Matthew
Matthew (c. AD 1–80), also known as Levi, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the author of the Gospel of Matthew. His life is a powerful testimony to God’s grace, demonstrating how Christ calls ordinary—and often despised—people to extraordinary service in His kingdom.
Before following Jesus, Matthew worked as a tax collector in Capernaum. Tax collectors were among the most disliked people in Jewish society because they worked for the Roman government and were often associated with dishonesty and greed. As a result, Matthew was viewed as a traitor by many of his fellow Jews.
Everything changed when Jesus passed by Matthew’s tax booth and simply said, “Follow me.” In one of the most remarkable acts of discipleship recorded in the Gospels, Matthew immediately left behind his profitable career and followed Christ. Soon afterward, he hosted a large banquet and invited fellow tax collectors and sinners to meet Jesus. While religious leaders criticized Christ for associating with such people, Jesus declared that He had come to call sinners to repentance.
Matthew’s greatest contribution was the Gospel that bears his name. Written with a particular emphasis on demonstrating that Jesus is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, it connects the story of Christ to God’s covenant promises and contains some of the most beloved teachings in Scripture, including the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew later carried the gospel to regions beyond Judea and remained faithful to Christ until the end of his life. Tradition is uncertain of how he died. Some say he was stabbed or beheaded in either Ethiopia or Persia.
Matthew’s story reminds us that no past is beyond God’s grace and that Christ delights in transforming sinners into servants who proclaim His glory.