Matthew’s story is told in Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32
Matthew: The Tax Collector Who Followed Jesus
When we think of Bible heroes, we might picture people like Moses, David, or Paul. But one of the most powerful stories in the New Testament is about a man who had a job people didn’t like and a past many would rather forget. His name was Matthew, and he became one of Jesus’ closest followers—and the writer of the first book in the New Testament.
Let’s take a closer look at Matthew’s story and what we can learn from his life.
Who Was Matthew?
Matthew, also called Levi in some parts of the Bible, was a tax collector. In Jesus’ time, tax collectors were not popular. They worked for the Roman government, collecting money from their own people. Many tax collectors were known to cheat, charging more than required to keep some for themselves. Because of this, people saw them as greedy traitors.
Matthew may have had money, but he didn’t have respect or community. Most people likely avoided him—until Jesus came along.
Jesus Calls Matthew (Matthew 9:9–13)
One day, while Matthew was sitting at his tax booth, Jesus passed by and simply said, “Follow me.” That’s it. No long speech. No demands. Just an invitation.
To everyone’s surprise, Matthew got up and followed Him. He left his job, his money, and his old life behind.
Later, Matthew invited Jesus to dinner at his house. He also invited other tax collectors and people considered “sinners.” The religious leaders didn’t like this. They asked why Jesus would eat with such people. But Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew Becomes a Disciple
Matthew didn’t just follow Jesus for a day—he became one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. He walked with Him, listened to His teachings, saw His miracles, and even witnessed His death and resurrection. After Jesus returned to heaven, Matthew continued sharing the good news.
Matthew the Gospel Writer
Later, Matthew wrote one of the four Gospels—the Gospel of Matthew, the first book in the New Testament.
This Gospel focuses on showing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior promised in the Old Testament. Matthew carefully connects Jesus’ life and teachings to ancient prophecies so that readers, especially Jewish ones, could see how Jesus fulfilled them.
His Gospel includes many important parts of Jesus’ life, like:
- The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7),
- Parables like the parable of the sower and the lost sheep, and
- Jesus’ final instructions to His followers, called the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20).
What Can We Learn from Matthew?
Matthew’s life shows us that:
- No one is too far from God’s love. Even though others looked down on him, Jesus saw Matthew’s worth and called him.
- Following Jesus changes everything. Matthew left behind his old life to start a new one with Jesus.
- Your past doesn’t define your future. God used Matthew’s skills to write a Gospel that continues to bless people today.
- Sharing your story matters. Matthew didn’t stay quiet—he told the world about Jesus.
Conclusion
Matthew’s story reminds us that Jesus doesn’t just call the “perfect” people. He calls the willing. If He could use a tax collector to write one of the most important books in the Bible, He can use you, too.
Wherever you are in life, Jesus’ words to Matthew are still true for us today:
“Follow me.”