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MyPrayerTower
SaintsSeptember 21, 2025

St. Matthew — From Tax Collector to Apostle

He was a traitor to his people. Jesus saw something else. The story of the man who wrote the first Gospel.

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MyPrayerTower Team
5 min read Spiritual Study

St. Matthew (Levi) was the scumbag of Capernaum. Tax collectors were Jews who worked for the Roman occupiers. They overcharged their own neighbors to line their pockets. They were hated.

The Glance

Jesus walked by his booth. He didn't lecture him. He didn't demand he pay back the money first. He just said: "Follow me." And Matthew got up. He left the money on the table.

The Dinner

The first thing Matthew did was throw a party for Jesus. He invited his "sinner friends." The Pharisees complained: "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus replied: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

The Gospel

Matthew wrote his Gospel for the Jews. He wanted to prove to his people (who hated him) that Jesus was the Messiah they were waiting for. He quotes the Old Testament 99 times.


You are not your job. You are His. Read the Gospel of Matthew 1 on the MyPrayerTower app.

"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
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