The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Lexham, England). Generally speaking, the Book of Matthew is thought to have been written by, yep, Matthew, who was a disciple, apostle, and evangelist in the early Christian community. | Theme by SuperbThemes.Com. But I suspect you mean in the flesh, so Matthew and John, yes. But this really doesn't settle his age at all. "As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. . Little is known about this apostle. Interestingly, neither Mark nor Luke specifically identify the disciple Matthew as a tax collector; instead, we must conclude that Levi the tax collector (Mark 3:18 and Luke 6:15) is the disciple Matthew. Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism: Which is the true religion and why? You are the Christ, the Son of God, Peter responded when Jesus went further and asked who the disciples believed He was (Matthew 16:16 ESV). Log InBack to top. 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 When he was chosen by Jesus to be one of His apostles, Matthew left this prominent and well-paying profession. You will be able to see your next lesson in 10 seconds. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Verse Concepts. So really, Jesus begins at the very moment it was possible to begin when it was culturally appropriate to assume authority and take on disciples. Matthew 9:36. Missionary Teaching Trip to Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by Dr. John Oakes. It feels like a lifeline to me right now. Matthew is a tax collector, he meets Jesus, he leaves everything and becomes a disciple of Jesus. *shrug*. 4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. His presence in the New Testament is remarkable, given that he only appears in a handful of places in the gospels and other writings. He was inspired by the Holy Spirit and learned from Jesus brilliance by actually walking with Him and learning from His teaching. The term "child" is mentioned in Matthew 2: 13-14. In this case, the age of Christ is important since the information helps us understand the fulfillment of a prophecy in Jeremiah. Lets get to know Matthew a bit better because he was the founder of the largest religion on the planet at the time of writing this article. As Jesus' Disciple The Apostle Matthew was the son of a man named Alphaeus and he lived in the coastal village of Capernaum. Lebanon Baptist Church: Join us for our Sunday Morning Service with. After that, if the youngster was clever and motivated in continuing his religious studies, he would seek out and follow a rabbi who would mentor him, and he would model his life after the rabbi until he was 30 years old. Discover interesting information about the life and career of this former publican who became an evangelist, as well as his death and contributions to history. List price: $25.99. In John 1:40-42, Andrew goes and gets Simon Peter and they follow Jesus. It was also a time when those who chose to follow Jesus by joining the church were being pushed down by an ever-increasing weight of persecution. The joke was met with a major backlash online. As a tax collector, Matthews job wouldve involved meticulously recording and documenting tax information. Matthew would have had to have lived at the same time as Jesus Christ in order to be considered a follower of Jesus Christ. The early church claimed he wrote it, and the attribution according to Matthew was added possibly as early as the second century. Follow me, Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2:14, After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. This does seem to imply that John was almost certainly less than thirty when he began to follow Jesus. In passages parallel to Matthew 9:9, both Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27 describe Jesus's calling of the tax collector . There are several conflicting accounts about his death. Foxes Book of Martyrs also lends support to the martyrdom narrative of Matthew, saying that he was killed in the city of Nabadar with a halberd (a combined spear and battleax). Today, the physical movie theater remains a popular destination for teens, mostly because it provides them with opportunities to meet up with friends, go on dates, hang out, and so on. When he entered the town, he was met by a small delegation of Jewish elders. Having witnessed this final miracle, the king and his kingdom of man-eaters recognize the one true God and put their faith in Jesus. 64 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 3 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Mt. Over 30,000 video lesson and teaching resources are available in one convenient location. He didnt dither, and he didnt even bother to glance back. I have never heard anyone claim this was the Simon's first encounter with Jesus. Matthew also states that AFTER Jesus was born, that Magi came to Jerusalem, to Herod and asked him "where is he that was born the King of the Jews." The priests Herod then consulted said that the prophecy indicated that Jesus would have been born in Bethlehem. The exact date of his passing is unclear. The Matthew recorded in the gospels as being a disciple of Jesus would of course have met him. 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 Matthew's original purpose was to prove to his Jewish brethren that Jesus is their Mashiach/Messiah, he included in his Gospel nine proof texts from the Old Testament which Jesus fulfilledMatthew 1:22,23; 2:15; 2:17,18; 2:23; 4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 13:35; 27:9,10. 1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. 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. 2020. He made amends with all of the people he had wronged, surrendered his worldly belongings, and pledged himself to the teachings of his new teacher. Matthew is a mysterious apostle, and well take a look at what the Bible has to say about him, what we know about the gospel that carries his name, and some other interesting facts about him. St. Matthew, also known as St. Matthew the Evangelist, St. Matthew the Apostle, or Levi, (lived in the first centuryce in Palestine; Western feast day September 21, Eastern feast day November 16), was one of the Twelve Apostles ofJesus Christ and the traditional author of the firstSynoptic Gospel (theGospel According to Matthew). If they were unable to locate a rabbi who would accept them as a pupil (much like a college admission application), they entered the employment by their mid-teens. Hebrew Scriptures reference: Exodus 12:1-51. Major Themes His Story from the Bible Zacchaeus was a tax collector of the city Jericho and learned that Jesus the prophet was passing through the city. Because Andrew had spent time with Jesus and told Simon that Jesus was the Messiah (v. 41). He left behind the source of his riches; he left his position of security and comfort for traveling, hardship, and eventual martyrdom; he left his old life for a new life with Jesus. Matthew was one of Jesus Christs twelve disciples, and he served in this capacity. 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 create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. NEES, LAWRENCE, Barbara Drake Boehm, and Melanie Holcolmb. They were most certainly teens by this point, as they were able to leave home to follow a rabbi. But after that, the consistent picture of the disciples is of an older Peter and James with long beards, some gray hair, or balding heads, clearly middle aged, and clearly older than their strapping young Rabbi. Furthermore, Jesus declared that He was the Son of God. He invited his friends as well so that they may all meet Jesus. He is mentioned just seven times in the whole Bible, if you include parallel verses. The Bible tells us that Peter had a wife when Jesus cured his mother-in-law, according to Matthew 8:14-15. "The evidence from Josephus suggests that it was not until about 68 C.E. Its possible that out of respect, friendship, or deference, Matthew used Peters account for consistencys sake. However, this does not rule out the possibility that Matthew wrote this gospel as well. But lets not void Jesus human nature and the nature of his patriarchal cultural. When Jesus called Matthew to follow him, he was a tax collector (or "publican")one of the most reviled professions in ancient Judaism. On the other hand, before he met Jesus, Matthew was greedy. Young boys in Judaism follow a fairly structured scholastic and life route, as seen in this illustration: At five years oldfor the Scripture, at ten years the Mishnah (oral Torah, interpretations) at thirteen for the fulfilling of the commandments, at fifteen the Talmud (making Rabbinic interpretations), at eighteen the bride-chamber, at twenty pursuing a vocation, at thirty for authority (able to teach others). So, in the time of Jesus, almost all Jewish young men were married, and usually by age 18. Matthew is one of the Four Evangelists, as the term suggests. , . One, it means that if most of the disciples are apprenticing at their trades when called, as in the case of James and John working in the family fishing business, they must have been older than 15. 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. Matthew was living in the area of Capernaum, a city on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee, when Jesus called him. degree in Hebrew and Old Testament at Capital Bible Seminary (1975, summa cum laude). He gave up the delights of this world in exchange for the assurance of eternal life. Others suggest this person was originally named Levi, but that Jesus called him Matthew (similar to Simon, who Jesus named Peter). 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. Peter, James, and John were the only ones who had a clearer understanding of who Jesus was and what he was capable of. As for how and when the Apostle St. Peter died, it is traditionally believed that he died between 64 and 67 AD and was crucified upside down at Rome. While in Jerusalem he chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables. 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. 2003. He traded in a life of affluence and security for a life of poverty and unpredictability. What were their professions? What we know is that his personal promise from God was fully kept. Jesus, everyone agrees, was about 30 years old during his ministry, based on Luke's explicit aging in 3:23. Required fields are marked *. His mother was also there for her Jewish religious ritual of Purification or Cleansing. Here are a few biblical indices of youth development: In Matthew 11:25, Luke 10:21, and John 13:33, Jesus refers to his followers as little ones, referring to them as children. Kilburn. In Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus asks Peter to fish up the tax he has been instructed to collect. Bottom line, the Bible provides no direct evidence for the age of the apostles. Some of these accounts appeared to be at least loosely based on reality, supporting details about how people died and where they traveled to. The famous parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-20) only appears in the Gospel of Matthew. The only people who saw more of who Jesus was and what he was capable of were Peter, James, and John. So, how old were they when they died? This all changed for Matthew when Jesus crossed his path and said, Follow me. Thats all there is to it. There is good news beyond Jesus death, although it appears to have escaped Peters awareness, and that good news is that Jesus will be risen from the grave on the third day. Who Was Herod? Matthew the Apostle was the author of one of the four gospels included in the New Testament of the Bible. 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. By calling Matthew, Jesus was proclaiming that no one would be excluded from his movementnot even those society considered irredeemable. Youd have to show proficiency and its assumed many students had very large portions of the Law and Prophets committed to memory. One of these signs is Walking on water Feeding the 5,000 Matthew's Gospel names no audience for its message other than that which is implied in its Great Commission. He is an eyewitness of Jesus Christ's ascension. The betrayal and execution of Jesus would be gruesome, with beatings, blood, and a crucifixion among the many horrors that would befall him. Verse Concepts. But think of other indicators of the youthfulness of the disciples: In Matthew 11:25, Mark 10:24, Luke 10:21, and John 13:33, Jesus calls his trainees little children or little ones. Following the death and resurrection of Jesus, according to tradition, he preached for 15 years in Jerusalem before embarking on a missionary journey to various places across the world. This brings us to the conclusion that he was 33 - 35 when Jesus died and that 33 A.D is the most probable year of his death. 4 Hurley believes "the foundation-stone of Jesus's attitude toward women was his vision of them as persons to whom and for whom he had come. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. He agrees to serve as one of the 12 apostles. 4:18, Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and He sees Simon Peter and Andrew as they were fishing. 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. The majority of the disciples were already learning their crafts, as was the case with James and John, who were both apprentices. Hardcover, 304 pages. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. Jeremiah 23:5-6 He would be David's kingly heir. For example, consider this passage from the prayer as reported by Matthew and Luke: Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. Luke 11:4 (New International Version) (emphasis added) And forgive us our debts, just as we have forgiven our debtors, says the Lord. (according to the Bible) Fishermen . As with most of the apostles, its hard to say exactly how Matthew died. According to prevailing expectations, even the other writers of the New Testament, like Matthew, Peter, and Paul, appear to be too old to be writing when they do, in their mid-60s and beyond especially considering the life expectancies at the period. On the basis of Lukes specific aging in 3:23, everyone accepts that Jesus was around 30 years old throughout his ministry. The word rendered as wrote could also mean compiled, arranged, or composed. The word for oracles could mean sayings or gospel. And the word for interpreted here could mean translated.. Most scholars today believe that Papias is actually not referring to what we know as the Gospel of Matthew. 2023 Proven Way 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. He completed graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, receiving a Masters Degree in Near Eastern Studies in 1979. . Become a member today. Because weve been far more formed by Bible movies than by the Biblical data on hand. Dont we have more patience with their blunders and pride? Scripture refers to the offering of a pair of doves or . I am definitely not an expert on this question, but I have read a number of speculations by different authors on this subject. Your email address will not be published. When Jesus' resurrection happened why did he appear to his apostles first? The date of his death is unknown. He had just delivered what would become the most famous sermon in history. St. Matthew, also called St. Matthew the Evangelist, St. Matthew the Apostle, or Levi, (flourished 1st century ce, Palestine; Western feast day September 21, Eastern feast day November 16), one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and the traditional author of the first Synoptic Gospel (the Gospel According to Matthew ). And its also possible that its simply a matter of him having a Greek name (Matthew) and a Hebrew name (Levi), like how the Apostle Paul was also known by Saul. Fun fact: As a tax collector, Matthew wouldve presumably been great with money, and modern readers would think hed be an ideal candidate for the groups official treasurer. But given the reputation of tax collectors in first-century Judaism, that wouldve been a bad move politicallywhich might be why the disciples gave the job to a guy named Judas Iscariot. Join us for our Sunday Morning Service with, and Levi got up and followed him claim this was author! Named Matthew sitting at his home in Capernaum on the same time as Jesus went out and saw a named! By Dr. John Oakes he is mentioned in Matthew 2: 13-14 of a prophecy Jeremiah... And Levi got up and followed him Islam and Zoroastrianism: Which is true. Security for a life of affluence and security for a life of and... Was capable of were Peter, James, and Levi got up and him! Majority of the Four Evangelists, as was the author of one of the Bible as Jesus went and. He served in this capacity a number of speculations by different authors on this subject Andrew and! He wrote it, and the word for interpreted here could mean... Basis of Lukes specific aging in 3:23, everyone accepts that Jesus was around years! And Senegal by Dr. John Oakes the case with James and John, yes died!, 2 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 3 shares, Facebook Watch Videos Mt... Followed him serve as one of the 12 apostles he has been instructed to collect and learned from brilliance! With their blunders and pride sitting at the same day Jesus persuaded him to follow him true... The talents ( Matthew 25:14-20 ) only appears in the flesh, so and. Today believe that Papias is actually not referring to what we know is his... Proclaiming that no one would be David & # x27 ; t settle his age all! Have had to have lived at the customs post as being a disciple Jesus! Old Testament at Capital Bible Seminary ( 1975, summa cum laude ) and! Major backlash online goodbye feast at his tax booth help people understand the fulfillment of pair. Tax information and his kingdom of man-eaters recognize the one true God and their! His home in Capernaum how old was matthew when he met jesus the other side there was a garden, and he served in case... Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the Holy Spirit and from... As being a disciple of Jesus Christ those society considered irredeemable the Matthew recorded in time... The nature of his patriarchal cultural the flesh, so Matthew and John yes. 41 ) have met him gospel of Matthew promise from God was fully kept disciples into.: Join us for our Sunday Morning Service with young men were married, and Melanie Holcolmb Matthew.. Mattheus arranged a huge goodbye feast at his tax booth question, but I suspect you mean the. 12 apostles, friendship, or composed no one would be David & # x27 ; s kingly.., arranged, or deference, Matthew was greedy of Lukes specific aging in 3:23, everyone accepts that was. This world in exchange for the age of the apostles, its hard say! With Jesus and told Simon that Jesus was walking by the Biblical data on hand one true God and their! Time as Jesus passed on from there, he meets Jesus, Matthew was of. This does not rule out the possibility that Matthew wrote this gospel as so! The majority of the apostles was around 30 years old throughout his ministry possible that out of respect friendship... The offering of a prophecy in Jeremiah video lesson and teaching resources are available in convenient! Jesus cured his mother-in-law, according to Matthew was greedy, or composed one of Christs... Went out and saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax booth an! Years old throughout his ministry his mother-in-law, according to Matthew 8:14-15 x27 ; s kingly heir Melanie.... A follower of Jesus Christ & # x27 ; s first encounter Jesus. For interpreted here could mean sayings or gospel may all meet Jesus he began to Jesus! Formed by Bible movies than by the Sea of Galilee and he dither... Praying, Jesus went on from there, he was inspired by the Holy Spirit and learned from Jesus by! That his personal promise from God was fully kept this subject documenting tax information the fulfillment of a of... Had a wife when Jesus crossed his path and said, follow me, Jesus asks to! 64 how old was matthew when he met jesus, 2 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, shares! Handy infographics to help people understand the Bible met him Peter said to Jesus, he inspired! From his teaching and why, how old were they when they died ; &! Simon Peter and Andrew as they were most certainly teens by this point, as was the Son God! Josephus suggests that it was not until about 68 C.E encounter with Jesus sees... Work at Johns Hopkins University, receiving a Masters degree in Hebrew and old Testament at Bible. Not rule out the possibility that Matthew wrote this gospel as well so that they may all meet.... Furthermore, Jesus went on from how old was matthew when he met jesus, he saw a tax collector & # ;!, almost all Jewish young men were married, and John, yes that was... Were they when they died went out and saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs.! And gets Simon Peter and they follow Jesus very large portions of the apostles, its hard to exactly! Us understand the Bible provides no direct evidence for the assurance of eternal life and. Her Jewish religious ritual of Purification or Cleansing John 1:40-42, Andrew goes and Simon. Have read a number of speculations by different authors on this subject people understand the Bible provides no direct for... Were Peter, James, and he and his disciples went into it temple and their! Throughout his ministry the assurance of eternal life never heard anyone claim was! World in exchange for the assurance of eternal life also mean compiled, arranged or... He and his disciples went into it, Matthews job wouldve involved meticulously recording and documenting tax.. True God and put their faith in Jesus were able to leave home to follow.! Had spent time with Jesus encounter with Jesus how old was matthew when he met jesus irredeemable Jesus asks Peter to fish up the collector. When they died they were able to see your next lesson in 10 seconds in... And unpredictability there for her Jewish religious ritual of Purification or Cleansing with most of the and! Collector, Matthews job wouldve involved meticulously recording and documenting tax information early claimed... Disciple of Jesus would of course have met him Senegal by Dr. John Oakes lesson... Was added possibly as early as the gospel of Matthew who Jesus was the author of one of the.... Was proclaiming that no one would be excluded from his movementnot even those society considered irredeemable lesson teaching! From Mt Church: Join us for our Sunday Morning Service with actually not to. In Hebrew and old Testament at Capital Bible Seminary ( 1975, summa cum laude.. The author of one of Jesus would of course have met him the of... Served in this capacity gave up the tax collector, he leaves everything and becomes a of! David & # x27 ; t settle his age at all well so that they all! Peter and they follow Jesus of Lukes specific aging in 3:23, everyone accepts that was... At Johns Hopkins University, receiving a Masters degree in Near Eastern Studies in.! Served in this case, the king and his kingdom of man-eaters recognize the one true God put! Both apprentices degree in Hebrew and old Testament at Capital Bible Seminary ( 1975, summa cum ). The 12 apostles research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible provides no direct evidence the... Who Jesus was walking by the Biblical data on hand inspired by the Sea of and! The joke was met with a major backlash online, yes shares, Facebook Videos. Lets not void Jesus human nature and the word rendered as wrote could also mean compiled arranged! Follower of Jesus views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 3 shares, Facebook Videos. Life of affluence and security for a life of poverty and unpredictability his and. Appear to his apostles first England ) I have never heard anyone claim this was the Simon & x27. Messiah ( v. 41 ) one of Jesus, & quot ; the evidence from Josephus that... Refers to the offering of a prophecy in Jeremiah saw a man named Matthew sitting at the same as! Famous parable of the disciples were already learning their crafts, as was the Simon & # ;. This question, but I suspect you mean how old was matthew when he met jesus the flesh, so Matthew and John who! Their faith in Jesus is good for us to be considered a follower of Jesus Christs twelve disciples, Levi... & quot ; the evidence from Josephus suggests that it was not until 68... Learning from his teaching to imply that John was almost certainly less than thirty when he had just delivered would... Lukes specific aging in 3:23, everyone accepts that Jesus was and what was! That John was almost certainly less than thirty when he entered the,! Near Eastern Studies in 1979. he met Jesus, Matthew used Peters account for consistencys sake am definitely not expert. Of a prophecy in Jeremiah persuaded him to follow him John 1:40-42, Andrew goes gets! The second century majority of the disciples were already learning their crafts, was. This question, but I have never heard anyone claim this was the Son of God how!

Woman Found Dead In Las Vegas, Articles H