Was the author of the Gospel of Matthew actually a tax collector?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Matthew the Apostle is traditionally credited with writing the first Gospel, yet modern scholars remain divided. While early Church Fathers insisted he penned the text in Hebrew, today's experts argue the Gospel was written anonymously. Beyond the page, his life remains a tapestry of martyrdom, ancient legends, and diverse religious traditions.

The New Testament introduces Matthew as a tax collector in Capernaum, called by Jesus to be one of the twelve apostles. While the Gospels of Mark and Luke describe a similar calling of a man named Levi, the son of Alphaeus, they do not explicitly link him to the name Matthew. Eastern Orthodox tradition reconciles this by identifying Matthew and James, son of Alphaeus, as brothers, both sons of the same father.

Early Christian writers, including Papias and Origen, claimed Matthew wrote his Gospel in Hebrew for a Jewish audience, with translations later appearing in Greek. This tradition suggests the original was kept at the Library of Caesarea. However, most contemporary scholars maintain the Gospel was written anonymously, noting that the superscription 'according to Matthew' was only added during the second century. Some suggest the text may incorporate earlier sources attributed to the disciple, but the original authorship remains a subject of intense academic debate.

Matthew’s legacy extends far beyond the canonical texts. Traditions from the Catholic and Orthodox churches, as well as the Babylonian Talmud, report his death as a martyr. One legend recounts his execution in Ethiopia after he rebuked King Hirtacus for lusting after a nun he had converted. Beyond Christianity, Matthew is honored as a prophet in Druze tradition, where he is counted among a group of five significant figures from the first century, alongside Jesus and other evangelists.

Today, Matthew is venerated across multiple denominations, with his tomb reportedly located in Salerno Cathedral. His feast day is widely celebrated on September 21, a date often associated with the autumnal equinox. Whether viewed as an eyewitness evangelist or a symbolic figure in a broader religious history, Matthew remains a pivotal, if enigmatic, bridge between the ancient world and the development of Christian doctrine.

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