📜 10 Surprising Facts About the Apostle Matthew 🕊️
The Apostle Matthew is one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and the author of the Gospel of Matthew. But there’s more to his story than most people realize! Here are 10 surprising facts about Matthew that will give you a deeper appreciation for his life and ministry.
1️⃣ Matthew Was a Tax Collector 💰
Before following Jesus, Matthew worked as a tax collector in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9). Tax collectors were hated by the Jews because they worked for the Roman government and often took extra money for themselves.
👉 Amazing Fact: Jesus called Matthew while he was still a tax collector, showing that God can use anyone for His glory!
2️⃣ His Original Name Was Levi 🏛️
Before being called Matthew, he was known as Levi, son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27). His name change may symbolize his new identity in Christ.
👉 Biblical Example: Just like Saul became Paul, Matthew’s transformation shows how Jesus gives new life to those who follow Him!
3️⃣ Matthew Immediately Followed Jesus 🏃♂️
When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” Matthew left everything and obeyed without hesitation (Matthew 9:9).
👉 Life Lesson: True discipleship means being willing to leave behind worldly success to follow Christ.
4️⃣ He Hosted a Feast for Jesus 🍽️
After following Jesus, Matthew held a great banquet at his house and invited many tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5:29-32).
👉 Why It Matters: This shows that Matthew wanted his friends to meet Jesus, proving that evangelism starts with those closest to us.
5️⃣ His Gospel Focuses on Jesus as the Messiah 👑
The Gospel of Matthew was written primarily for a Jewish audience to prove that Jesus is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament.
👉 Key Theme: Matthew often says, “This happened to fulfill what was spoken by the prophets,” linking Jesus to Old Testament prophecy.
6️⃣ Matthew’s Gospel Includes the Sermon on the Mount 🏔️
One of Matthew’s most famous contributions is the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), where Jesus teaches:
✅ The Beatitudes (“Blessed are the poor in spirit…”)
✅ The Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father in heaven…”)
✅ The Golden Rule (“Do unto others…”)
👉 Impact: This sermon remains one of the most powerful teachings in history!
7️⃣ He Emphasizes Jesus as “Immanuel” (God With Us) 🌟
Matthew is the only Gospel writer who quotes the prophecy:
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us’).” – Matthew 1:23
👉 Why It’s Important: Matthew highlights Jesus’ divinity, showing that He is God in human form.
8️⃣ Matthew Was One of the Few Apostles Who Wrote a Gospel ✍️
Out of the twelve disciples, only Matthew, John, Peter (through Mark), and Paul (through Luke) contributed to the writing of the New Testament.
👉 What This Shows: God used Matthew’s background in record-keeping to write an orderly and detailed account of Jesus’ life.
9️⃣ Matthew Likely Preached in Ethiopia and Persia 🌍
Church tradition says Matthew traveled to Ethiopia, Persia, and possibly Syria to spread the Gospel. He may have also written his Gospel while in Antioch.
👉 Missionary Impact: Matthew fulfilled the Great Commission by taking the Gospel to the nations!
🔟 Matthew Was Martyred for His Faith 🩸
Like most of the apostles, Matthew was killed for his faith. Some traditions say he was stabbed with a sword while preaching in Ethiopia.
👉 Ultimate Sacrifice: He went from a wealthy tax collector to a faithful servant of Christ, dying for the message he once abandoned everything to follow.
📖 Conclusion: Matthew’s Life Still Inspires Us Today!
Matthew’s transformation from a greedy tax collector to a devoted disciple shows that no one is beyond God’s grace. His Gospel continues to change lives today, proving that Jesus truly is the Messiah.
📌 Which fact about Matthew surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!
✅ Share this with someone who wants to grow in faith! 🙏✨
