According to Matthews Gospel, which was written 3040 years after Jesus resurrection, he was in his 20s when he followed Jesus on earth, implying that Matthew was in his 20s when following Jesus on earth. The fact that you are a young disciple does not affect the truth of the Gospel. Join our email list, and well send you some of our best free resourcesplus well tell you whenever we make something new. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It was not until Antioch, some years after Jesus resurrection, that the term Christianity was coined. 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. For example, the Book of Matthew is one of these. Little is known about this apostle. Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (and Why We Don't Know About Them) By Bart D. Ehrman. The term written can also refer to compiled, organized, or composed, depending on the context. Answer Neither the Bible nor any other source specifies the ages of any of Jesus initial twelve apostles. If they were males, this would be considered a bit disrespectful, regardless of how radical or mild the rabbi is! Others have speculated that Matthew was a bit older than the others because he had a fairly important position as a tax collector. According to prevailing expectations, even the other writers of the New Testament, like Matthew, Peter, and Paul, appear to be too old to be writing when they do, in their mid-60s and beyond especially considering the life expectancies at the period. Think about that: they were worried about putting a tax collector in charge of their money, but Judas not only stole from the money bag (John 12:6), but ultimately betrayed Jesus. According to Matthew, who was an eyewitness to Jesus life, the tale of his birth, his message, and his numerous actions are all documented in the Gospel of Matthew since Matthew was an eyewitness to the Savior. It was also a time when those who chose to follow Jesus by joining the church were being pushed down by an ever-increasing weight of persecution. Over 30,000 video lesson and teaching resources are available in one convenient location. When we get to this third section at Redemption Church, as we continue our journey through Matthew, we will be officially kicking off Lent as a community of believers. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. According to the early church fathers, he was burnt, stoned, stabbed, or beheaded for his religious beliefs. The term "child" is mentioned in Matthew 2: 13-14. Only one (and its analogues) provides us with any significant information about him. 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. There is very little information available about this apostle. But for centuries, the church has claimed it was the Apostle Matthew. And despite the fact that the church has long considered him the author of the Gospel of Matthew, little else was ever recorded about him. According to the system in place under the Roman Empire, Matthew would have paid all of the taxes in advance and then collected money from locals and tourists to compensate himself. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. John's mother's name was Salome and some say that Salome was . Commentary: One of the most pervasive images in the New Testament is that of Jesus as our Passover lamb. The Jewish people shouted in . Matthew travels extensively with Jesus and the apostles. Here are a few of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus' birth: Numbers 24:17 He would be from the line of Jacob. In this case, the age of Christ is important since the information helps us understand the fulfillment of a prophecy in Jeremiah. 'He should be growing old like me!' . Matthew the Apostle was the author of one of the four gospels included in the New Testament of the Bible. Matthew is one of the Four Evangelists, as the term suggests. 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 agrees to serve as one of the 12 apostles. 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). 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. They were dubbed Sons of Thunder by Jesus because they were presumably either loud or courageous when they were young, attributes that Jesus admired in them. It is reasonable to assume that John was at least 20 years old at the time of the crucifixion, given his ability to care for Jesus mother (John 19:2627). Irenaeus, who lived from about 130 AD to 202 AD, made a similar claim in Against Heresies: Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church., However, Papias statement is actually pretty ambiguous. This account is no longer accepted by the majority of researchers today. This is a term designated for Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the four gospel authors who are considered to be the traditional authors of their respective books. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. As a Jew, entering this profession amounted to a betrayal of his people, which was difficult to swallow. Additionally, we can assume Jesus' age through the Book of John in which three Passovers are recorded (John 2:13, 6:4, 11:55). Dont our hearts go out to them more as they struggle to grasp all that Jesus is saying to them? Therefore, it is anachronistic to view people acting with zeal before 68 C.E. But all the disciples are present ( theycame to Capernaum vs 24). 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. Matthew, on the other hand, goes on to describe two further events in which Jesus disclosed these truths to His followers. Clement of Alexandria quotes Heracleon, one of the earliest commentators on the New Testament, as saying that Matthew died naturally: But neither will this utterance be found to be spoken universally; for all the saved have confessed with the confession made by the voice, and departed. 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. Some argue that Matthews role as an eyewitness is evidence that he didnt write the Gospel of Matthew. Calling his disciples children may indicate they were mostly gasp! 4 (2018): 55161. Historical documents are not more sure of anything more exact. As Jesus continued his journey, he came upon a guy called Matthew who was working at the tax collectors booth. The Bible tells us that Peter had a wife when Jesus cured his mother-in-law, according to Matthew 8:14-15. After that, if the youngster was clever and motivated in continuing his religious studies, he would seek out and follow a rabbi who would mentor him, and he would model his life after the rabbi until he was 30 years old. As a Jew, stepping into this profession was essentially an act of betrayal to his people. Are you already a member? He is mentioned in traditions regarding his preaching, but there are no reliable records of his contributions to the early church. Certain scholars believe that Matthews Gospel has internally referenced evidence that ties it to Matthews profession, which might suggest that he was the biblical author. Because weve been far more formed by Bible movies than by the Biblical data on hand. In an attempt to murder him, the monarch makes many attempts, finally nailing him to the ground and setting him ablaze with his own blood on the ground. "As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. And despite his position as a religious outsider, Jesus gave him a prominent position within what would eventually become the largest religion in the world. Not only do we read the recorded interaction between Jesus and His followers, but as we read the tale, our gaze is drawn to the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ as well. February 27, 2023. First and foremost, here are some short facts. They had an urgent request. The first heaven and earth are passed away, and the sea is gone. *shrug*. Jesus with Moses and Elijah. The majority of the disciples were already learning their crafts, as was the case with James and John, who were both apprentices. Most scholars dont accept this account today. What were their professions? Because Matthew's original purpose was to prove to his Jewish brethren that Jesus is their Mashiach/Messiah, he included in his Gospel nine proof texts from the Old Testament which Jesus fulfilledMatthew 1:22,23; 2:15; 2:17,18; 2:23; 4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 13:35; 27:9,10. (Mark 3.16). All three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) make mention of him, as does the book of Acts, which lists him among the disciples. So really, Jesus begins at the very moment it was possible to begin when it was culturally appropriate to assume authority and take on disciples. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. Since we dont know how old he was at the time he met Jesus, we cant be certain he was born in the first century, but he certainly lived then. 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 ). Still, that doesnt mean Matthew didnt write this gospel as well. John, his brother James, Peter, and Andrew were all partners in the fishing business before they became disciples of Jesus. Two, because we find them working in trades at the time Jesus calls them, none of the disciples likely were star students. Like Mark 1:14, Matthew begins after John the Baptist is imprisoned; John 1-5 shows that Jesus' ministry actually began earlier, interspersing ministry in Judea and Galilee before moving to Capernaum. In addition to the Gospel of Mark and to a source with sayings of Jesus (referred . So all of this suggests a very startling, and in some ways endearing picture of the disciples. According to what we can gather from the book of Acts, the early Jesus movement was referred to as The Way (Acts 9:2; Acts 24:14). Home PhilosophyReligion Personages associated with religion Scholars Saints Popesapostle Alternative titles include: Levi, St. Matthew the Apostle, and St. Matthew the Evangelist are all names for the same person. 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. Another important thing to remember is that John lived until at least AD96, when the book of Revelation was published, which is 66 years after Jesus death and resurrection. Jeremiah 23:5-6 He would be David's kingly heir. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. This tax collector was reviled for who he was, but Jesus loved him for who he was. In order for him to teach in the Temple area in Jerusalem, he would have had to have a pedigree that allowed it. We know that John lived until about AD 96 or 97, which is about 66 years after Jesus died. 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. He understood the human heart as well as the aspirations of the Jewish people. 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). "The Central Synagogue of Nazareth Illit and its Architectural Dialogue with Nazareths Basilica of the Annunciation." Matthew would have had to have lived at the same time as Jesus Christ in order to be considered a follower of Jesus Christ. Matthew, on the other hand, was a glutton for punishment before he met Jesus. Matthew was a tax collector. Or at least much younger than their Master. Matthew 4:18-22 relates that Andrew and Peter were fishing, plying their trade when called, and James and John were mending nets with their father. There are legends about his ministry, but no substantial records of his role in the early church. He exalts the humble and lays low those who are proud. Moses: The Old Testaments Greatest Prophet. Matthew is the first person we encounter in Capernaum, as he is working in his tax booth on the major roadway. The Gospel of Matthews author is anonymous, but Matthew the Apostle is traditionally considered the author. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. But Matthew mentions them 28 times. He completed graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, receiving a Masters Degree in Near Eastern Studies in 1979. . St. Peter was a fisherman by trade. CHRIST ASSOCIATES WITH SINNERS TO HELP THEM. 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