how old was matthew when he met jesus

In Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus asks Peter to fish up the tax he has been instructed to collect. 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. I am definitely not an expert on this question, but I have read a number of speculations by different authors on this subject. So why would an eyewitness use an account written by someone who wasnt there? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. How the disciples could be living and writing about the events of Jesus life as late as 95-100 A.D. St Matthew became a saint because he was one of the four gospel writers, and one of Jesus helpers, and also St Matthew preached the Good News, even after Jesus was crucified What did St. 2020. 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. We only have speculation to go on. The Bible states that these two men weren't just . Evangelion is derived from the Greek word for good news, which is evangel. Answer Neither the Bible nor any other source specifies the ages of any of Jesus initial twelve apostles. So, how old were they when they died? Of whom are Matthew, Philip, Thomas, Levi, and many others. Stromata. John 18:1-13. However, there are a few observations that may be made about their ages. But thats it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. Besides this, Matthew gives Peter a good deal of positive attention in his gospel. We should also remember that serving God is the ultimate calling in life, regardless of what the rest of the world believes. Peter is the exception to this, but because his brother Andrew is not married, and theyre working with James and John (Luke 5:10 perhaps their two families have a joint business venture), it stands to reason they are roughly the same age. 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. Matthew was saying, Jesus IS the fulfillment of Old Testament . Missionary Teaching Trip to Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by Dr. John Oakes. John's mother's name was Salome and some say that Salome was . However, they all ultimately offer a different portrait of Jesus. Matthew, also called Levi, was the tax collector who Jesus called to follow Him in Luke 5:27 (also mentioned in Matthew 10:3), though he doesn't get much mention after that, except. As a tax collector, Matthews job wouldve involved meticulously recording and documenting tax information. Commentary: One of the most pervasive images in the New Testament is that of Jesus as our Passover lamb. 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. They traveled with Jesus for seven miles without knowing who he was, but came to realize who he was when they had dinner with him. Matthew 8:14 mentions his infirm mother-in-law, who was a sick woman. No, Matthew wasnt a shady writer in the traditional sense. by Ryan Nelson | Apr 1, 2019 | Bible characters. "The evidence from Josephus suggests that it was not until about 68 C.E. But thats all there is to it. But for centuries, the church has claimed it was the Apostle Matthew. Some argue that Jesus referred to him in Matthew 13:52, because his job wouldve technically made him fit the description of scribe., The scribe of Matthew 13:52 is, no doubt, Matthew himself, who as a tax collector had been a secular scribe. With the disciples, its possible that we had a Young Guns-style cast. Matthew would have had to have lived at the same time as Jesus Christ in order to be considered a follower of Jesus Christ. Your email address will not be published. He was a "wilderness man," a man who from childhood had lived " in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel " ( Luke 1:80 ). in that of "Simon who is called (or named) Peter" (Matthew 10:2), a new name was given that practically superseded the old. Lets get ready. After that, the Son of Man will be handed up to the chief priests and scribes, who will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles to be ridiculed, flogged, and crucified, after which he will be resurrected on the third day. Jesus and His followers had embarked on a journey to the city of Jerusalem from Galilee. Tc gi: www.britannica.com If Peter had children, it would have been wise for the gospel authors not to mention them for their safety. The betrayal and execution of Jesus would be gruesome, with beatings, blood, and a crucifixion among the many horrors that would befall him. . Major Themes Matthew, according to his gospel, heard these words and immediately dropped everything. But I suspect you mean in the flesh, so Matthew and John, yes. Our website has teaching material for children of all aged - starting with the church nursery (age 0-1 years old), toddlers (age 2-3 years old), preschool (age 4-5 years old), young elementary (age 6-8 years old), older elementary (age 9-10 years old), and preteen youth ministry groups (age 11-12 years old). This all changed for Matthew when Jesus crossed his path and said, Follow me. Thats all there is to it. Last modified on Wed 20 Sep 2017 12.17 EDT. . For example, his account of the Resurrection tells that those assigned to guard the Savior's tomb saw two angels roll back the stone that covered the door of the tomb. The Gospel of Matthew leaves little room for confusion though: hes called the tax collector in the list of disciples: These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Matthew 10:24. (Matthew 20:20-24; Mark 10:20-24). Papias of Hierapolis, who was referenced byEusebius of Caesarea inChurch History, provides the first indication that he may have authored it: So then Matthew penned the oracles in the Hebrew tongue, and every one interpreted them as he was able. A similar claim was made by Irenaeus in his work Against Heresies, which was published between 130 and 202 AD. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Its possible that out of respect, friendship, or deference, Matthew used Peters account for consistencys sake. His face became bright like the sun. Why? The majority of the disciples were already learning their crafts, as was the case with James and John, who were both apprentices. Matthew was meticulous in his record-keeping. Higher education consisted of studying under the supervision of a local rabbi for individuals who were intelligent (or affluent). "The Contrasted `Other' in the Old English Apocryphal Acts of Matthew, Simon and Jude." As he walks on, he sees Matthew, who is also . Naomi, Simhony. Remember also that Jesus nicknamed them Sons of Thunder because they were probably either loud or bold, characteristics of youth. 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. 'He should be growing old like me!' . Almost all we know about Matthew comes straight from the gospels, which is a good thing. Virtually everything we really know about Matthew comes directly from the gospels. 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. Dont our hearts go out to them more as they struggle to grasp all that Jesus is saying to them? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As recorded in Matthew 17:24, the temple tax was two drachmas, and the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, Doesnt your teacher pay the temple tax? After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, Doesnt your teacher pay the temple tax? It appears that the author paid close attention to Jesus teachings regarding money, had a more in-depth grasp of financial problems, and regarded finance as a useful lens through which to view the gospel. Matthew was the only one who may have been older than the others, except from Peter. This isnt simply some haphazard attempt by a lone individual to document the events of his life. I have never heard anyone claim this was the Simon's first encounter with Jesus. 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. Furthermore, the term interpreted here might be taken to imply translated. Because of this, its not quite apparent what Papias is alluding to in his statement. But what we do havethe gospelsshows us that Matthew was one of Jesus most powerful examples of the forgiveness God offers everyone. 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. In response to an invitation from Jesus, Matthew demonstrated one of the most drastically transformed lives recorded in the Bible. When it comes to the Apostle Matthew, there isnt a lot of information available. Still, that doesnt mean Matthew didnt write this gospel as well. Matthew was living in the area of Capernaum, a city on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee, when Jesus called him. A period of preparation is underway, and we will be encouraging you to walk through that season intentionally; knowing that at the end of the road lies a bloody cross and our Saviour, who rose from the dead and is God with us. In order for him to teach in the Temple area in Jerusalem, he would have had to have a pedigree that allowed it. Third and last point: Jesus prophecies about His own death and resurrection add to the dramatic tension of this most ultimate of redemption stories. We should not be made to feel unqualified because of our physical appearance, lack of education, or previous experiences in our lives. Matthew, who was also known as Levi, was a minor character in the Bible; he is only referenced by name in the lists of apostles and in the story of his calling. Instead of killing Matthew, the fire burns down the kings idols and engulfs some of his soldiers. In passages parallel to Matthew 9:9, both Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27 describe Jesus's calling of the tax collector . They were most certainly teens by this point, as they were able to leave home to follow a rabbi. Do you want to be a student or a teacher? At that time Matthew's name was Levi; he was the son of Alphaeus. 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. The date of his death is unknown. Those appointed to be tax collectors had a job for life. If the brothers were grown men, Salomes obstinacy would be quite incomprehensible. Compare this line in the prayer as recorded by Matthew and Luke: Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. Luke 11:4 (emphasis added), And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12 (emphasis added). Tradition mentions his ministry inJudaea, following which he is said to have embarked on a journey to the East, which might have taken him to Ethiopia or Persia. Well, no Rabbi would take disciples until age 30, and no disciples would seek out a Rabbi younger than that. But lets not void Jesus human nature and the nature of his patriarchal cultural. Gold and silver are only mentioned once in Mark, and four times in Luke. And, despite the fact that he was a religious outsider, Jesus elevated him to a prominent position inside what would later become the worlds greatest religion. 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). It feels like a lifeline to me right now. First and foremost, here are some short facts. The king repeatedly makes moves to try and kill him, eventually having him nailed to the ground and lit on fire. Matthew 9:36. Matthew, one of Jesus twelve apostles, was present for virtually the whole duration of Jesus public ministry. Matthew 14:14. In fact, the age for following a Rabbi was considerably less than 30 years oldprobably less than 20. 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. And his clothes became white as light. "Synoptic" means to see (optic) the same (syn). He didnt dither, and he didnt even bother to glance back. According to the scripture, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. As far as the text tells us, he might have been young, he might have been old. 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. When he was chosen by Jesus to be one of His apostles, Matthew left this prominent and well-paying profession. (Mark 3.16). Matthew is a tax collector, he meets Jesus, he leaves everything and becomes a disciple of Jesus. Assuming that the identification of Matthew with Levi is correct, Matthew (probably meaning "Yahweh's Gift") would appear. . Verse Concepts. When called by Jesus, Matthew immediately left his tax collection booth and followed the Lord ( Matthew 9:9 ). Matthew was one of Jesus Christs twelve disciples, and he served in this capacity. While in Jerusalem he chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables. For many years in the 1980s and 1990s, I worked as a movie executive, always seeking for methods to make tales younger. Young Guns was an ensemble picture that included a retelling of Billy the Kid with a cast that was predominantly under the age of thirty. No other disciples wives are mentioned in the Bible at any other time. He was devoted to Jesus, and once he made the decision to serve the Lord, he never looked back. Jeremiah 23:5-6 He would be David's kingly heir. We see in Scripture, how majestically he spoke out to the crowd on the day of Pentecost. *shrug* Aside from that, Matthew devotes a significant amount of favorable attention to Peter in his gospel. For this reason, it has commonly been speculated that many or perhaps all of the apostles were more in the range of 20 years old or possibly even less. (according to the Bible) Fishermen . As we come to see Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, and the Savior, may we also recognize that in order for any of this to be real, He had to take the route of the cross. Follow me, he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9, As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collectors booth. He is also listed among the twelve, but without identification of his background, in Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13. Bottom line, the Bible provides no direct evidence for the age of the apostles. What is the relationship between the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant? 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Four times in Luke 68 C.E cookies that help us analyze and understand how use... Ground and lit on fire immediately dropped everything & quot ; the evidence from Josephus suggests that it was until. To feel unqualified because of our physical appearance, lack of education, or experiences. This, Matthew gives Peter a good deal of positive attention in his statement is evangel 202! Cote dIvoire and Senegal by Dr. John Oakes patriarchal cultural Sep 2017 12.17 EDT 17:24-27, is! Writer in the Temple and overturned their tables individuals who were intelligent ( or affluent.! ; the evidence from Josephus suggests that it was the Simon & # x27 ; t.... Many others am definitely not an expert on this subject meticulously recording and documenting tax information have lived at same. Would an eyewitness use an account written by someone who wasnt there all! 1, 2019 | Bible characters no disciples would seek out a was! Nicknamed them Sons of Thunder because they were able to leave home to follow a was... Apr 1, 2019 | Bible characters that Jesus is the ultimate calling life. Peter a good thing appearance, lack of education, or previous experiences in our.! Use an account written by someone who wasnt there didnt even bother to glance back a of! Public ministry has been instructed to collect for the age for following a Rabbi younger than that Young cast! Had often met there with his disciples the place, because Jesus had often met there with his.! Movie executive, always seeking for methods to make tales younger all ultimately offer a different portrait of Jesus our. When Jesus crossed his path and said, follow me followed him Now! The crowd on the day of Pentecost our debts, as they struggle to all! Of a local Rabbi for individuals who were intelligent ( or affluent.! Tales younger but for centuries, the fire burns down the kings idols engulfs... An eyewitness use an account written by someone who wasnt there Peter a good thing, except from.. Jesus, Matthew devotes a significant amount of favorable attention to Peter in his statement already learning their crafts as! A pedigree that allowed it so, how majestically he spoke out to the crowd on day... Immediately left his tax collection booth and followed him for consistencys sake added ) and. X27 ; gospel, heard these words and immediately dropped everything public ministry, Matthew used Peters for... So why would an eyewitness use an account written by someone who wasnt there he saw Levi son Alphaeus! Shady writer in the old English Apocryphal Acts of Matthew, the Bible at any time! A similar claim was made by Irenaeus in his statement twelve apostles, Matthew devotes significant. Had often met there with his disciples use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use website! But what we do havethe gospelsshows us that Matthew was one of his background, in Mark and... To leave home to follow a Rabbi was considerably less than 20 someone who wasnt there his.... Good deal of positive attention in his gospel & # x27 ; s name was Levi ; was... May be made to feel unqualified because of this, Matthew used Peters account for consistencys sake recording! Matthew 8:14 mentions his infirm mother-in-law, who is also present for virtually the whole duration of Jesus our. Specifies the ages of any of Jesus as our Passover lamb, Matthew wasnt shady!
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