Matthew was one of the twelve disciples called by Jesus from the tax office in Capernium. He was also known as Levi the son of Alpheus. He collected taxes from the Hebrews for the Roman authorities under Herod Antipas and was loathed, despised and hated by the Jews, being seen as a corrupt collaborator and a traitor to the nation. He would have been quite wealthy as a result of his underhand gains. He was thought to have been born in Galilee and was literate in Aramaic and Greek. In Greek His name means "Gift of Yahweh". He is believed to have been one of the twelve apostles and a witness to the resurrection and ascension and hosted Jesus for a meal in his own home which drew disapproval from the Pharisees, who criticized Jesus for mixing with such a sinner as Matthew.
Matthew is author of one of the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament also being one of the three synoptic gospels. His is the first book of the New Testament but thought to have been written after some of the others. The symbol of Matthews gospel is that of a man which is said to depict the Human rather than divine aspect of Jesus. It is thought to have been written after Marks Gospel as it draws some influence from it. It is believed that Matthew was written sometime between 50-80 A.D. and is aimed at a predominantly Jewish audience with the aim of bringing the old and new covenant together to include both Jews and gentiles. Matthew was eager that the Jews would not be left behind by the new teaching.
It is arranged in five blocks of narrative and discourse that some feel is an echo of the five books of the Pentateuch. (The first five books of the bible) His book is arranged in two phases ,firstly the teachings around Galilee then the final six months of ministry in and around Jerusalem. It begins with the Genealogy of Jesus going right back to Abraham. He clearly stated that Jesus was the long awaited for Messiah but linked his life to the Old Testament quoting 60 prophetic passages from scripture and the idea that Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the Jewish law. He referred to Jesus as the new Moses, someone to bring the people out of slavery. Other Gospels most notably Luke’s were written for the benefit of a Gentile non Jewish audience.
Matthews Gospel has a great account of the Beatitudes, the sermon on the mount widely thought to be the best of Jesus’s teaching in which he explains the nature of the Kingdom of God. Matthew also describes the death of Jesus in greater detail including a greater range of discourse and sayings of Jesus in general. He also recorded the negative sayings of Jesus more than the other writers. He is also the only gospel writer to record Christs words about the Church on which the entire faith would be built. Matthew also emphasizes the Kingdom and the Father who is mentioned 44 times knowing that it would resonate with his Jewish audience. He is also recorded in the Babylonian Talmud. He preached to the Jewish community after the death of Jesus and is said to have died a martyrs death. Matthew is a saint in the Roman catholic Church and has a feast day of September 21st.