St Matthew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Before following Jesus, he worked as a tax collector in Capernaum, collecting taxes for the Roman authorities. Many people disliked tax collectors, but Jesus saw Matthew sitting at his tax booth and said, “Follow me” (Matthew 9:9). Matthew immediately left his work and became one of Jesus’ disciples. His calling shows that everyone deserves forgiveness and the opportunity to change their life.
Matthew travelled with Jesus and witnessed his teachings, miracles and ministry. He is traditionally believed to have written the Gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament. His Gospel describes the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus and includes important teachings such as the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew also records Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to spread the Christian faith throughout the world.
After Jesus’ resurrection, Christian tradition says that Matthew travelled to preach the Gospel, although the details of his later life are uncertain. Some traditions claim that he died as a martyr, but the exact circumstances of his death are unknown. His feast day is celebrated on 21 September in the Roman Catholic Church. St Matthew is remembered for his faith, his willingness to follow Jesus and his important contribution to Christianity.
