Matthew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, a former tax collector who left everything to follow Christ.
Also known as Levi, he is traditionally recognized as the author of the Gospel that bears his name.
His call illustrates the power of Jesus to transform a despised outsider into a devoted disciple and inspired writer.
Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus as the long-promised Messiah and King, the fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture.
Matthew (also called Levi) was sitting at the tax booth when Jesus passed by and said, “Follow me.” Immediately he rose, left everything, and followed Him. Tax collectors were widely regarded as traitors and sinners, yet Jesus called this man into the inner circle of the Twelve. Matthew then hosted a great feast for Jesus in his house, inviting many tax collectors and sinners so they too might meet the Savior. The religious leaders objected, but Jesus declared that He came not to call the righteous but sinners. Matthew is listed among the apostles in all four New Testament lists. Early church tradition unanimously ascribes the first Gospel to him. That Gospel carefully shows Jesus as the Son of David and Son of Abraham, the King who fulfills the Law and the Prophets, and the One who commissions His disciples to make disciples of all nations.
- Matthew was a tax collector — a profession despised by his fellow Jews — yet Jesus called him without hesitation.
- His immediate response models the decisive obedience of true discipleship.
- He used his home and relationships to bring other outsiders to Jesus.
- As one of the Twelve, he was an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection.
- Tradition identifies him as the author of the Gospel of Matthew, which emphasizes Jesus as Messiah and King.
- His life demonstrates that no past is beyond the reach of Christ’s call and transforming grace.
- The Gospel that bears his name ends with the Great Commission, reflecting the heart of a disciple who left everything to follow Jesus and then helped others do the same.
¶ Key Aspects of Matthew’s Life and Ministry
- Former Tax Collector – Known as Levi, working at the tax booth when Jesus called him.
- Immediate Obedience – Rose, left everything, and followed Jesus without delay.
- Hospitality for the Gospel – Hosted a feast so that fellow tax collectors and sinners could meet Christ.
- Apostle – Numbered among the Twelve and sent out by Jesus.
- Eyewitness – Present for the teaching, miracles, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
- Gospel Writer – Traditionally the author of the first Gospel, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture and the King of the Jews.
- Transformed Life – From collector of Roman taxes to collector of souls for the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 9:9 – “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.”
- Mark 2:14 – “And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.”
- Luke 5:27-28 – “After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.”
- Matthew 9:10-13 – “And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples… ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick… For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
- Luke 5:29-32 – Levi made a great feast in his house for Jesus, with a large company of tax collectors and others.
- Matthew 10:3 – “…Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus…”
- Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13 – Matthew listed among the twelve apostles.
- Matthew 1:1 – “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
- Matthew 5–7 – The Sermon on the Mount, a central block of Jesus’ teaching recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.
- Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
- Matthew 9:36-38 – Jesus’ compassion for the crowds and the call for laborers in the harvest.
- Matthew 13 – The kingdom parables, a major emphasis in Matthew’s Gospel.
- Matthew 16:16-18 – Peter’s confession and Jesus’ promise to build His church.
- Matthew 27:57-60; 28:1-10 – The burial and resurrection of Jesus, recorded by the apostle.
Matthew the tax collector became Matthew the apostle and Gospel writer. The man who once sat at a toll booth collecting for Rome rose at a single word from Jesus and left everything behind. He then opened his home so that other outsiders could meet the Savior who had just called him. His story still speaks: no occupation, no reputation, and no past is beyond the reach of Christ’s call. The same Jesus who said “Follow me” to Matthew still calls people today. When He calls, the only right response is to rise, leave what must be left, and follow Him. And like Matthew, those who have been found are sent to help others find Him too.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.