MATTHEW AND THADDEUS

I. Matthew

Matthew the Levite was chosen to be one of Jesus’s disciples.

What is a publican? _____________________________________________________________________

Prior to being chosen, Matthew was a “publican”. A publican is a tax collector. (Matthew 9:9)

Matthew 9:9 “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.”

Why were publicans or tax collectors despised? ________________________________________________

As a profession, tax collectors were despised by the Jews because tax collectors worked for the Roman government.

These tax collectors became wealthy because they enriched themselves by collecting taxes from their own people. The Bible gives us a hint as to what these tax collectors did.

Luke 19:5–8 “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.””

How did tax collectors become wealthy? ______________________________________________________

Evidently, Zacchaeus did what Matthew did, and it is how the tax collectors got wealthy.

The Romans would declare an amount to be collected. The tax collectors could keep any amount above and beyond what the Romans demanded.

It is obvious that Zacchaeus knew he had overcharged people, and it can be deduced that Matthew did too since that was common practice. Most Bible scholars believe that Matthew was rather wealthy because of tax collection. The Bible hints at that fact too.

Luke 5:29 “And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.”

How did the Pharisees view tax collectors?____________________________________________________

The Pharisees viewed tax collectors as sinful people,-people so sinful that spending time with them could tarnish a person’s reputation.

When Jesus had dinner at Matthew’s house alongside many other tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees questioned Jesus’s choice of companions, but Jesus had an answer for them.

Matthew 9:9–13 “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””

According to the Pharisees, what made them righteous? _________________________________________

The Pharisees claimed righteousness because of the Law. They did not need a Savior, but Jesus saw straight through to their cold hearts and proclaimed the gospel message to the ones who knew they were sick. Jesus never condemned the poor, the sick, or the sinful. He forgave them and encouraged them, but He harshly condemned the religious elite who thought themselves to be worthy.

Matthew left all of his riches to follow Jesus. He left his position of security and protection for hardship and martyrdom in Ethiopia for questioning the morals of the king as he witnessed and shared the gospel with the king. Matthew was staked to the ground by a spear shortly after writing the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew had a gospel message that was different from the other three gospels.

What is different about Matthew’s gospel? ___________________________________________________

Matthew’s gospel is written specifically for the Jews. He wrote to convince 1st Century Jews that Jesus was the promised Messiah of God.

Matthew is the only gospel writer who painstakingly traces the lineage of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:1-17)

We take those genealogies for granted, but Matthew, the Levite, was inspired by the Holy Spirit to begin his historical narrative of Jesus Christ with that genealogy to prove to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.

2. Thaddeus

Thaddeus is a mystery apostle. He is hardly mentioned in the Bible, and he is referred to in the Bible by four different names.

What are the names attached to Thaddeus in the New Testament?_________________________________

Thaddeus (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18)

Lebbaeus (Matthew 10:3)

Judas son of James (Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13)

Judas, not Iscariot (John 14:22)

Bible scholars say that more than likely Judas was his birth name with Thaddeus and Lebbaeus being nicknames.

What do these nicknames say about Thaddeus?________________________________________________

Lebbaeus means “heart-child.” Thaddeus beans “breast-child.” John MacArthur says that these nicknames indicate that Thaddeus was a gentle soul with a tender heart.

Thaddeus is recorded speaking only once in the Bible as he questioned Jesus regarding something Jesus was trying to teach his disciples on the night of the Last Supper.

John 14:19–24 “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

It is a great question being asked by Thaddeus especially considering they had not been gifted with the Holy Spirit as of this moment. How is Jesus going to be known to them and not the world?

Who reveals Jesus Christ to the Christian? _____________________________________________________

Today, we could ask the same question, and the answer would be the same. How can the world not see and know Jesus Christ. The answer is simple.

The Holy Spirit reveals all things about Jesus to you as a Christian.

How does a Christian display love for God?____________________________________________________

Notice what Jesus says in verses 19-24. Love for God is displayed through obedience. Obedience and love are inseparable for Christians. If you are disobedient, do not claim that you love God because the proof of you doing so is not there. God’s children love and obey Him. If you are a child of God, you receive the Holy Spirit who reveals all things concerning Christ to you, but Christ remains hidden to the lost world.

The world is blind to Jesus because the world does not have the indwelling Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus Christ.

Nothing else is mentioned about Thaddeus. We know according to church history that he took the gospel into Edessa, Turkey where he performed miracles, preached, and founded a church. While he was there, he was martyred either by crucifixion or by being beat to death by clubs or axes.

It seems that Matthew and Thaddeus harnessed the qualities possessed by Levi and Simeon. Matthew left behind a privileged life to die for Christ. Thaddeus, who is rather insignificant just as Simeon was the smallest and weakest tribe, also dies sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. In the end, Simeon and Levi will stand shoulder to should proclaiming Jesus to a world enthralled with the Antichrist, and because of their missionary zeal, millions will be saved.