Saint Matthew - The Unpopular - He is from Galilee was named Levi - Mark 2:14 - but after his conversion Jesus called him Matthew which means "Gift of God". Matt. 10:3 - Matthew was hated just because he was a publican or a money or tax collector/gatherer. Publicans were generally regarded as criminals; they were classed with Gentiles - Matt. 18:19 - with harlots - Matt. 21:31-33 - and with sinners. - Matt. 9:10-11 - But when Jesus said to him "Follow Me" he rose and followed Him. More than that he "left all/left everything behind". -Mark 2:14; Luke 3:27-28 -

The only thing he took was a pen; he needed that to write his Gospel. That night he gave a dinner party and invited all his friends. The Lord was there. It was the first night in years that anyone with a good name sat at his table. The Pharisees and lawyers complained to the Lord, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collector/gatherer and sinners?' - Luke 5:30 - Overhearing the remark, Jesus said: "Those who are well do not need a physician but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners". - Matt. 9:12-13 -

The Gospel of Matthew, reflecting his past experience of precise accounting offers the most complete, accurate and systematic arrangement of Jesus' teaching in the New Testament and the early Church. Because of its proven and emphasis on the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, Matthew is well suited as the opening book of the New Testament. In it the promises of God are recalled and the their fulfillment in Jesus Christ is announced.

Now all this took place to fulfill the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel, a name which means "God-is-with-us". - Matt. 1:22; 2:15, 17, 23 -

It was originally written in Hebrew and addressed to the Jews and was later translated into Greek. The original Hebrew text is now lost. In art, Matthew is symbolized by a winged man because he began his Gospel with Jesus' human genealogy; while Mark is represented by a lion, Luke by an ox and John by an eagle. Saint Matthew after evangelizing in Judea for 15 years went to preach to the East, where he suffered martyrdom. His feast day is on September 21.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -