Scriptural Reference:
"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.
‘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 collector’s booth. ‘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.
“Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.”
Luke 5:27–28

Reflection:

What do we know about Matthew in the Bible?
Matthew authored the first Gospel of the Bible's New Testament, now known as the Gospel of Matthew. Prior to preaching the word of God, he worked as a tax collector in Capernaum. Matthew is the patron saint of tax collectors and accountants.

What does name Matthew mean?
The name Matthew stems originally from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means "gift of Yahweh," or "gift of God." Matthew itself simply means "gift," though there are those who say it still means "gift of God," or even "gift from God."

What kind of person was Matthew in the Bible?
Despite his sinful past, Matthew was uniquely qualified to be a disciple. He was an accurate record keeper and keen observer of people. He captured the smallest details. Those traits served him well when he wrote the Gospel of Matthew some 20 years later.

What is the main message of Matthew?
What is the main message of Matthew? Writing for a Jewish Christian audience, Matthew's main concern is to present Jesus as a teacher even greater than Moses. The evangelist who composed the gospel of Matthew was probably a Jewish Christian, possibly a scribe.

Why is Matthew important in the Bible?
Why is Matthew important in the Bible? Matthew became the most important of all Gospel texts for first- and second-century Christians because it contains all the elements important to the early church: the story about Jesus' miraculous conception; an explanation of the importance of liturgy, law, discipleship, and teaching; and an account of Jesus' life ...

What happened to Matthew after Jesus died?
After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Matthew was amongst those chosen to go out and spread the word of Christ (called apostles). He spent his time mostly in Palestine, where he helped plant new congregations and spread Christ's teachings.

What was Matthew's name before Jesus?
Matthew the Apostle, also known as Saint Matthew and possibly as Levi, was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.

Why was Matthew written?
Harnack tersely states it thus: " The Gospel of Matthew was written as an apology against the objections and calumnies of the Jews, which were soon also adopted by the gentiles.

What are Matthew's 3 key themes?
What are Matthew's 3 key themes? The three key themes of Matthew is that Jesus is the Messiah from the line of David, Jesus is the new Moses, and that God is always with us. Matthew introduces Jesus by connecting him to David and Abraham, explaining that he will bring God's blessing.

What does the book of Matthew teach us about God?
Matthew reveals Jesus as Israel's promised Messiah The Gospel of Matthew was written to prove that Jesus Christ is Israel's long-awaited, promised Messiah, the King of all the earth, and to make plain the Kingdom of God. The expression "kingdom of heaven" is used 32 times in Matthew.

What did Matthew do after Jesus died?
Image result for when did Matthew die After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Matthew was amongst those chosen to go out and spread the word of Christ (called apostles). He spent his time mostly in Palestine, where he helped plant new congregations and spread Christ's teachings.

When did Matthew die in the Bible?
Matthew was martyred about 60 AD by being staked and speared to the ground. Preached the Gospel in Ethiopia (Africa) and was killed for questioning the morals of the king.

Prayer:
Lord,
The life of Matthew,
A sinner who had a change of heart,
Seeking forgiveness from Jesus,
Willingly able to take up the faith,
And follow Christ of His journey.

May I seek to understand his faith,
As I follow Jesus on my journey.

I pray this in your loving name,
Jesus the Christ.
Amen