Many have asked how my next book about Matthew is coming along. I have about 13,000 words so far. Matthew has grown from a five year-old boy to a teenager. About 82,000 more words to go. Yikes!

People ask, “How do you come up with that many words when we know so little about Matthew?” 

Let’s think about that. What do we know about Matthew? One of the twelve disciples? A tax collector? Yes, and in many of the listings, we see him classified that way. Let’s start there.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew;

James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

Philip and Bartholomew;

Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;

James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Matthew 10:2-4

This listing comes right before the disciples are sent out two by two. Notice that here (and in other listings) Thomas and Matthew are grouped together. Therefore, I will think of how Thomas with his questions might have made friends with Matthew who maybe had lots of answers. I believe Matthew was a very smart man.

Notice also little tags that go with some names, like: “who is called Peter,” “and his brother,” “the tax collector,” “one who betrayed Jesus.” As I look for any hint of how to portray the story of Matthew, I look for things like that. 

I will explore what having the tag, “tax collector,” might have meant for Matthew. After all, others weren’t listed as “fisherman,” “potter,” or whatever they’re profession might have been. Of course “tax collector” carried a heavy burden of shame. He was labeled for life even though he had become a believer and follower. Did the disciples whisper behind Matthew’s back about his previous profession and his life with sinners?

Perhaps it took the disciples a long time to truly capture the new commandment Jesus gave them.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35

You may remember in a previous blog, we looked at the incident when Jesus first called Matthew to follow Him. Later Matthew had a big dinner party with his old friends (sinners, of course) along with Jesus and the disciples. The Pharisees happened by, observed the dinner, and asked the disciples why Jesus ate with sinners. The disciples didn’t answer. Maybe they were wondering the same thing! Jesus quickly filled in for them.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

Mark and Luke tell it the same way, but Matthew remembers one other phrase  Jesus said to the Pharisees that night.

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ ” Matthew 9:13

This may likely have been a message for the disciples as well as the Pharisees. Mercy to those we would be inclined to look down on. A good message we are still learning today.

~ Joyce ~