Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Matthew was probably born in Galilee and was a publican tax collector at Capernaum at the time that Jesus called him. While a tax collector was a rich man, he was no more admired in ancient times than an IRS agent is admired today. The fact that Jesus chose a tax collector as a disciple shows us that he was bringing the Good News not just to the Pharisees and other self-righteous Jews, but also to the rejected people of society. Matthew was one of the twelve Apostles, and the second Gospel is attributed to him. According to Tradition, Matthew preached in Judea and then went to the East and to Ethiopia, where he suffered martyrdom according to the Roman Martyrology.

Matthew, probably the best educated of the Apostles, builds a logical case for Jesus as the Messiah to the Jewish people. In writing this Gospel, he shows a broad knowledge of what we today call the Old Testament. We all need to develop a familiarity with the Scripture if we are to understand the basics of our faith.