Who Was Matthew the Apostle — Meaning Explained
Matthew (Levi) was a despised tax collector whom Jesus called to be an apostle, and he authored the first Gospel bearing his name.
Matthew (Levi) was a despised tax collector whom Jesus called to be an apostle, and he authored the first Gospel bearing his name.
"And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him." — Matthew 9:9 (KJV)
What "Who Was Matthew the Apostle?" Actually Means
Matthew's calling is one of the most dramatic conversion stories in Scripture. As a tax collector for Rome, he was despised by fellow Jews as a traitor and sinner. Yet Jesus simply said 'Follow me,' and Matthew 'left all, rose up, and followed him' (Luke 5:28). He immediately threw a great feast, inviting other tax collectors and sinners to meet Jesus—demonstrating evangelistic zeal from day one. When criticized, Jesus declared: 'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance' (Luke 5:32). Matthew's Gospel was written primarily for a Jewish audience, emphasizing Jesus as the promised Messiah and King, with extensive Old Testament quotations. His transformation from corrupt tax collector to Gospel writer illustrates the radical change Christ brings.
Anchor Verses (KJV)
Matthew 9:9
"And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him."
Luke 5:28-29
"And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them."
Luke 5:32
"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Explore this question from another angle
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Who Was the Apostle Paul?
People & Characters
Who was the Apostle Peter?
People & Characters
Who Were the Twelve Apostles?
People & Characters
Matthew in the Bible
The Tax Collector Apostle
Matthew the Apostle Bible Quiz
The tax collector who left his receipt of custom to follow Jesus and write the f
Bible Characters Quiz
Patriarchs, prophets, kings, and disciples — how well do you know them?
Keep Going
Continue Exploring Scripture
You've found one resource — here are more ways to go deeper into God's Word.
Today's Verse
Start each day with a hand-picked KJV verse and reflection.
Verses by Topic
Find what the Bible says about love, anxiety, strength, and 500+ more topics.
Bible Miracles
Discover the signs and wonders of God recorded in Scripture.
Angels & Spiritual Warfare
Angels, demons, and the armor of God — what the KJV really teaches about the unseen battle.
Bible Genealogies & Family Trees
Visual KJV family trees — the line of Jesus, the sons of Noah, the twelve tribes, and more.
Women of the Bible
Eve, Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Mary — the matriarchs, prophetesses, queens, and disciples of Scripture.