Matthew also states that AFTER Jesus was born, that Magi came to Jerusalem, to Herod and asked him "where is he that was born the King of the Jews." The priests Herod then consulted said that the prophecy indicated that Jesus would have been born in Bethlehem. 3 Then two men were there, talking with him. As a result, the majority of the apostles would have been teens when Jesus asked them to join him. Furthermore, Jesus declared that He was the Son of God. However, Jesus accepted and loved this tax collector for who he was, regardless of his background. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. (Matt 11:25). Wait There Were How Many Herods?! (See Acts 11:27 for further information.) No, Matthew wasnt a shady writer in the traditional sense. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Aside from a handful of mentions in the gospels, he's a surprisingly obscure New Testament figure. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. Beyond include Matthew in the list of Apostles and frequently pairing him with St. Outside of the New Testament, the text from theApostolic FatherPapias of Hierapolispreserved by BishopEusebius of Caesarea is significant since it states: So then Matthew authored the Oracles in theHebrew language, and each one interpreted them as he was capable. The Gospel is a collection of stories about Jesus Christ. This is not the word for "baby" ( ) used in Luke 2. Verse Concepts. 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. Its possible that out of respect, friendship, or deference, Matthew used Peters account for consistencys sake. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications 7 (1) (12). Most scholars dont accept this account today. The Beginners Guide to the Bible gives you an overview of what the Bible is, what its for, and what its all about. The Bible states that these two men weren't just . Only one (and its parallels) gives us any substantial details about him. Of course, the news that Jesus imparted would be devastating to Peter and the rest of the disciples. At the time of his call as an Apostle, Peter was living with his wife and his wife's mother. What will happen to Matthew for the rest of his life is undetermined. 00:00 36:02. . He didnt dither, and he didnt even bother to glance back. He was loyal to Jesus and once committed, he never wavered in serving the Lord. This does seem to imply that John was almost certainly less than thirty when he began to follow Jesus. We do have something we dont have, which is the gospels, which demonstrate that Matthew was one of Jesus most compelling instances of the forgiveness God extends to everyone who ask. No other disciples wives are ever mentioned. Jeremiah 23:5-6 He would be David's kingly heir. Jesus and Matthew first met at a tax booth at Capernaum, a city on the edge of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus was preaching. They clearly hadnt passed muster for special Rabbinic training, but having been with Jesus for 3 years, and seeing him alive again, gave them special qualifications: When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus. Therefore, we examine the evidence through the lens of historical context as well as insights drawn from Scripture. Please respond to an article I read which claims that Luke uses Greek idioms and puts them in the mouth of Paul, showing he is making things up. It was not until Antioch, some years after Jesus resurrection, that the term Christianity was coined. Matthew the Apostle was the author of one of the four gospels included in the New Testament of the Bible. According to Matthews Gospel, which was written 3040 years after Jesus resurrection, he was in his 20s when he followed Jesus on earth, implying that Matthew was in his 20s when following Jesus on earth. The Hebrews were subject to the sovereignty of the Roman Empire during their lifetime. Dont we have more patience with their blunders and pride? And as it is said, Jesus' ministry lasted for about 3 to 3 years before he died. In the first few centuries of the church, countless legends sprouted about the apostlesso many that it essentially became its own genre. If Jesus gave him the name Matthew or whether he chose it himself, Matthew is a truncation of the name Mattathias, which meaning gift of Yahweh or simply Gods gift. Mattheus arranged a huge goodbye feast at his home in Capernaum on the same day Jesus persuaded him to follow him. We know that John lived until about AD 96 or 97, which is about 66 years after Jesus died. Jesus encountered Matthew at a tax booth in Capernauma city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. during the Roman-Judean War that one of the revolutionary factions came to identify itself formally as the Zealots. The majority of the disciples were already learning their crafts, as was the case with James and John, who were both apprentices. 64 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 3 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Mt. 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. Aside from a handful of mentions in the gospels, hes a surprisingly obscure New Testament figure. Two, because we find them working in trades at the time Jesus calls them, none of the disciples likely were star students. Because Matthew's original purpose was to prove to his Jewish brethren that Jesus is their Mashiach/Messiah, he included in his Gospel nine proof texts from the Old Testament which Jesus fulfilledMatthew 1:22,23; 2:15; 2:17,18; 2:23; 4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 13:35; 27:9,10. . One of these signs is Walking on water Feeding the 5,000 Matthew's Gospel names no audience for its message other than that which is implied in its Great Commission. These accounts so closely parallel each other that its hard to imagine they arent speaking of the same person. Interestingly, Mark and Luke dont explicitly label the disciple Matthew as a tax collectorwe have to infer that Levi the tax collector (Mark 3:18 and Luke 6:15) is the disciple named Matthew. Matthew is mentioned in Matthew 9:9 and Matthew 10:3 as a tax collector who, while sitting at the "receipt of custom" in Capernaum, was called to follow Jesus. He invited his friends as well so that they may all meet Jesus. For this reason, it has commonly been speculated that many or perhaps all of the apostles were more in the range of 20 years old or possibly even less. Well, no Rabbi would take disciples until age 30, and no disciples would seek out a Rabbi younger than that. 'He should be growing old like me!' . Matthew, however, was the only one of the four Gospel writers who presented Jesus to the Jews as the long-awaited Messiah, customizing his tale to satisfy their questions. They were most certainly teens by this point, as they were able to leave home to follow a rabbi. And despite his position as a religious outsider, Jesus gave him a prominent position within what would eventually become the largest religion in the world. Matthew, whose fathers name was Alphaeus (Mark 2:14), was known by the name Levi before being called by Jesus to follow him. Matthew 8:14 mentions his infirm mother-in-law, who was a sick woman. For example, consider this passage from the prayer as reported by Matthew and Luke: Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. Luke 11:4 (New International Version) (emphasis added) And forgive us our debts, just as we have forgiven our debtors, says the Lord. In 2013, a group portrait of American male teenagers was taken. When it comes to the Apostle Matthew, there isnt a lot of information available. "The evidence from Josephus suggests that it was not until about 68 C.E. We only have speculation to go on. He was born to Joseph and Mary sometime between 6 bce and shortly before the death of Herod the Great (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5) in 4 bce. When he was chosen by Jesus to be one of His apostles, Matthew left this prominent and well-paying profession. He is reported by Luke to still be alive when Jesus was around 12 years old in Luke 2:41-42. Imagine this scene if the brothers were grown men (Matthew 20:20-24)! Matthew 9:9-13 is a Bible verse that describes the life of Jesus. And his clothes became white as light. St. Matthew, also known as St. Matthew the Evangelist, St. Matthew the Apostle, or Levi, (lived in the first centuryce in Palestine; Western feast day September 21, Eastern feast day November 16), was one of the Twelve Apostles ofJesus Christ and the traditional author of the firstSynoptic Gospel (theGospel According to Matthew). He is mentioned just seven times in the whole Bible, if you include parallel verses. (Of course, the ages are approximate.) JESUS CALLS MATTHEW, THE TAX COLLECTOR. He gave lectures near the seaside and from the top of a mountain. In the texts above (Matthew 9:9, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:2728), we discovered that Matt was a tax collector, also known as a publicansomeone who was employed by the Roman government to collect taxes on their behalf. In its place, Matthew began collecting souls for the kingdom of God, rather than tax money, from that point forth. Students (or disciples) were often younger than their teachers in Jewish culture. In Matthew 17, Jesus foreshadowed the events leading up to His own death and resurrection for the second time. The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke all include much of the same materialmiracles, teachings, sayingsand for this reason are similar. Matthew, on the other hand, goes on to describe two further events in which Jesus disclosed these truths to His followers. The wealthier they were, the worse it was considered that they were. John was the son of Zebedee who was also a fisherman in Galilee. They were considered religious outcasts since the manner in which they carried out their profession publicly flouted the Law of Moses. Missionary Teaching Trip to Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by Dr. John Oakes. 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. Matthews death on the cross. Jesus, everyone agrees, was about 30 years old during his ministry, based on Luke's explicit aging in 3:23. The Gospel of Matthew talks about money in more detail and greater frequency than the other gospelssimilar to how the Gospel of Luke, written by Luke the physician, includes greater detail about ailments and uses precise medical terminology. Its a great introduction to the Bible. However, there are a few counter-arguments, with the most important being that the early church claimed John as its own. So why would an eyewitness use an account written by someone who wasnt there? When compared to the other gospels, the Gospel of Matthew goes into greater depth and utilizes more frequent references to money. Matthew was living in the area of Capernaum, a city on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee, when Jesus called him. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all mention him, and he is included in the list of the disciples in the book of Acts. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Higher education consisted of studying under the supervision of a local rabbi for individuals who were intelligent (or affluent). It had been 60 years since Jesus had walked with them. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the traditional author of the firstSynoptic Gospel. 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. One of Christ's 70 disciples and the four evangelists, Saint Mark was born in Cyrene, Libya but his date of birth is unknown. 4, p. 643). 3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. Matthew is regarded as one of the Four Evangelists of the New Testament. We know that a number of them had well-established occupations, such as fisherman (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) or tax collector (James and John) (Matthew). How did Luke know what Jesus said in the garden if the apostles were asleep? His mother was also there for her Jewish religious ritual of Purification or Cleansing. In Jewish tradition, a young man began following a Rabbi between the ages of 12 and 30, and usually when he was less than 20. Despite the fact that there are compelling reasons against his authorship, no alternate author has been identified. When Jesus called Matthew to follow him, he was a tax collector (or "publican")one of the most reviled professions in ancient Judaism. Andrew, Peter, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, worked as fishermen. Lessons in Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by John Oakes Lessons in English and French. You . Matthew the Apostle, according to the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. He left behind the source of his riches; he left his position of security and comfort for traveling, hardship, and eventual martyrdom; he left his old life for a new life with Jesus. Matthew was a tax collector. Additionally, we can assume Jesus' age through the Book of John in which three Passovers are recorded (John 2:13, 6:4, 11:55). In order to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, Matthew obviously wouldve had to live at the same time. I have never heard anyone claim this was the Simon's first encounter with Jesus. When it comes to the Apostle Matthew, theres not much to go on. Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism: Which is the true religion and why? . Pseudepigrapha, or erroneously claimed to be written by a well-known Christian, were common among these mythical narratives, which featured miraculous experiences as well as Gnostic doctrines. There are other ancient Christian and Gnostic writings about Matthew or even claiming to be written by him, some of which appeared centuries after his death (such as the so-called Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew.). Matthew 9:36. But for centuries, the church has claimed it was the Apostle Matthew. 2003. Logos Bible Software 10 review: Do you REALLY need it? Luke 3:23 says that he was about age thirty when he began his ministry. Tax collectors were considered to be the epitome of sin by the Jews. However, scholars say that the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, although later attributed to. 4 (2018): 55161. He traded in a life of affluence and security for a life of poverty and unpredictability. Almost certainly, they were only students of the Rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, who taught them. 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. Joseph's death is not recorded in the Bible. Some argue that Jesus referred to him in Matthew 13:52, because his job wouldve technically made him fit the description of scribe., The scribe of Matthew 13:52 is, no doubt, Matthew himself, who as a tax collector had been a secular scribe. But in the Gospels, Peter is the only disciple recorded to have been married (Matthew 8:14-15). To the Jews, tax collectors were the embodiment of sin. How old were the apostles when they began to follow Jesus? The Names of the 12 Disciples We find the names of the disciples in the Gospel books of; Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19 and Luke 6:13-16. Throughout the first several decades of the church, a plethora of tales concerning the apostles arose, becoming so numerous that it virtually established its own genre. But lets not void Jesus human nature and the nature of his patriarchal cultural. When called by Jesus, Matthew immediately left his tax collection booth and followed the Lord ( Matthew 9:9 ). Both Daniel and Zechariah Ch 9-14 are the product of the Hellenistic era and have no messianic prophecies. Youd have to be completely convinced that Jesus is who He claims to be, that His is the only path to genuine life, and that its definitely worth it to push through the muck and gloom in order to see the beauty. (Lk 24:13-31) He said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Mt 16:16) This man thought Jesus was the Son of God because Jesus told him, "I saw you under the fig tree." (Jn 1:48-50) They . He is also listed among the twelve, but without identification of his background, in Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13. Read An Excerpt . 0:00. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Matthew got up and followed him. Your response? 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. If Peter had children, it would have been wise for the gospel authors not to mention them for their safety. Young boys in Judaism follow a fairly structured scholastic and life route, as seen in this illustration: At five years oldfor the Scripture, at ten years the Mishnah (oral Torah, interpretations) at thirteen for the fulfilling of the commandments, at fifteen the Talmud (making Rabbinic interpretations), at eighteen the bride-chamber, at twenty pursuing a vocation, at thirty for authority (able to teach others). So, in the time of Jesus, almost all Jewish young men were married, and usually by age 18. Lessons via video QuizzesWorksheets Integration into the classroomLesson Plans Study.com is a website that I would strongly recommend to my colleagues. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. May we purposefully prepare ourselves to answer the call for His glory and our delight, as we discover that there is abundant grace and restoration for all of us as we lean into the brokenness and muck that lies before us. So that would make most of the apostles teenagers when Jesus called them to follow him. He gave up the delights of this world in exchange for the assurance of eternal life. Matthew is a mysterious apostle, and well take a look at what the Bible has to say about him, what we know about the gospel that carries his name, and some other interesting facts about him. Site design and hosting by . 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