Are you a misfit or have you not belong to society? Have people rejected you based on who you are and your profession? Why did Jesus chose Matthew to be one of his disciples? What can we learn Matthew's story when Jesus called him to join as one of his disciples?
Watch this sweet scene between Jesus and Matthew from Episode 7 of The Chosen, inspired from Matthew 9:
Watch this sweet scene between Jesus and Matthew from Episode 7 of The Chosen, inspired from Matthew 9:
One random day around 27 A.D.
After a day of teaching by the lake, Jesus with his small group of disciples and a few followers walked to their next destination. As they walked along, Jesus noticed a man sitting at the tax collector's booth.
"Hello, Mattityahu, son of Alphaeus. Come follow me," said Jesus with a welcoming smile and his eyes shown full of love and acceptance.
"What me? My name is Levi. What do you want of me? " responded Matthew with a confused face.
"Yes, you. You are now called Mattityahu. Follow me," said Jesus firmly.
Simon Peter ran over to Jesus and said with an upset voice, "Lord, what are you doing?" Jesus ignored Peter and kept his eyes on Matthew.
"What? Do you want me to join you now?" asked Matthew incredulously. He thought to himself, Who is this man and why does he want me? I'm so alone and no one loves me. My family rejected me and the Romans don't respect me. But this man standing in front of me; he loves me. I feel it. His eyes tells me that he accepts me and want me. What do I do now?
Peter would not be ignored for he doesn't want the tax collector to join them. He said to Jesus in a louder voice, "Do you know know that he betrayed his people by being a tax collector? He works for the Romans." The rest of Jesus' followers and disciples were amazed with this interaction. They thought they were going somewhere to eat before continuing to minister to people or at least learn from their dear Rabbi privately.
Jesus continued to ignored Peter. He invited Matthew again, "Yes. Follow me." He kept his focus on Matthew patiently waiting for his response. His eyes continue to welcome Matthew in. Matthew thought to himself, I do want to follow him. In doing so, he quickly closed off and left his station.
The Roman guard was shocked and called out, "Where are you going, Levi? You suppose to be working at your station. Come back here."
Matthew shook off the guard and said, "I quit. I'm following Jesus" as he nodded over to where Jesus stood. He returned the key to the guard. He quickly walked toward Jesus.
Peter looked confused. "I don't get it," he said.
Jesus turned and said, "You didn't get it when I chose you either."
"But this is different. I wasn't a tax collector. How can we trust this man named Mattityahu?" said Peter in unbelief.
"I know him. Listen to me and accept him into our group, "said Jesus to Peter. He turned to Matthew who just arrived in front of him and said, "I'm so glad we past by your booth today."
"Yes," said Matthew humbly and shyly.
"Shall we?" said Jesus as he walked away with Matthew and his crew, "We have a celebration to prepare for tonight."
"Where are we going?" asked Matthew.
"We're going to a dinner party, " said Mary of Madelene.
"What dinner party? I'm never invited to any, "said Matthew.
"Mattityahu, you are invited to this dinner party. You're the host, " said Jesus with a smile. Matthew's face looked shocked and then a bit anxious. He never threw a dinner party before. He lived alone in a beautiful spacious house and every night he ate dinner alone. Matthew didn't have to worry for a few of Jesus' female followers volunteered to help him put a dinner party together.
Many hours later, Jesus and his disciples arrived at Matthew's house. Many guests including Matthew's colleagues of tax collectors, outcasts and sinners arrived. The women folk had set up the dining space and prepared the food.
"Welcome, friends" said Matthew to his guests. He thought, this is my first dinner party and I'm loving it.I'm grateful for Jesus. The women came out to pour wine and serve food. Everyone ate and enjoying each other's company. Jesus laughed and chatted with those sitting around him. Matthew sat listening to Jesus closely.
Some Pharisees walked by Matthew's house on purpose; someone told them what was happening over there. They were amazed to see so many tax collectors and sinners eating a feast-like dinner together with a teacher who was well-respected by his friends and followers. They called over the disciples to ask them, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
On hearing this, Jesus turned and said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' [insert Hosea 6:6] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
*****************************************************************************
This is from my imagination to create the moment when Jesus chose Matthew; the story comes from Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:13-17 and Luke 5:27-32. Currently I am reading and studying the Book of Luke when I got to the story of Levi, it peaked my interested. I didn't remember Jesus calling for Levi, for he called a man named Matthew, a tax collector. I did some research and realized they were the same man. Levi is a Jewish name meaning "attached" and "joining" translated from Hebrew. Levi is also connected to the Levite tribe of ancient Judah. Perhaps, his family came from the Levite tribe so his parents named him that as well as hoping he would stay attached to his people. Perhaps his family made enough money to send their sons to school so that is why he knew how to read, write, do math and record-keeping skills. Matthew is an English name so he was probably known as Matthaois which is a Greek name. The meaning behind the Matthew (aka Mattityahu in Hebrew) name means "the gift of YAHWEH (aka God)." In his book, he called himself Matthew already which is mentioned in Matthew 9:9; he was older when he had time to write this account. By the time Mark and Luke told their version of this event; the former tax collector was still known as Levi at that moment when Jesus called him. The book of Luke was written many years after Mark and Matthew so Luke may still only learned the man in question as Levi. Remember, Luke did not have eye witness point of view since he wasn't following Jesus at that time; he had to interview the original sources to get his book together. Perhaps, he wasn't able to interview Matthew so he must have interview someone else's to hear the story and that person called Matthew as Levi. In all three accounts from Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus only said, "Follow me." What name did Jesus called this tax collector? We could assume Jesus called this young man as Mattityahu saying that he is a gift of God. So did Jesus gave this new disciple a new name? Jesus had already gave Simon a new name as Peter so it's not a stretch that he renamed some of his disciples to help them with a new start and their ministries on earth. We would never know what name Jesus used to call Matthew to follow him. By the time, Levi wrote his book, he was already calling himself Matthew. Please excuse my imagination when I had Jesus call him as Mattityahu.
It's only today that I understand this connection on my own. From reading the same story from the first three Gospels along with the verses identifying who were the 12 original disciples along with some research, I come to the conclusion that Matthew and James the Younger (son of Alphaeus is mentioned Mark 3:18) may be distant cousins if Alphaeus was a shared family name; it is mentioned that Mary of Clopas as James' mother in John 19:25 making her to be the aunts of Matthew and Jesus so they could be cousins through marriage. (Side Question: Could Jesus have a brother and a cousin each named James? Is Matthew a distinct cousin of Jesus?) From Mark 2:14, he identified Levi (aka Matthew) as the son of Alphaeus. Is it possible that Matthew and James could have been distant cousins.? Or were there two different fathers of Matthew and James the Younger also named Alphaeus? Next, we can go into another topic of who was Jesus Christ' parents (by the way, his adopted father Joseph's father was named Jacob which you can find in Matthew 1:16 and it's unknown who was Mary's parents' names and if Mary Clopas is Jesus's aunt, sister-in-law of Mary making Clopas as her brother and Jesus' uncle). I don't have time to explore more on what I just said.
Today's blog entry isn't about who is related to whom. Moving on to where the places to identify the original twelve disciples (aka apostles) which are named here: Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, and Luke 6:12-16. In those identifying passage, it was well documented that which of the disciples were brothers. I think James was a popular name like John was in the first century. I think there were three James with one James is a brother of John, James is Jesus' cousin and James, son of Alphaeus in the Gospels. Of course, there is the fourth James who was Jesus' younger brother who wasn't an original disciple but he may believe his brother's and his Lord's message; he could have studied under one of the 12 apostles. As many Bible scholars believe that James, the brother of Jesus, became a church leader later; they also believe he wrote the book of James, more like a letter to teach a church specific lessons. There wasn't any connection between Matthew and James as cousins. If they were distant cousins, perhaps it wasn't an important distinction for the Gospel writers. Many Bible scholars and believers think that the Book of Matthew was written by the former tax collector named Matthew. Since he wrote this book, why doesn't he identify his familial relationship with James, the son of Alphaeus? I chose to believe that Matthew (aka Levi, son of Alphaeus) and James (son of Alphaeus) aren't related at all since this former tax collector didn't say anything about it. Perhaps, Matthew knew he wasn't related to James, the son of a different Alphaeus. In not focusing too much on himself, Matthew wanted to share about Jesus, focusing on Jesus' ministry on earth and sharing the great commission that Jesus sent his followers and disciples to do for the Jewish people to understand and know about Jesus too.
I'm all speculation so what I say, you can't take it as truth of what it really was since the Gospels and the rest of the New Testaments didn't clarify specific people's backgrounds and familial relationships. There are some clues to help identify certain people in relating to who. As for Matthew's life story, we will never know who his parents and relatives are. It wasn't important. I brought Matthew's story to life so you can see why Jesus chose Matthew. Jesus does not see people as man sees. It is written:
After a day of teaching by the lake, Jesus with his small group of disciples and a few followers walked to their next destination. As they walked along, Jesus noticed a man sitting at the tax collector's booth.
"Hello, Mattityahu, son of Alphaeus. Come follow me," said Jesus with a welcoming smile and his eyes shown full of love and acceptance.
"What me? My name is Levi. What do you want of me? " responded Matthew with a confused face.
"Yes, you. You are now called Mattityahu. Follow me," said Jesus firmly.
Simon Peter ran over to Jesus and said with an upset voice, "Lord, what are you doing?" Jesus ignored Peter and kept his eyes on Matthew.
"What? Do you want me to join you now?" asked Matthew incredulously. He thought to himself, Who is this man and why does he want me? I'm so alone and no one loves me. My family rejected me and the Romans don't respect me. But this man standing in front of me; he loves me. I feel it. His eyes tells me that he accepts me and want me. What do I do now?
Peter would not be ignored for he doesn't want the tax collector to join them. He said to Jesus in a louder voice, "Do you know know that he betrayed his people by being a tax collector? He works for the Romans." The rest of Jesus' followers and disciples were amazed with this interaction. They thought they were going somewhere to eat before continuing to minister to people or at least learn from their dear Rabbi privately.
Jesus continued to ignored Peter. He invited Matthew again, "Yes. Follow me." He kept his focus on Matthew patiently waiting for his response. His eyes continue to welcome Matthew in. Matthew thought to himself, I do want to follow him. In doing so, he quickly closed off and left his station.
The Roman guard was shocked and called out, "Where are you going, Levi? You suppose to be working at your station. Come back here."
Matthew shook off the guard and said, "I quit. I'm following Jesus" as he nodded over to where Jesus stood. He returned the key to the guard. He quickly walked toward Jesus.
Peter looked confused. "I don't get it," he said.
Jesus turned and said, "You didn't get it when I chose you either."
"But this is different. I wasn't a tax collector. How can we trust this man named Mattityahu?" said Peter in unbelief.
"I know him. Listen to me and accept him into our group, "said Jesus to Peter. He turned to Matthew who just arrived in front of him and said, "I'm so glad we past by your booth today."
"Yes," said Matthew humbly and shyly.
"Shall we?" said Jesus as he walked away with Matthew and his crew, "We have a celebration to prepare for tonight."
"Where are we going?" asked Matthew.
"We're going to a dinner party, " said Mary of Madelene.
"What dinner party? I'm never invited to any, "said Matthew.
"Mattityahu, you are invited to this dinner party. You're the host, " said Jesus with a smile. Matthew's face looked shocked and then a bit anxious. He never threw a dinner party before. He lived alone in a beautiful spacious house and every night he ate dinner alone. Matthew didn't have to worry for a few of Jesus' female followers volunteered to help him put a dinner party together.
Many hours later, Jesus and his disciples arrived at Matthew's house. Many guests including Matthew's colleagues of tax collectors, outcasts and sinners arrived. The women folk had set up the dining space and prepared the food.
"Welcome, friends" said Matthew to his guests. He thought, this is my first dinner party and I'm loving it.I'm grateful for Jesus. The women came out to pour wine and serve food. Everyone ate and enjoying each other's company. Jesus laughed and chatted with those sitting around him. Matthew sat listening to Jesus closely.
Some Pharisees walked by Matthew's house on purpose; someone told them what was happening over there. They were amazed to see so many tax collectors and sinners eating a feast-like dinner together with a teacher who was well-respected by his friends and followers. They called over the disciples to ask them, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
On hearing this, Jesus turned and said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' [insert Hosea 6:6] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
*****************************************************************************
This is from my imagination to create the moment when Jesus chose Matthew; the story comes from Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:13-17 and Luke 5:27-32. Currently I am reading and studying the Book of Luke when I got to the story of Levi, it peaked my interested. I didn't remember Jesus calling for Levi, for he called a man named Matthew, a tax collector. I did some research and realized they were the same man. Levi is a Jewish name meaning "attached" and "joining" translated from Hebrew. Levi is also connected to the Levite tribe of ancient Judah. Perhaps, his family came from the Levite tribe so his parents named him that as well as hoping he would stay attached to his people. Perhaps his family made enough money to send their sons to school so that is why he knew how to read, write, do math and record-keeping skills. Matthew is an English name so he was probably known as Matthaois which is a Greek name. The meaning behind the Matthew (aka Mattityahu in Hebrew) name means "the gift of YAHWEH (aka God)." In his book, he called himself Matthew already which is mentioned in Matthew 9:9; he was older when he had time to write this account. By the time Mark and Luke told their version of this event; the former tax collector was still known as Levi at that moment when Jesus called him. The book of Luke was written many years after Mark and Matthew so Luke may still only learned the man in question as Levi. Remember, Luke did not have eye witness point of view since he wasn't following Jesus at that time; he had to interview the original sources to get his book together. Perhaps, he wasn't able to interview Matthew so he must have interview someone else's to hear the story and that person called Matthew as Levi. In all three accounts from Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus only said, "Follow me." What name did Jesus called this tax collector? We could assume Jesus called this young man as Mattityahu saying that he is a gift of God. So did Jesus gave this new disciple a new name? Jesus had already gave Simon a new name as Peter so it's not a stretch that he renamed some of his disciples to help them with a new start and their ministries on earth. We would never know what name Jesus used to call Matthew to follow him. By the time, Levi wrote his book, he was already calling himself Matthew. Please excuse my imagination when I had Jesus call him as Mattityahu.
It's only today that I understand this connection on my own. From reading the same story from the first three Gospels along with the verses identifying who were the 12 original disciples along with some research, I come to the conclusion that Matthew and James the Younger (son of Alphaeus is mentioned Mark 3:18) may be distant cousins if Alphaeus was a shared family name; it is mentioned that Mary of Clopas as James' mother in John 19:25 making her to be the aunts of Matthew and Jesus so they could be cousins through marriage. (Side Question: Could Jesus have a brother and a cousin each named James? Is Matthew a distinct cousin of Jesus?) From Mark 2:14, he identified Levi (aka Matthew) as the son of Alphaeus. Is it possible that Matthew and James could have been distant cousins.? Or were there two different fathers of Matthew and James the Younger also named Alphaeus? Next, we can go into another topic of who was Jesus Christ' parents (by the way, his adopted father Joseph's father was named Jacob which you can find in Matthew 1:16 and it's unknown who was Mary's parents' names and if Mary Clopas is Jesus's aunt, sister-in-law of Mary making Clopas as her brother and Jesus' uncle). I don't have time to explore more on what I just said.
Today's blog entry isn't about who is related to whom. Moving on to where the places to identify the original twelve disciples (aka apostles) which are named here: Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, and Luke 6:12-16. In those identifying passage, it was well documented that which of the disciples were brothers. I think James was a popular name like John was in the first century. I think there were three James with one James is a brother of John, James is Jesus' cousin and James, son of Alphaeus in the Gospels. Of course, there is the fourth James who was Jesus' younger brother who wasn't an original disciple but he may believe his brother's and his Lord's message; he could have studied under one of the 12 apostles. As many Bible scholars believe that James, the brother of Jesus, became a church leader later; they also believe he wrote the book of James, more like a letter to teach a church specific lessons. There wasn't any connection between Matthew and James as cousins. If they were distant cousins, perhaps it wasn't an important distinction for the Gospel writers. Many Bible scholars and believers think that the Book of Matthew was written by the former tax collector named Matthew. Since he wrote this book, why doesn't he identify his familial relationship with James, the son of Alphaeus? I chose to believe that Matthew (aka Levi, son of Alphaeus) and James (son of Alphaeus) aren't related at all since this former tax collector didn't say anything about it. Perhaps, Matthew knew he wasn't related to James, the son of a different Alphaeus. In not focusing too much on himself, Matthew wanted to share about Jesus, focusing on Jesus' ministry on earth and sharing the great commission that Jesus sent his followers and disciples to do for the Jewish people to understand and know about Jesus too.
I'm all speculation so what I say, you can't take it as truth of what it really was since the Gospels and the rest of the New Testaments didn't clarify specific people's backgrounds and familial relationships. There are some clues to help identify certain people in relating to who. As for Matthew's life story, we will never know who his parents and relatives are. It wasn't important. I brought Matthew's story to life so you can see why Jesus chose Matthew. Jesus does not see people as man sees. It is written:
Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
~1 Samuel 16:7
Jesus saw inside Mathew's heart and can see if given the chance, this young man will commit himself and follow the Lord faithfully. Jesus also saw how lonely, unloved, and isolated Matthew was and wanted to give him his unconditional love, friendship and acceptance. Isn't it encouraging that Jesus doesn't pick perfect people? Can you relate to Matthew or understand him better now? Is Jesus calling you back to become his disciple, a student of his, to go study the Bible and learn lessons that God wants to teach you today? Is Jesus calling you to have a relationship with you today?
7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
~Matthew 7:7-8