People of the Bible
Who Was Matthew in the Bible?
Matthew was a despised tax collector whom Jesus called to follow Him, who left his booth at once and later wrote the Gospel that bears his name.
Matthew, also called Levi, collected taxes for Rome, a job that made him rich and hated. Jesus walked by, said simply, follow me, and Matthew rose and left it all, then threw a feast so his fellow outcasts could meet the Lord.
When the religious leaders sneered that Jesus ate with sinners, Jesus answered that He came to call not the righteous but sinners. Matthew, the forgiven tax man, went on to write the Gospel that shows Jesus as the promised King of Israel.
Key verses
“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.”Matthew 9:9, King James Version
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”Mark 2:17, King James Version
A key moment
At his tax booth, the moment Jesus says follow me, Matthew stands up, walks away from his money, and gives a banquet to introduce his old friends to the Lord.
What we learn
We learn that no reputation is too stained for Jesus to call, and that a real encounter with Him makes us want to bring others to His table.
How Matthew points to Jesus
Matthew's Gospel is dedicated to showing that Jesus is the King the prophets promised. That Jesus called a hated tax collector reveals His heart: He came to seek and save sinners, which is very good news for all of us.
Common questions
Where is Matthew in the Bible?
The Gospels, especially Matthew 9, with the Gospel of Matthew.
What can we learn from Matthew?
We learn that no reputation is too stained for Jesus to call, and that a real encounter with Him makes us want to bring others to His table.
The same God who met Matthew is near to you today. Step inside The Living Bread to read the Scriptures, pray, and walk with the family of God.