Lexical Summary Matthaios: Matthew Original Word: Ματθαῖος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Matthew. A shorter form of machomai; Matthaeus (i.e. Matthitjah), an Israelite and a Christian -- Matthew. see GREEK machomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for Maththaios, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3156: ΜαθθαῖοςΜαθθαῖος, Μαθθάν, see Ματθαῖος, Ματθάν. STRONGS NT 3156: ΜατθαῖοςΜατθαῖος (L T Tr WH Μαθθαῖος, cf. Buttmann, 8 (7); (WHs Appendix, 159b; Scrivener, Introduction, chapter viii. § 5, p. 562)), Ματθαιου (Buttmann, 18 (16)), ὁ (commonly regarded as Hebrew מַתִּיָה, gift of God, from מַתָּן and יָהּ; but מַתִּיָּה is in Greek Ματθίας, and the analogy of the names חַגַּי (from חָג a festival) in Greek Αγγαιος, זַכַּי, Ζακχαῖος, and others, as well as the Syriac form of the name before us yTM [ Matthew means “gift of the LORD,” reminding readers that every disciple is first an act of divine generosity. The name links the apostle’s personal history with the grace-centered themes that permeate the Gospel he penned. Occurrences in the New Testament The name appears only five times, each time identifying the apostle: Matthew 9:9; Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13. Four of these references list him among the Twelve; one records his personal call. Call and Conversion “Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him” (Matthew 9:9). The immediacy of Matthew’s response displays the compelling authority of Jesus and illustrates salvation by grace rather than merit, for tax collectors were despised collaborators with Rome. Matthew subsequently hosted a banquet for fellow tax collectors and sinners, and Jesus declared, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13). The scene underscores how personal transformation leads naturally to evangelistic hospitality. Role among the Twelve In every apostolic list Matthew’s name falls in the second group of four, a placement suggesting neither prominence nor obscurity but steady faithfulness. His background as a tax collector offered the team administrative skills and access to social circles unreachable by fishermen. After the Ascension he is found in the upper room, “continually in prayer” (Acts 1:13-14), modeling dependence on the Spirit for all ministry. Authorship of the First Gospel Early church testimony uniformly assigns the first canonical Gospel to this apostle. Papias, Irenaeus, and Origen all connect him to the work. Internal evidence supports such attribution: the Gospel alone records the parable of the unmerciful servant with its large debts (Matthew 18:23-35), reflects familiarity with financial terms (Matthew 17:24-27), and abbreviates the description of his own past more modestly than others do (compare Luke 5:29). Through careful structure, repeated fulfillment formulas, and respect for Mosaic Law, the Gospel demonstrates that Jesus is Israel’s long-awaited Messiah while simultaneously commissioning the Church to reach all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). Ministry and Mission after Pentecost Scripture does not trace Matthew after the upper room, yet early traditions place him first in Judea, then among Jewish communities in Syria, and eventually as far as Ethiopia or Persia. While details vary, every strand portrays him as evangelist and teacher, consistent with the didactic character of his Gospel and the closing charge to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Theological Emphases Linked to Matthew 1. Kingdom of Heaven: Matthew prefers this expression, reinforcing reverence for God’s name among Jewish readers while highlighting Christ’s royal authority. Legacy in Church History Matthew’s Gospel became the church’s catechism. Its Sermon on the Mount shaped early Christian ethics, the Lord’s Prayer guided worship, and the Great Commission propelled missionary enterprise. Many Reformers cited Matthew to affirm justification by faith that bears fruit in obedient works, while modern missions have taken their marching orders directly from its final verses. Practical Application for the Church Today • God’s grace reaches the marginalized; no vocation or past sin bars entrance into Christ’s service. Through Matthew, believers witness how a forgiven sinner becomes an inspired evangelist, how ancient promises blossom in Messiah’s ministry, and how the gospel’s gift moves the redeemed to gift themselves in return. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 9:9 N-AMSGRK: τὸ τελώνιον Μαθθαῖον λεγόμενον καὶ KJV: a man, named Matthew, sitting at INT: the tax booth Matthew called and Matthew 10:3 N-NMS Mark 3:18 N-AMS Luke 6:15 N-AMS Acts 1:13 N-NMS Strong's Greek 3156 |
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