Who was Matthew in the Bible?

About 30 to 40 years after Jesus had died and ascended back to heaven one of his follower picked up his pen and wrote about Him in the most remarkable way. When Jesus called Matthew he immediately left tax collecting desk and followed Him. He did not think twice or hesitate.

Matthew who was also known as Levi, was choose by Jesus when he was a tax collector. Tax collectors were hated by Jews because of two main reasons. One was because they collected the taxes for the Romans. Another reason was because they were very dishonest people. Most of them would collect extra taxes and once they paid what was due to the Roman government, they would keep the remainder

There are many things we could say about Matthew but here are 5 interesting things describing who was Matthew in the Bible.

He was a Disciple who Knew How to Read and Write

Unlike the fishermen, Matthew’s job required him to keep records, write receipts, and calculate taxes. He had to know Greek (the common trade language), Aramaic (his native tongue), and possibly some Latin (the Roman official language). This made him among the most educated of Jesus’ disciples.

His Gospel shows deep knowledge of the Old Testament. He quotes the Hebrew Scriptures more than any other Gospel writer—over 60 direct quotations and hundreds of references. That means Matthew either memorized large portions of the Torah and Prophets or had strong access to scrolls.

As a Jewish boy, Matthew would have been taught the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4–9) and memorized Scripture from a young age. Even though he became a tax collector (a despised job), he didn’t lose his Jewish upbringing in the Word.

The very skills that made him an outcast (working for Rome, keeping records, handling money, writing accounts) were the ones God used for His glory. Matthew turned from keeping tax records to keeping the record of Jesus’ life.

He Bridged the Old Testament and New Testament

Matthew directly quotes or alludes to the Old Testament 129 times—far more than any other Gospel writer. Examples: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive…” (Isaiah 7:14 → Matthew 1:23) “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1 → Matthew 2:15) and many others. Through this, Matthew is essentially saying: “Jesus is the one your Scriptures were preparing you for.”

Another way is that Matthew repeats the phrase “that which was spoken” or “this was to fulfill what was spoken” 14 times. This is his way of tying Jesus’ life and ministry directly to prophecy. For example: “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah…” (Matthew 8:17). It reinforces that Jesus is not breaking away from Jewish Scripture but bringing it to completion.

He Wrote to a Jewish Audience 

Interestingly, Matthew begins wrote to Jewish Audience. Although his message points outward to the nations (e.g., the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19), his writing style and references suggest his primary audience was Jewish readers, . He begin with a genealogy tracing Jesus back to Abraham and David—figures central to Jewish identity. He emphasizes Old Testament symbols and traditions (e.g., Moses, Passover, Temple) and shows how Jesus redefines them.

Another way to show his audience was Jewish is that he uses the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” 32 times. Jews often avoided saying “God’s name” directly, so Matthew respects this by writing “Heaven” instead of “God.” He carefully structures his Gospel to show how Jesus embodies and fulfils the Torah, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

He Wrote the Book of Matthew at Around AD 60–70.

The exact year Matthew wrote his Gospel isn’t 100% certain, but scholars generally agree on a timeframe.

Jesus’ death and resurrection: around AD 30–33. The Gospel of Matthew: most scholars place it between AD 60–70. That means Matthew likely wrote his Gospel about 30–40 years after Jesus’ resurrection. The Gospel seems to be written before Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in AD 70, since Matthew emphasizes Temple worship and does not describe its destruction as a past event. Writing within 30–40 years meant many people who had seen Jesus were still alive, which gave credibility to Matthew’s account.”

He Hosted a Feast for Jesus

Right after being called, Matthew held a banquet where many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus (Luke 5:29). This became one of the earliest public signs that Jesus came for the outcasts, not just the religious elite.

Conclusion

Church tradition says Matthew preached the Gospel in places like Ethiopia, Persia, and possibly India. Some traditions claim he was martyred, while others suggest he died a natural death. Either way, his mission work spread far beyond Israel just like he wrote about the great commission.