would have also made him a credible author in the eyes of a Jewish Christian audience. His familiarity with Jewish customs, terminology, locations, and Old Testament references is interwoven throughout his account of Jesus’ ministry and teaching.
The Gospel of Matthew focuses on presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah and authoritative interpreter of the Law. It highlights many of Jesus’ discourses and teachings, especially the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Some of the major themes highlighted include:
- Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophecy
- The nature of the kingdom of heaven
- Instructions for righteousness, prayer, and trusting God’s provision
- The cost of discipleship
- Parables of the kingdom
- Ethical teachings in the Sermon on the Mount
- Jesus’ criticisms of the Pharisees
- The Great Commission and making disciples
Matthew’s background and perspective as a former Jewish tax collector would have uniquely equipped him to write on these themes for a Jewish Christian audience.
Key Events in Matthew’s Gospel
As one of the four gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry, the Gospel of Matthew provides a unique perspective on important events including:
- Jesus’ genealogy tracing him back to Abraham showing his messianic lineage (Matthew 1:1-17)
- The virgin birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25)
- The visit from the Magi who honored Jesus as King (Matthew 2:1-12)
- King Herod’s attempt to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:13-18)
- John baptizing Jesus, and God’s declaration that Jesus is his beloved Son (Matthew 3:13-17)
- The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11)
- The beginnings of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:12-25)
- The calling of Jesus’ twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1-4)
- Teachings like the Beatitudes and Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 5-7)
- Miracles like calming the storm, healing the sick, and feeding the 5000 (Matthew 8,9,14,15)
- Parables of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13,20,21,22,25)
- Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-17)
- Controversies with the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 22)
- The Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30)
- Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and burial (Matthew 27)
- The resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28)
- The Great Commission to make disciples (Matthew 28:16-20)
Matthew provides eyewitness testimony to many of these pivotal events during Jesus’ earthly ministry. His account serves as an early historical record of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Significance and Legacy
As one of the twelve disciples, Matthew left behind his sinful past for a new life of discipleship and service to Christ. Though a social outcast for much of his life, Jesus saw Matthew’s potential and called him into a divinely-appointed mission as an apostle.
Matthew faithfully followed Jesus and supported his ministry both during his time on earth and after his ascension. Though originally shunned by many as a tax collector, Matthew gained honor in the early church as the author of the opening gospel account. His account provided future generations of believers with an authoritative biographical account of the life and ministry of Jesus.
Matthew’s background and narration of the gospel story has made his account especially relevant to Jewish readers seeking to understand Jesus as the Messiah. The book has also traditionally been seen as the most important of the four gospels for preparing new converts for discipleship and baptism through its focus on Jesus’ teachings.
As today’s readers encounter the Gospel According to Matthew, they can continue to gain insight into Jesus’ life and teaching through the eyewitness testimony of his disciple Matthew. Matthew’s account equips Christians to follow Jesus, make disciples, and trust in Christ’s authority.
Some key lessons from the life of Matthew include:
- Jesus can call people from all backgrounds into his service
- Responding to Jesus’ call requires changing our priorities and making sacrifices
- Those rejected by society can gain honor through faith in Christ
- Believers should leverage skills and experiences to serve God’s purposes
- The testimony of Christ’s disciples provides reliable truth about his life and identity
Matthew’s example provides hope that no matter one’s past, God can transform a life and use it powerfully for his glory. By God’s grace, the despised tax collector Matthew left a legacy through his gospel account that still points people to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.