Matthew

the tax collector

Who was Matthew?

He was a tax collector. Matthew 9:9; Matthew 10:3
Jesus saw him sitting at the customs post and said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9
Mark and Luke tell of the same call, of a tax collector named Levi; Tradition says he is Matthew. Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27

The name: In Hebrew, Matthew means “gift of God.” Benedict XVI, general audience of August 30, 2006; Catholic Encyclopedia (1911), “St. Matthew”
Also called: Levi, son of Alphaeus (this is how tradition understands it: Mark and Luke give this name to the tax collector in the same story) Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27; Benedict XVI, general audience of August 30, 2006 · Matthew the tax collector Matthew 10:3
Occupation: Tax collector (publican) Matthew 9:9; Matthew 10:3
Feast day: September 21: Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

What the Bible says

Matthew 9:9; Matthew 10:3

And when Jesus passed on from hence, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he saith to him: Follow me. And he rose up and followed him.

Matthew 9:9

And when Jesus passed on from hence, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he saith to him: Follow me. And he rose up and followed him.

Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27

And when he was passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the receipt of custom; and he saith to him: Follow me. And rising up, he followed him.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Matthew

Before Jesus. He was a tax collector. He was sitting at his tax booth when Jesus passed by. Matthew 9:9
With Jesus. Jesus told him to follow him. Matthew got up, left everything, and followed him. Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:28
With Jesus. Luke tells that Levi gave a great banquet for Jesus in his house; according to Tradition, Levi is Matthew. Luke 5:29
With Jesus. Some Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with sinners. Jesus answered that it is the sick who need a doctor. Matthew 9:11-12
With Jesus. Jesus chose him as one of the Twelve apostles. Matthew 10:2-3
Afterward. After the Ascension, he was in Jerusalem with the other apostles, praying with Mary. Acts 1:13-14
Afterward. According to Tradition: According to Eusebius, he first preached to the Hebrews and left them his Gospel in writing, in their own language. Eusebius, Church History III, 24, 6
Afterward. According to Tradition: According to almost all the ancient accounts, he died a martyr, but they do not agree on where or how. Catholic Encyclopedia (1911), “St. Matthew”

Words of Matthew

The Gospels do not record a single word of his.

What they were like

He answered right away: Jesus told him to follow him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9
To follow Jesus, he left everything. Luke 5:28
Luke tells that Levi gave a great banquet for Jesus in his house; according to Tradition, Levi is Matthew. Luke 5:29

The greatest thing they did

He left his job as a tax collector to follow Jesus. Luke 5:27-28

Not to be confused with

James, son of Alphaeus: Mark calls Levi “son of Alphaeus,” and James is also “son of Alphaeus.” The Bible does not say they were brothers. Mark 2:14; Matthew 10:3
Matthias was chosen after the Ascension to take the place of Judas Iscariot. Matthew was one of the Twelve from the beginning. Acts 1:25-26; Matthew 10:3
Zacchaeus: Zacchaeus also collected taxes, but he was a chief tax collector in Jericho, and he was not one of the Twelve. Luke 19:2

In the Church today

Feast day: September 21, Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (feast). General Roman Calendar

Patron of: Of the city of Salerno, in Italy, where his relics are venerated Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, press release of September 7, 2024; John Paul II, homily in Salerno, May 26, 1985

In art, recognized by: A man with wings: one of the four symbols of the Evangelists Catholic Encyclopedia (1911), “St. Matthew”; Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), “Evangelist”; A money bag, or sometimes an axe Catholic Encyclopedia (1907), “Apostle Spoons”

Matthew in art

What people ask

Are Matthew and Levi the same person?

That is how the tradition of the Church understands it. The Gospel of Matthew tells the call using the name Matthew; Mark and Luke, using the name Levi. Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27

What was a publican?

A tax collector. Many people considered them sinners, because they often charged too much and served a foreign power. Mark 2:16; NABRE note on Mc 2, 14; Benedict XVI, general audience of August 30, 2006

Did Saint Matthew write the Gospel of Matthew?

The tradition of the early Church says yes, going back to Papias, around the year 130. Benedict XVI, general audience of August 30, 2006; Eusebius, Church History III, 39, 16

What did Jesus say at the meal with the tax collectors?

That those who are well do not need a doctor, but the sick do, and that he came to call sinners. Luke 5:29; Matthew 9:12-13

Why is Saint Matthew’s symbol a man?

The four Evangelists are shown with the four figures from a vision in Ezekiel and in the Book of Revelation. Matthew was given the man. Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), “Evangelist”

Daily life He was a tax collector and worked sitting at his tax booth. Matthew 9:9; Matthew 10:3 Jesus saw him as he passed by the lake, near Capernaum. Mark…

The rest of this page (daily life, failings, little-known facts, for you…) is part of the subscription.

See the map

Who Matthew is connected to

Jesus · called him

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

See Matthew on the map