Matthew would not have been accepted by most of his fellow church members simply because of his job. Those he would have hung out with socially were most likely others in his line of work and probably were not believers. They accepted him for who he was and he accepted them. They were the friends and acquaintances that would be invited to his home for dinner to listen to the words of Jesus. There is much to be learned from Matthew in how we should conduct ourselves. We need to really care about all people and be inclusionary. Jesus chose Matthew for his heart… knowing he cared about others and judged no one.
The Disciple Matthew
excerpt from aslbible.com
In the land where Jesus lived there was one group of Jews who were hated and despised. They were the publicans, the tax collectors, who worked for the Roman government. The Jews wanted to be an independent nation with their own ruler. They resented the Romans and anyone who worked with the Roman government. It was the publicans' job to collect from the Jews the taxes levied by the Roman government. Often the publicans took more money than the government charged. In this way they stole from the people and became rich themselves.Not all publicans robbed the people by taking too much tax money. Because some did, the people thought all tax collectors were dishonest. For that reason the people called them sinners.One day Jesus walked along a street in the city of Capernaum. There he saw Matthew sitting at a publican's table, collecting tax money from the people. Even though many Jews hated Matthew, Jesus knew that Matthew had a good heart, that he would make a good disciple. To Matthew he said, "Follow me.”
Gladly Matthew left his money table and followed Jesus. As Matthew walked away, he thought about his many friends who would like to see Jesus. How much Matthew wanted them to hear Jesus' words! At his home Matthew gave a great banquet. He invited many friends who were also tax collectors. Jesus and his disciples were the guests of honor. Even though they had not been invited, the proud scribes and Pharisees gathered in the courtyard of Matthew's house. They watched the dinner party and talked to each other about what they saw. They criticized Jesus for being with these publicans and sinners. No good Jew would do such a thing.
Finally the scribes and Pharisees called Jesus' disciples aside and asked, "Why does your Master eat and drink with publicans and sinners?”
Jesus heard what the proud Jews had said. He answered, "Those who are well do not need a doctor, but the people who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous people, but I have come to call sinners to repent.”
The scribes and Pharisees thought they were too righteous to need repentance. The publicans and sinners admitted they had done wrong. Many of them listened to Jesus' words and repented of their sins. Matthew, the publican, became a true disciple. One of the books in the New Testament is called the Gospel According to Matthew. It records more of Jesus' words than does any of the other Gospels.
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew
excerpt OCA.ORG
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, was also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he was one of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:45; Acts 1:13), and was brother of the Apostle James Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was a publican, or tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. He lived in the Galilean city of Capernaum. When Matthew heard the voice of Jesus Christ: “Come, follow Me” (Mt. 9:9), he left everything and followed the Savior. Christ and His disciples did not refuse Matthew’s invitation and they visited his house, where they shared table with the publican’s friends and acquaintances. Like the host, they were also publicans and known sinners. This event disturbed the pharisees and scribes a great deal.
Publicans who collected taxes from their countrymen did this with great profit for themselves. Usually greedy and cruel people, the Jews considered them pernicious betrayers of their country and religion. The word “publican” for the Jews had the connotation of “public sinner” and “idol-worshipper.” To even speak with a tax-collector was considered a sin, and to associate with one was defilement. But the Jewish teachers were not able to comprehend that the Lord had “come to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mt. 9:13).
St Matthew was attentive to the instructions of the Divine Teacher, he beheld His innumerable miracles, he went together with the Twelve Apostles preaching to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt. 10:6). He was a witness to the suffering, death, and Resurrection of the Savior, and of His glorious Ascension into Heaven.
Having received the grace of the Holy Spirit, which descended upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, St Matthew preached in Palestine for several years.
The Apostle Matthew preached among people who were awaiting the Messiah. His Gospel manifests itself as a vivid proof that Jesus Christ is the Messiah foretold by the prophets, and that there would not be another (Mt. 11:3).
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