Matthew of Capernaum
- James Collazo
- Jul 11, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 14
Introduction
Matthew of Capernaum (Hebrew: Mattityahu mi-Kfar Nachum / Greek: Matthaios tou Kapernaoum) was born around AD 3 in the Roman client kingdom of Galilee. He was also known as Levi, the son of Alphaeus and the brother of James (Mark 2:14, 3:18; cf. Matt. 10:3). His Levitical background explains his Hebrew name Matityahu, meaning "gift of God." It comes from the Hebrew words mattat (H4991, "gift") and Yahweh (H3068). As an adult, Matthew worked as a publican (Greek: telōnēs, G5057, lit. "pays at the end"), a tax collector employed by the Roman government in Capernaum. Because tax collectors worked with Rome and often demanded extra money, many Jewish people viewed them as traitors.
Matthew's life changed when Jesus came to his tax booth and said, "Follow me" (Matt. 9:9). Matthew immediately left his work and became one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He witnessed Jesus' teachings, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection. After these events, Matthew helped spread Christianity, especially among Jewish communities. His gospel reflects his background as a former tax collector who became a devoted follower of Christ. It shows how meeting Jesus can transform a person's life and lead to complete commitment to God.
Matthew the Publican
Tax collectors were not just government revenue agents; they often used methods similar to organized crime. In many ways, Matthew acted more like a mobster than an auditor. The Romans sold tax-collection and debt-collection contracts to publicans, who paid a hefty fee up front to secure the job. Although Roman officers supervised the system, publicans often bribed them with kickbacks. The imperial income tax, set at 1 percent in AD 6, applied to most goods and services, and local taxes further increased the burden. As a result, the average Judean or Galilean paid about half of his income in total taxes. Publicans used pressure and intimidation to collect money, which is why John the Baptist told them, "Do not collect more than you are required to" (Luke 3:13). Both Jews and Gentiles viewed tax collectors as part of the lowest level of society. Even the Roman statesman Cicero (106–43 BC) described tax collecting as a dishonorable job that did not suit a respectable citizen.
Matthew worked at the tollhouse (Greek: telōnion, G5058) in Capernaum, which stood on the busy trade route between the Mediterranean seaports and Damascus. His life formed a sharp contrast with that of Simon the Zealot—Matthew was seen as a traitor to his people, while Simon was an ultranationalist. Jesus may have chosen both men to balance each other and to show that his message did not depend on political agendas. When Matthew first met Jesus, he immediately left his tax booth to follow him. The gospel records only Jesus' words, "Follow me" (Luke 5:27), but Matthew, like the tax collector in Jesus' parable, must have prayed in his heart, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13). He had been living the Roman dream, with a large house, wealth, influence, and many social connections. Yet he abandoned his career and estate, held a great banquet in honor of Jesus, and dedicated himself entirely to discipleship (Luke 5:29).
Matthew the Evangelist
After Pentecost, Matthew began preaching with the other apostles around AD 33, focusing mainly on Jewish communities throughout Judea. The Talmud even refers to a disciple of Jesus named Mattai, whom the Sanhedrin planned to execute for blasphemy (Sanhedrin 43a:22). Around AD 55, Matthew began writing his account of Jesus' life for a primarily Jewish audience. Most biblical scholars, however, think that Mark wrote the earliest gospel and that Matthew and Luke used Mark's work along with a shared collection of Jesus' Aramaic sayings. Scholars call this collection "Q," from the German word Quelle, which means "Source."
In the second century, Papias of Hierapolis (70–155) wrote, "But concerning Matthew he writes as follows: 'So then Matthew wrote the oracles [Greek: logia, G3051, "sayings"] in the Hebrew language, and everyone interpreted them as he was able'" (Eusebius, Church History 3.39). Papias most likely referred to an early collection of Jesus' sayings rather than a finished biography. Matthew probably wrote his gospel using Mark as a primary source, since Mark recorded Peter's eyewitness testimony in Rome. As a tax collector, Matthew knew both Aramaic and the imperial Greek used in business. In his gospel, he presents Jesus with strong Jewish imagery—as the new Israel and the new Moses—who resisted the temptations that Israel failed to overcome (Matt. 4:1–11; cf. Num. 14:34) and who raised the Law of Moses to higher and more positive standards (Matt. 5–7).
Conclusion
Matthew's life shows the transforming power of faith. As a tax collector, many people in his community viewed him as an outsider and even a sinner, yet Jesus still called him to be a disciple. This call revealed that God's grace reaches every person, regardless of reputation or past choices. When Matthew followed Jesus, he left his old life behind and committed himself to spreading the message of Christ. His gospel presents a clear and detailed account of Jesus' teachings, using strong Jewish imagery to emphasize themes of faith, humility, and redemption. Matthew's story teaches that no matter where we come from, God can give us a new purpose when we trust him and choose to follow his call.
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of heaven and earth. You called Matthew, a tax collector, to be your apostle. Turn our hearts away from greed and unjust gain, so we may follow you faithfully and share your gospel with others. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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