Matthew (who was also called Levi) would have been an outcast in Jewish society. While he was a Jew, he was "in league" with the Roman government as a tax collector in his hometown of Capernaum. Tax collectors were known to be greedy and frequently profited by over collecting from their fellow Jewish citizens. Matthew was one of the last people that a respectable Jewish rabbi would have called as a disciple, but Jesus wasn't typical now was he? 

And neither was Matthew. While he might have been a "typical tax collector (publican) by Rome's standards, Matthew chose to immediately follow Jesus when the Lord called him. He walked away from his whole life in a single moment - what faith!

Matthew might have been very good with money, but he was also probably very skilled at note taking - a requirement for tax collectors at the time. Biblical scholars believe it's likely that Matthew was capable of taking a type of shorthand that allowed him to record Jesus word-for-word as he taught. 

As a Jew, Matthew quotes the Old Testament more than any other New Testament writer, showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of a multitude of Old Testament prophecies. While he quotes the O.T. frequently, he also provides an introduction to the core teachings of Christianity and his Gospel positions Jesus as the promised Messiah.

His writing style is orderly and concise and was intended for a Jewish audience, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees who refused to see Jesus for who he was, the long awaited Messiah. Matthew is also the only writer who uses the term "kingdom of heaven." The other writers use "kingdom of God." These two terms are synonymous, meaning, they are the same thing.

Matthew, like all of the original disciples, except for John (and Judas) would eventually give his life as a martyr, never renouncing his faith in Jesus and what he knew to be true.

A tax collector from CAPERNAUM

Meet Matthew