Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Thursday, April 2, 2009

Memory Verse John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

The Twelve Apostles 1. Simon-Peter 2. Andrew 3. James 4. John 5. Philip 6. Bartholomew 7. Thomas 8. Matthew, Levi 9. Simon the Zealot 10. James, the son of Alphaeus 11. Thaddaeus 12. Paul

His Name: Maththaios and Matthaios - Greek reproduction of the Hebrew Mattithyah. It means "the gift of Yahweh / Jehovah", or "Gift of God".

His Hebrew surname is Levi meaning, “joined to”. Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27; compare Mat 9:9

His Background: Mark calls him “the son of Alphaeus”, Mark 2:14. Alphaeus = “changing”. It is not known whether his father was the same as the Alphaeus named as the father of James the Lesser, Mat 10:3?

Matthew’s residence was at Capernaum, on the Sea of Galilee, and he was a publican / tax collector in the territory of king Herod Antipas.

The Romans established a customhouse at Capernaum where Matthew was a tax collector.

The publicans proper were usually Romans of rank and wealth who collected the land and poll taxes.

They farmed out the business of collecting taxes on transported goods to local resident deputies called portitors. Matthew was one of these.

Matthew’s office was located on the main highway, the Great West road.

Matthew Tax Collecting (Acco)

He was situated well to collect taxes from local merchants, fisheries and farmers carrying their goods to market as well as distant caravans passing through Galilee.

Matthew knew the value of goods of all description, the value of local and foreign monetary systems, and spoke the local Aramaic language as well as Greek.

He may have been wealthy, but was also despised by the Jews and considered among the lowest of people. Mat 11:19; Mark 2:16; Luke 7:34; 15:1

The gospels show a similar attitude toward them, lumping them with sinners, Gentiles and harlots, Mat 9:10; 18:17; 21:31. This shows us another ironical choice by our Lord.

His Personality: To function as tax collector Matthew had to be an educated man, acquainted with the Greek language as well as the native Aramaic.

His wealth is also noted when hosting the banquet for our Lord and his disciples as well as "many" of his previous associates. Mat 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29

He also had to have a tough demeanor and thick skin as he was collecting taxes from his fellow Jews, sometimes forcibly, and at the same time enduring their hatred.

As a result of his acceptance of Christ, many other tax collectors and "sinners" came to hear Jesus, Luke 15:1, 7:34; Mat 11:19. So he must have been well respected and influential.

His Role Among the Apostles: He is listed among the twelve. In Mark 3:18 and Luke 6:15 he is listed 7 th. In Mat 10:3 and Acts 1:13, 8 th, swapping positions with Thomas.

Aside from these he is only mentioned in the record of his calling by Christ. Mat 9:9-10; Mark 2:13-15; Luke 5:27-29

There is no account of Matthew entering the group from among the pupils of John the Baptist.

He must have known about Jesus from his early works in Capernaum.

He was not one of those initially called because Peter, James and John are already trustworthy disciples of Jesus, who attended the banquet with Him. Mat 9:11, 14, 18; Mark 5:37.

In addition, Pharisees were already prowling about and complained to Christ’s disciples during Matthew’s feast. Luke 5:29-32

After this there is no mention of him except in the catalogs of the apostles, Luke 6:15, and in the “Upper Room” post ascension, Acts 1:13.

His Legacy: He wrote the gospel that bears his name in the 60's AD, in his native tongue Hebrew, later translated to Greek by James the lesser.

It emphasizes Jesus' Kingship, written especially for the Jews.

Tradition states he preached for years in Palestine and then in foreign nations; Ethiopians (Cush in Egypt), Macedonians, Syrians, Persians, Parthians and Medeas.

Matthew’s Assumed Extra Biblical Journey’s Cush

He is said to have died a natural death either in Ethiopia or in Macedonia, but Foxes Book of Martyrs disagrees with this.

Foxes Book of Martyrs: The scene of his labors was Parthia, and Ethiopia, in which the latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A.D. 60.

Phil 3:15, “…and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you.”

Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, April 2, 2009 Meet the Apostles - Matthew Upper Room Discourse, Part 253 Tape # Meet the Apostles - Matthew Upper Room Discourse, Part 253 John 13:36; Mat 9:9-13; Mark 2:14-17; Luke 5:27-32 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009