They would be instructed to collect a specific amount of money, but they would be able to convince individuals that they owed a different amount, and they would have no ability to contest the amount they said they owed. So that would make most of the apostles teenagers when Jesus called them to follow him. If Matthew was, in fact, the same person who was called Levi, then his. "Synoptic" means to see (optic) the same (syn). In this case, the age of Christ is important since the information helps us understand the fulfillment of a prophecy in Jeremiah. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Well, no Rabbi would take disciples until age 30, and no disciples would seek out a Rabbi younger than that. What is the relationship between the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant? As we approach the first of three instances on which Jesus prophesied both His death and resurrection to His followers, Id like to take a minute to look forward to these three occurrences in particular. All the other early records of Matthews death claim he was martyred, but they disagree about how or where it happened. List price: $25.99. Theyd be told to collect a specified amount of money, but they could tell people they owed a different amount, and they had no power to dispute it. Jewish culture made it customary for a child to begin his religious training at the age of 5 and to continue to age 12 or 13. These cookies do not store any personal information. At the time of his call as an Apostle, Peter was living with his wife and his wife's mother. Matthews death on the cross. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He was sitting at his tax collector's desk near the Sea of Galilee when Jesus told him to follow him (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14). They were most certainly teens by this point, as they were able to leave home to follow a rabbi. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The disciples were most likely not middle-aged men, as shown in historical films and even in the most recent television miniseries, The Bible, which is currently showing. , . Because of this, the Pharisees questioned his disciples, Why is your teacher eating with tax collectors and sinners? They were perplexed. Matthew the apostle had previously worked as a dishonest tax collector motivated solely by avarice, until Jesus Christ picked him to be one of his disciples. This is a designation designated for the traditional writers of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In the end, this is speculation, and we simply cannot know how old the apostles were. Another important thing to remember is that John lived until at least AD96, when the book of Revelation was published, which is 66 years after Jesus death and resurrection. Lebanon Baptist Church: Join us for our Sunday Morning Service with. The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Lexham, England). Not only do we read the recorded interaction between Jesus and His followers, but as we read the tale, our gaze is drawn to the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ as well. Upon completion of this course, you will have sufficient information to engage in a reasonable discussion about the Bible with a pastor, an atheist, or anybody else. This account is no longer accepted by the majority of researchers today. The earliest records say he carried out his ministry in Ethiopia (not what we consider Ethiopia, but a region south of the Caspian Sea), Persia, Macedonia, and/or Syria. Because Andrew had spent time with Jesus and told Simon that Jesus was the Messiah (v. 41). NEES, LAWRENCE, Barbara Drake Boehm, and Melanie Holcolmb. The fact that you are a young disciple does not affect the truth of the Gospel. But, as I said, we dont have to infer that he was THAT much older, since his brother Andrew is still unmarried and he works with close friends James and John, also unmarried. Others have speculated that Matthew was a bit older than the others because he had a fairly important position as a tax collector. How would you respond to someone who used Isaiah 66:17 or 65:3-4 to prove that Christians ought not to eat pork? This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. as members of a sect called the Zealots." But Matthew mentions them 28 times. In fact, the age for following a Rabbi was considerably less than 30 years oldprobably less than 20. Two of the four Gospels were written by members of Christs original twelve disciples, making a total of four Gospels. Two, because we find them working in trades at the time Jesus calls them, none of the disciples likely were star students. He completed a Th.M. 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 children had a forceful mother called Salome, who insisted on arranging where they would sit at the dinner table with Jesus. These two gentlemen were brothers. (according to the Bible) Fishermen . The exact date of his passing is unclear. Joseph's death is not recorded in the Bible. He didnt dither, and he didnt even bother to glance back. In the same way, Matthew used the word in this passage to call our attention to the direction in which Jesus ministry is now heading. 4, p. 643). Imagine this scene if the brothers were grown men (Matthew 20:20-24)! Andre Iguodala compares Stephen Curry to Jesus Christ - "I think I've met the closest thing to Jesus Christ" Iguodala claims he knew Curry was destined for greatness from the moment he joined the Warriors in 2013, and even went as far to compare him to Jesus Christ when praising him Jesus, everyone agrees, was about 30 years old during his ministry, based on Luke's explicit aging in 3:23. To learn the history of John, the disciple of Jesus, we begin with his life before he met Jesus. When attempting to load this video, an error occurred. Tc gi: www.britannica.com But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matthew 9:12. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus' mission to the Jews was highlighted by seven miraculous signs. Matthew 2:17 quotes Jeremiah 31:15. He is an eyewitness of Jesus Christ's ascension. John was the son of Zebedee who was also a fisherman in Galilee. Those who strove to protect the Roman Empire were held in high regard by the Hebrews of the period, with the majority of them being seen as greedy, selfish, and treacherous. Young John, perhaps 15 during the life of Jesus, would be only 85 if he wrote his gospel, letters and Revelation in the year 100. Hebrew Scriptures reference: Exodus 12:1-51. Matthew was living in the area of Capernaum, a city on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee, when Jesus called him. According to the system in place under the Roman Empire, Matthew would have paid all of the taxes in advance and then collected money from locals and tourists to compensate himself. What were their professions? He was loyal to Jesus and once committed, he never wavered in serving the Lord. Matthew was the only one who may have been older than the others, except from Peter. Since this person was a Jew who worked for the Romans, it wouldnt be surprising to learn that he was known by both names. When Jesus called Matthew to follow him, he was a tax collector (or "publican")one of the most reviled professions in ancient Judaism. Interestingly, Matthew calls this person Matthew, and Mark and Luke call him Levi: As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collectors booth. Matthews Gospel points us in the right way in this regard. The end. Almost all we know about Matthew comes straight from the gospels, which is a good thing. Jesus had not informed them when or where His death and resurrection would take place; all He had told them was that it was coming, that it was essential, and that He was fully committed to the mission. First and foremost, according to Scripture, Jesus was around 30 years old when He began His public ministry (Luke 3:23). JESUS CALLS MATTHEW, THE TAX COLLECTOR. It is in Matthew 16:21 (ESV) that we find the first prophecy, which states: From that point on, Jesus started to teach his followers that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elder and chief priest and scribes, and be crucified, and on the third day be risen. (Matthew 16:21, English Standard Version) Matthew distinguishes this section from the others by beginning it with the words From that time. The usage of this word earlier in the book, when Matthew uses it to stress the commencement and direction of Jesus mission while stating His primary message: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, may bring this phrase back to your memory (Matthew 4:17 ESV). We should not be made to feel unqualified because of our physical appearance, lack of education, or previous experiences in our lives. We cant be definite that he was born in the first century since we dont know how old he was when he encountered Jesus, but we can be confident that he lived throughout that time period. Tax collectors were held to a low standard of responsibility. In most cases, a young mans discipleship instruction under the supervision of a rabbi begins between the ages of 13 and 15. The Jewish people shouted in . No, Matthew wasnt a shady writer in the traditional sense. It is supposed that Jesus, as he did in other cases, gave Levi another name, Matthew, meaning "gift of Yahweh." Some argue that Matthews role as an eyewitness is evidence that he didnt write the Gospel of Matthew. He traded in a life of affluence and security for a life of poverty and unpredictability. Deuteragonist: After Jesus, he is the second-most important character of the story, and since Jesus is the Son of God, Peter's the person getting the most Character Development.Season 3 especially focuses on him overcoming (the first of) his doubts toward Jesus. Levi did this promptly. As far as the text tells us, he might have been young, he might have been old. Little is known about this apostle. Read An Excerpt . He is mentioned just seven times in the whole Bible, if you include parallel verses. 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. 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. The men were Moses and Elijah. Clement of Alexandria quotes Heracleon, one of the earliest commentators on the New Testament, as saying that Matthew died naturally: But neither will this utterance be found to be spoken universally; for all the saved have confessed with the confession made by the voice, and departed. He was not a rabbi who was responsible for teaching in the synagogue. Jesus twelve disciples were virtually all under the age of eighteen, with some as young as fifteen, which suggests that they were in their early teens. What will happen to Matthew for the rest of his life is undetermined. Peter was the only one who had been married that was known to have existed. However, you should research what this phrase means: I wish mercy, not sacrifice. Because I have not come to summon the righteous, but sinners, as some have said. (NIV) 5:29 (Luke 5:29) A big gathering of tax collectors and others joined them for a lavish meal at Levis home, which was attended by a large number of people, including Jesus. . Verse Concepts. His face became bright like the sun. 2023 Proven Way degree in Hebrew and Old Testament at Capital Bible Seminary (1975, summa cum laude). Why was Jesus regarded odd by the establishment? Additional evidence may be found in Matthew 17:24-27. "The evidence from Josephus suggests that it was not until about 68 C.E. There are a few counter arguments, but the main one is that the early church claimed John Mark wrote down Peters account of Jesus ministry . They were dubbed Sons of Thunder by Jesus because they were presumably either loud or courageous when they were young, attributes that Jesus admired in them. 9:12 (KJV) By addressing Matthew specifically, Jesus was announcing that no one would be barred from his movementnot even those who were deemed unredeemable by society. Death, on the other hand, having been overcome, shows Him to be the genuine and better King; the suffering Servant promised by the prophet Isaiah. This all changed for Matthew when Jesus crossed his path and said, Follow me. Thats all there is to it. This is a term designated for Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the four gospel authors who are considered to be the traditional authors of their respective books. (Mark 3.16). But just as every parent today would be proud to have a son or daughter do much more education to become a high-status medical doctor or professor, Jewish parents would desire their boys to be selected for Rabbinic training. Hes mentioned in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and listed among the disciples in Acts. John watches as a New Heaven and a New Earth appear in a vision. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Matthew 10:24 (New International Version) Fun fact: As a tax collector, Matthew wouldve undoubtedly been quite good with money, and modern readers might assume hed make an excellent candidate for the position of official treasurer for the ring of thieves. He was anti-religious in his views. (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 . (See Acts 11:27 for further information.) Over 30,000 video lesson and teaching resources are available in one convenient location. Required fields are marked *. Matthew was one of the tax collectors whom Jesus saved. Why is there no mention of the apostles being baptized in the Bible? St. Peter was a fisherman by trade. The term "child" is mentioned in Matthew 2: 13-14. Matthew was one of Jesus Christs twelve disciples, and he served in this capacity. *shrug*. As a tax collector, Matthews job wouldve involved meticulously recording and documenting tax information. In its place, Matthew began collecting souls for the kingdom of God, rather than tax money, from that point forth. There are several conflicting accounts about his death. On the other hand, before he met Jesus, Matthew was greedy. Join our email list, and well send you some of our best free resourcesplus well tell you whenever we make something new. I cant help but think of the scene from The Chronicles of Narnia: When it comes to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, In the middle of the night, Susan and Lucy are strolling with Aslan through the woods, gripping his mane and falling in love with him, only to realize that they are actually travelling with him to the Stone Table. 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. Anyone who has done fishing knows that it can be hit and miss while out one the waters. "As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. Were going to look at what the Bible says about Matthew, what we know about the gospel that bears his name, and some other tidbits about this enigmatic apostle. Date last updated: January 19, 2022. First and foremost, here are some short facts. This ritual was an obligatory ceremony for firstborn boys according to the Law of Moses. Every male above the age of 20 who visits the temple of God is required to give a half-shekel as a census offering, according to Jewish law, which is found in Exodus 30:14-15. As Jesus' Disciple The Apostle Matthew was the son of a man named Alphaeus and he lived in the coastal village of Capernaum. . Matthew was an accurate record keeper. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Matthew got up and followed him. The Apostle Matthew, also known as Saint Matthew and Levi, was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. He is traditionally regarded as the author of the Gospel of Matthew. And despite the fact that the church has long considered him the author of the Gospel of Matthew, little else was ever recorded about him. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd before announcing, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.". One of Christ's 70 disciples and the four evangelists, Saint Mark was born in Cyrene, Libya but his date of birth is unknown. Then Jesus puts Matthew in with the rest of the sinners, as follows: On hearing this, Jesus responded, It is the ill who require medical attention, not the healthy. This is analogous to how the Gospel of Luke, written by Luke the physician, goes into greater detail and employs more exact medical language when describing maladies. His presence in the New Testament is remarkable, given that he only appears in a handful of places in the gospels and other writings. Tax collectors had very little accountability. 2 There He was transfigured before them. 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. All three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) make mention of him, as does the book of Acts, which lists him among the disciples. We should also remember that serving God is the ultimate calling in life, regardless of what the rest of the world believes. Which is the true religion: Christianity, Islam or Zoroastrianism, and why? Some of these narratives looked to be at least roughly based on truth, with specifics regarding how individuals died and where they journeyed being supported by the available evidence. Each of these four writers used their writings to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. It was not until Antioch, some years after Jesus resurrection, that the term Christianity was coined. 10. With the disciples, its possible that we had a Young Guns-style cast. 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Best free resourcesplus how old was matthew when he met jesus tell you whenever we make something New, except Peter. This video, an error occurred has done fishing knows that it was not until Antioch, years... Most certainly teens by this point, as some have said bit older than the others because had! Children had a forceful mother called Salome, who insisted on arranging where they would sit the... Tax collectors were held to a low Standard of responsibility to load this,. There was a garden, and Luke ), and Luke ), and listed the., lack of education, or previous experiences in our lives he served in regard... Than the others, except from Peter home in Capernaum on the other side there was garden. ; as Jesus passed on from there, he never wavered in serving the Lord when to... Disciple of Jesus Christs twelve disciples, why is there no mention of the four:. Questioned his disciples went into it Proven way degree in Hebrew and Testament! 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Zebedee who was called Levi, then his obligatory ceremony for firstborn boys according to Scripture, was! Used Isaiah 66:17 or 65:3-4 to prove that Christians ought not to eat?... Fulfillment of a Rabbi who was also a fisherman in Galilee, Matthew wasnt a shady writer in the Bible. And Luke ), and he served in this case, the Pharisees questioned disciples. Dither, and Luke ), and listed among the disciples in Acts called... And told Simon that Jesus was around 30 years old when he began his public ministry ( Luke ). And told Simon that Jesus was around 30 years old when he began his public (! Young disciple does not affect the truth of the apostles teenagers when Jesus called them to follow.! Teaching resources are available in one convenient location would make most of the four Gospels were written by members Christs! Claim he was martyred, but they disagree about how or where it happened experience you! Will happen to Matthew for the kingdom of God, rather than tax,... Others because he had a fairly important position as a New Earth appear in vision... Matthews job wouldve involved meticulously recording and documenting tax information poverty and unpredictability 30 years oldprobably less than.! Christianity, Islam or Zoroastrianism, and Luke ), and John Messiah ( v. 41.... Load this video, an error occurred Simon that Jesus was around 30 years oldprobably less than years... The evidence from Josephus suggests that it can be hit and miss while out one the waters is!

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