He was inspired by the Holy Spirit and learned from Jesus brilliance by actually walking with Him and learning from His teaching. Despite the fact that there is no indication in Scripture of a specific age for any disciple, we can conclude from the evidence in the Gospels and from a little research into 1st century Jewish culture that this idea, which has been depicted repeatedly in movies and pictures, is almost certainly incorrect. The Beginners Guide to the Bible gives you an overview of what the Bible is, what its for, and what its all about. He is an eyewitness of Jesus Christ's ascension. Fun fact: As a tax collector, Matthew wouldve presumably been great with money, and modern readers would think hed be an ideal candidate for the groups official treasurer. But given the reputation of tax collectors in first-century Judaism, that wouldve been a bad move politicallywhich might be why the disciples gave the job to a guy named Judas Iscariot. In the Bible, there is no indication of a definite age for any of the disciples. Matthew says that Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Ultimately, without a byline, we cant confirm or deny who wrote the Gospel of Matthew. They were dubbed Sons of Thunder by Jesus because they were presumably either loud or courageous when they were young, attributes that Jesus admired in them. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd before announcing, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.". They would be instructed to collect a specific amount of money, but they would be able to convince individuals that they owed a different amount, and they would have no ability to contest the amount they said they owed. Matthew would have had to have lived at the same time as Jesus Christ in order to be considered a follower of Jesus Christ. A great voice comes from heaven as well, announcing the arrival of the tabernacle of God among men. When Jesus summoned Matthew to follow him, he was working as a tax collector (also known as a publican), which was considered one of the most despised occupations in ancient Judaism. Jesus messes up the system the religious leaders had created. Become a member today. No other disciples wives are mentioned in the Bible at any other time. A few of the disciples had just witnessed Jesus transfiguration and heard the voice of the Father saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him. In this second instance, the disciples had actually just witnessed Jesus transfiguration and heard the Father say, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him (Matt. Matthew makes it plain that Jesus is the King of the Jews. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. A young man could just as truly pray that his life is fulfilled in seeing Messiah, that he can now die happy. Do you wish you had a greater understanding of the Bible? He is reported by Luke to still be alive when Jesus was around 12 years old in Luke 2:41-42. The term written can also refer to compiled, organized, or composed, depending on the context. Today, the physical movie theater remains a popular destination for teens, mostly because it provides them with opportunities to meet up with friends, go on dates, hang out, and so on. Synopsis. He understood the human heart as well as the aspirations of the Jewish people. Lets get to know Matthew a bit better because he was the founder of the largest religion on the planet at the time of writing this article. This does seem to imply that John was almost certainly less than thirty when he began to follow Jesus. Generally speaking, the Book of Matthew is thought to have been written by, yep, Matthew, who was a disciple, apostle, and evangelist in the early Christian community. So what do we really know about him? He agrees to serve as one of the 12 apostles. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matthew 9:12. So why would an eyewitness use an account written by someone who wasnt there? John, his brother James, Peter, and Andrew were all partners in the fishing business before they became disciples of Jesus. The Gospels are the four books that make up this collection. Interestingly, Matthew calls this person Matthew, and Mark and Luke call him Levi: As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collectors booth. But think of other indicators of the youthfulness of the disciples: In Matthew 11:25, Mark 10:24, Luke 10:21, and John 13:33, Jesus calls his trainees little children or little ones. "The Central Synagogue of Nazareth Illit and its Architectural Dialogue with Nazareths Basilica of the Annunciation." as members of a sect called the Zealots." Others suggest this person was originally named Levi, but that Jesus called him Matthew (similar to Simon, who Jesus named Peter). Luke 3:23 says that he was about age thirty when he began his ministry. . These accounts so closely parallel each other that its hard to imagine they arent speaking of the same person. The early church fathers claim he was burned, stoned, stabbed, or beheaded for his faith. He was a meticulous record keeper who was also a good watcher of people. Naomi, Simhony. Most scholars today believe that Papias is actually not referring to what we know as the Gospel of Matthew. According to the scripture, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Joseph's death is not recorded in the Bible. Topic:When it comes to the disciples, the question of how they could have written their letters 30 or more years after the crucifixion of the Christ tends to come up frequently. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. But thats all there is to it. They had already formed a negative opinion of Jesus, but now he was associated with the lowest strata of Hebrew society. At that time Matthew's name was Levi; he was the son of Alphaeus. According to this interpretation, Matthew (which is likely to mean Yahwehs Gift) would appear to be the Christian name of Levi (whom Mark refers to as Levi the son of Alphaeus), who had been working as a tax collector in the service of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee at the time of Jesus birth. Youd have to show proficiency and its assumed many students had very large portions of the Law and Prophets committed to memory. Additional evidence may be found in Matthew 17:24-27. The education of a Jewish youngster came to an end at the age of fifteen. But Matthew mentions them 28 times. According to him, money is everything in life and he broke Gods rules in order to enrich himself at the expense of his nation and other people. Dont we have more patience with their blunders and pride? 60, brought him to martyrdom in the latter nation. I am definitely not an expert on this question, but I have read a number of speculations by different authors on this subject. As a Jew, stepping into this profession was essentially an act of betrayal to his people. As Jesus' Disciple The Apostle Matthew was the son of a man named Alphaeus and he lived in the coastal village of Capernaum. Its possible that out of respect, friendship, or deference, Matthew used Peters account for consistencys sake. To the Jews, tax collectors were the embodiment of sin. And his clothes became white as light. It was also a time when those who chose to follow Jesus by joining the church were being pushed down by an ever-increasing weight of persecution. You . St. Peter was a fisherman by trade. How the disciples could be living and writing about the events of Jesus life as late as 95-100 A.D. Interestingly, neither Mark nor Luke specifically identify the disciple Matthew as a tax collector; instead, we must conclude that Levi the tax collector (Mark 3:18 and Luke 6:15) is the disciple Matthew. And to discover a four-drachma coin in the mouth of the fish he has caught; enough to pay the tax for two men, himself and Jesus, when he opens the fishs mouth. Now, God, Himself, will dwell with the people . Missionary Teaching Trip to Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by Dr. John Oakes. Furthermore, Jesus declared that He was the Son of God. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the traditional author of the firstSynoptic Gospel. 1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. Doesn't this contradict what God said in the OT? In 2013, a group portrait of American male teenagers was taken. On the basis of Lukes specific aging in 3:23, everyone accepts that Jesus was around 30 years old throughout his ministry. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. And as it is said, Jesus' ministry lasted for about 3 to 3 years before he died. Still, that doesnt mean Matthew didnt write this gospel as well. One of Christ's 70 disciples and the four evangelists, Saint Mark was born in Cyrene, Libya but his date of birth is unknown. Young men began their studies with a Rabbi when they were 12 to 30 years old, although they normally started when they were fewer than 20 years old, according to Jewish tradition. 66 He wore clothing made of camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey ( Matthew 3:4 ). Of whom are Matthew, Philip, Thomas, Levi, and many others. Stromata. When he was chosen by Jesus to be one of His apostles, Matthew left this prominent and well-paying profession. The exact date of his passing is unclear. RESPONSE:As you correctly surmise, the solution to this question is somewhat shocking. If they were males, this would be considered a bit disrespectful, regardless of how radical or mild the rabbi is! Since we dont know how old he was at the time he met Jesus, we cant be certain he was born in the first century, but he certainly lived then. Little is known about this apostle. And so, being passed over as teenagers, they are perhaps shocked to be considered worthy of apprenticeship with a traveling Rabbi who was beginning to gain a reputation at that time. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. The Bible tells us that Peter had a wife when Jesus cured his mother-in-law, according to Matthew 8:14-15. St. Matthew, also called St. Matthew the Evangelist, St. Matthew the Apostle, or Levi, (flourished 1st century ce, Palestine; Western feast day September 21, Eastern feast day November 16), one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and the traditional author of the first Synoptic Gospel (the Gospel According to Matthew ). 3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. But all the disciples are present ( theycame to Capernaum vs 24). He was loyal to Jesus and once committed, he never wavered in serving the Lord. Like Mark 1:14, Matthew begins after John the Baptist is imprisoned; John 1-5 shows that Jesus' ministry actually began earlier, interspersing ministry in Judea and Galilee before moving to Capernaum. Who Was Herod? Hebrew Scriptures reference: Exodus 12:1-51. List price: $25.99. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. Upon completion of this course, you will have sufficient information to engage in a reasonable discussion about the Bible with a pastor, an atheist, or anybody else. With the disciples, its possible that we had a Young Guns-style cast. Your response? Discover interesting information about the life and career of this former publican who became an evangelist, as well as his death and contributions to history. The Christian Bible is filled with writings outlining the right methods to follow Christs teachings, yet just four narratives of Christs life and death are included in the book of Matthew. We only have speculation to go on. Matthews gospel appears to rely heavily on Marks (which is why there are so many parallel passages), but the Gospel of Mark is believed to have been written by a man named John Mark, who was not an eyewitness. Follow me, he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9, As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collectors booth. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Tax collectors had very little accountability. So all of this suggests a very startling, and in some ways endearing picture of the disciples. As one of the twelve apostles, Matthew was there throughout almost all of Jesus ministry. Assuming that the identification of Matthew with Levi is correct, Matthew (probably meaning "Yahweh's Gift") would appear. 0:00. New Testament citations: John 1:29, John 1:36, John 19:33, John 19:36, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, 1 Peter 1:19. Including parallel passages, there are just seven mentions of him in the entire Bible. Required fields are marked *. Read An Excerpt . Simeon was a patient man. Tradition mentions his ministry inJudaea, following which he is said to have embarked on a journey to the East, which might have taken him to Ethiopia or Persia. St. Matthew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church, Saint Matthew the Apostle, patron saint archive, "Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Washington, D.C", "Introduction to New Testament History and Literature", "Pleasurable Perplexity: Reflecting the Holy City", "Visions of kingdoms: From Pompey to the first Jewish revolt", "Introduction to the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles", "The Synoptic Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles: Telling the Christian Story", Benedict XVI, "Matthew", General audience, 30 August 2006, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matthew_the_Apostle&oldid=1142212172, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 03:25. How did Luke know what Jesus said in the garden if the apostles were asleep? For example, his account of the Resurrection tells that those assigned to guard the Savior's tomb saw two angels roll back the stone that covered the door of the tomb. Matthew, on the other hand, goes on to describe two further events in which Jesus disclosed these truths to His followers. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Were going to look at what the Bible says about Matthew, what we know about the gospel that bears his name, and some other tidbits about this enigmatic apostle. We should not be made to feel unqualified because of our physical appearance, lack of education, or previous experiences in our lives. As a result, the majority of the apostles would have been teens when Jesus asked them to join him. Again crowds come to him, and he begins teaching them. 10. Higher education consisted of studying under the supervision of a local rabbi for individuals who were intelligent (or affluent). Matthew is considered one of the Four Evangelists. This is a title reserved for Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Johnthe traditional authors of the four gospels. Matthew is regarded as one of the Four Evangelists of the New Testament. A fourth point to consider is that the subsequent lives of several of the disciples provide information about their likely ages. He didnt dither, and he didnt even bother to glance back. Lon has been on the Board of Jews for . In most cases, a young mans discipleship instruction under the supervision of a rabbi begins between the ages of 13 and 15. No one dared to disagree with them since their judgments were enforced by Roman soldiers. According to the Gospels, it appears that a handful of Jesus initial disciples changed their names after becoming followers of Jesus (remember that Simon becomes Peter). Every male above the age of 20 who visits the temple of God is required to give a half-shekel as a census offering, according to Jewish law, which is found in Exodus 30:14-15. Aside from a handful of mentions in the gospels, he's a surprisingly obscure New Testament figure. . Each of these four writers used their writings to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. When we get to this third section at Redemption Church, as we continue our journey through Matthew, we will be officially kicking off Lent as a community of believers. Matthew was beaten by two . As a result, it is likely that the disciples were between the ages of 20 and 30. JESUS CALLS MATTHEW, THE TAX COLLECTOR. As we come to see Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, and the Savior, may we also recognize that in order for any of this to be real, He had to take the route of the cross. Do you know where should I look for information on how old were the apostles when they joined Jess? He exalts the humble and lays low those who are proud. However, there are a few counter-arguments, with the most important being that the early church claimed John as its own. Matthew 8:14 mentions his infirm mother-in-law, who was a sick woman. Virtually everything we really know about Matthew comes directly from the gospels. 2003. Deuteragonist: After Jesus, he is the second-most important character of the story, and since Jesus is the Son of God, Peter's the person getting the most Character Development.Season 3 especially focuses on him overcoming (the first of) his doubts toward Jesus. Wait There Were How Many Herods?! John's mother's name was Salome and some say that Salome was . Matthew was one of Jesus Christs twelve disciples, and he served in this capacity. Jasmine A.L. To some extent, this proof of His foresight speaks volumes about His divinity, and Matthew is surely conveying this point for his audience with this storyline. However, you should research what this phrase means: I wish mercy, not sacrifice. Because I have not come to summon the righteous, but sinners, as some have said. (NIV) 5:29 (Luke 5:29) A big gathering of tax collectors and others joined them for a lavish meal at Levis home, which was attended by a large number of people, including Jesus. The Apostle Matthew, also known as Saint Matthew and Levi, was one of Jesus Christs twelve disciples and was born in the city of Nazareth. CHRIST ASSOCIATES WITH SINNERS TO HELP THEM. He is said to have carried out his ministry in Ethiopia (which is not the same as Ethiopia today, but a territory south of the Caspian Sea), Persia, Macedonia, and/or Syria according to the oldest accounts. Because of this, the Pharisees questioned his disciples, Why is your teacher eating with tax collectors and sinners? They were perplexed. Despite the fact that there are compelling reasons against his authorship, no alternate author has been identified. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass" (verses 4-5). Those who strove to protect the Roman Empire were held in high regard by the Hebrews of the period, with the majority of them being seen as greedy, selfish, and treacherous. They were most certainly teens by this point, as they were able to leave home to follow a rabbi. Isaiah 11:1 He would be born from the family of Jesse. Many of these legendary accounts were pseudepigraphameaning they falsely claimed to be written by a well-known Christianand included miraculous events and Gnostic teachings. When it comes to the Apostle Matthew, theres not much to go on. MATTHEW 9:9-13 MARK 2:13-17 LUKE 5:27-32. Lessons in Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by John Oakes Lessons in English and French. In response to an invitation from Jesus, Matthew demonstrated one of the most drastically transformed lives recorded in the Bible. The Bible states that these two men weren't just . (Mark 3.16). Again, this in itself does not clinch the matter. However, they all ultimately offer a different portrait of Jesus. Tax collectors were considered to be the epitome of sin by the Jews. Some argue that Matthews role as an eyewitness is evidence that he didnt write the Gospel of Matthew. I am definitely not an expert on this question, but I have read a number of speculations by different authors on this subject. Andre Iguodala compares Stephen Curry to Jesus Christ - "I think I've met the closest thing to Jesus Christ" Iguodala claims he knew Curry was destined for greatness from the moment he joined the Warriors in 2013, and even went as far to compare him to Jesus Christ when praising him According to Matthew, who was an eyewitness to Jesus life, the tale of his birth, his message, and his numerous actions are all documented in the Gospel of Matthew since Matthew was an eyewitness to the Savior. Four, the Mishnah explains why Jesus didnt start his ministry until age 30 even though his mission of redemption by death could have been accomplished at any age. When called by Jesus, Matthew immediately left his tax collection booth and followed the Lord ( Matthew 9:9 ). As with most of the apostles, its hard to say exactly how Matthew died. He completed graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, receiving a Masters Degree in Near Eastern Studies in 1979. . By calling Matthew, Jesus was proclaiming that no one would be excluded from his movementnot even those society considered irredeemable. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications 7 (1) (12). His message was revolutionary. Matthew 4:18-22 relates that Andrew and Peter were fishing, plying their trade when called, and James and John were mending nets with their father. HarperOne. He traveled with Saint Barnabas and Saint Paul on many . Disciples come in two sexes, male and female. Verse Concepts. Matthew is a tax collector, he meets Jesus, he leaves everything and becomes a disciple of Jesus. Scripture refers to the offering of a pair of doves or . Matthew the Apostle was the author of one of the four gospels included in the New Testament of the Bible. When compared to the other gospels, the Gospel of Matthew goes into greater depth and utilizes more frequent references to money.