Title Matthew
Contents
Author of the New Testament - Matthew
Matthew - publican who was used as an apostle
1. Personal information
① Matthew means ‘gift of God’. The Hebrew name is Levi (Mark 2:14).
② Born in Capernaum, son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). ③ Occupation: publican (Matthew 9:9).
④ One of Jesus' twelve apostles (Matthew 10:2, 3). ⑤ Wrote the Gospel of Matthew.
2. Historical background
Matthew, who originally worked as a tax collector at the Roman customs established in Judea, was called as one of the 12 disciples around A.D. 27, the early days of Jesus’ public life, and as a person who witnessed the entirety of his ministry while walking with Jesus in AD 50. -The person who wrote the Gospel of Matthew around 70 AD Although his role is not clearly shown in the Synoptic Gospels or Acts, it is said that he occupies a very important place in the history of the early church in terms of writing the Gospel of Matthew.
3. Major Life
Before the apostle's vocation
birth
worked as a tax collector at customs
Matthew 9:9
marginalized by peers
Matthew 9:11
live a wealthy life
Luke 5:29
Jesus' call
A.D. 27 years
Matthew 9:9
Feasting and receiving Jesus
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Matthew 9:10
Appointed as an apostle
A.D. 28 years
Luke 6:13,15
After the apostle's vocation
Received power from Jesus as an apostle
A.D. 28 years
Matthew 10:1
Traveling from place to place, preaching the gospel
Mark 3:14
Running away when Jesus is arrested
A.D. 28 years
Matthew 26:56
Encounter the Resurrected Jesus
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Matthew 28:16,17
Witnessing the Ascension of Jesus
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Acts 1:9
Experience the Holy Spirit in Mark's Attic
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Acts 1:19
Matthew's Gospel
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martyred
4. character
① A person who is very humble who does not reveal himself as he refers to himself as a publican who was a symbol of the Jews' contempt when writing the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 9:9, 10).
② Those who respond immediately to Jesus' call and are active and decisive as they follow Jesus (Luke 5:27, 28).
③ A person who loved the souls of his alienated fellows because he was called by Jesus and held a great feast to allow tax collectors and sinners who were despised to listen to the words of Jesus (Matt. 9:10).
④ A person who was treated as a sinner and marginalized by the Jewish community when he was a publican in the past, but has a special love for his fellow countrymen as he wrote the Gospel of Matthew in Hebrew for Jewish believers.
5. Redemption Historical Status
① One of Jesus' twelve disciples.
② Those who wrote the Gospel of Matthew and testified that Jesus was the Messiah prophesied from the Old Testament.
③ A person who has set an example of an evangelist by actively witnessing the gospel to fellow tax collectors after being called by Jesus.
6. Evaluation and Lessons Learned
① When Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew, he humbly added the title of ‘publican’ in front of his name, which could be a shameful image of himself in the past, and did not reveal himself, but only testified of the kingship of Christ. In this way, we, who were chosen as witnesses of the name of Christ, should humbly hide ourselves and strive to reveal only the name of Christ in honor (Micah 6:8).
② During the reign of Herod Antipas, Matthew had the job of a publican who was treated like a sinner by the Jewish community (Matthew 9:9). Therefore, in the midst of such conflicts and prejudices, Matthew must have felt a longing for the true gospel. However, this is why the Lord called Matthew, who was in such a difficult and lowly state of being despised as a sinner, and made him his disciple. What a thrill this is! Indeed, when everyone was jealous of Matthew, Jesus showed forgiveness and grace to those who needed the grace of His love. The same love and grace of God will be given to us today as we repent, and the Lord is waiting outside the door of our hearts to give us grace (Revelation 3:20).
③ When Jesus called, Matthew left everything and immediately followed Jesus (Luke 5:28). Not only that, he created opportunities to meet the Lord for many of his colleagues who were treated like sinners. In this way, we, who have been called by the Lord, are not forced to follow the Lord, but must follow the Lord with passionate thanksgiving and obedience. Also, you should not be satisfied with being saved by yourself, but you should also provide a new life, that is, the path of blessed hope, to many neighbors who are struggling like me (Acts 16:31).
④ Matthew, who received a higher education, eventually used all of his education and talents to write the Gospel of Matthew, and it shined through his dedication to preaching the gospel. Indeed, the kind of talent we have and the size or small of them are not important. We must remember that it is important only for whom we use our talents (Matt. 25:14-30).
7. Heart verse
“As Jesus was passing from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs office, saying, “Follow me.” So he got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9).