Apostle and Evangelist Matthew - Orthodox Church in America

Matthew Mac - Exploring The Ancient Story

Apostle and Evangelist Matthew - Orthodox Church in America

By  Hilda Kilback Jr.

Have you ever thought about how old stories, especially those from long, long ago, can still speak to us right where we are today? It's kind of amazing, actually, how some writings manage to bridge the gap of time and still feel so incredibly relevant.

The New International Version Application Bible, for example, really tries to make this happen. It is put together from a whole series of deep explorations, aiming to bring the really old messages of the Bible right into your own everyday existence. So, in some respects, it is about making those ancient words feel fresh and meaningful for people living now.

This approach helps connect us with figures like Matthew Mac, a person whose writings have shaped belief for centuries. His personal story, too, gives us a glimpse into a very different time, yet his words continue to resonate with many people seeking a deeper connection to age-old wisdom. This particular collection, you see, begins with the lineage of Jesus, the Messiah, a line that traces back through history.

Table of Contents

Who Was Matthew Mac?

When we talk about Matthew Mac, we are talking about a person of real significance in early Christian accounts. He was, as a matter of fact, one of the twelve chosen companions of Jesus. This group, known as the apostles, played a very special part in spreading the teachings they had learned. Matthew, often called Saint Matthew, also went by the name Levi, which is just a little interesting to know.

He had a rather unique background before he joined this group. Matthew Mac worked as a tax collector, or what people then called a "publican." Now, you see, this was not a job that people generally liked in those days, especially in ancient Judaism. People who did this work were often looked down upon, sort of seen as collaborators with the ruling powers, and many people just did not trust them. So, his choice to follow Jesus was quite a big deal for someone in his position, really.

The story goes that Jesus simply told him, "Follow me," and Matthew Mac got up from his tax booth and went with him. This moment shows a really powerful call to a new way of living. Little is known about what happened right after this, or about his life before this moment, but that simple invitation changed his path completely. He became a close follower, someone who spent time listening and learning directly from Jesus, which is pretty amazing when you think about it.

Tradition, which is basically what people have passed down through the years, says that Matthew Mac was also one of the four writers who put together the stories of Jesus's life. These writers are often called evangelists. His particular account, what we know as the Gospel of Matthew, holds a very important spot in the collection of early Christian writings. It's the one that often comes first when you open up the New Testament section of the Bible, which is quite a thing, you know.

Personal Details About Matthew Mac

Other NamesSaint Matthew, Levi
RoleOne of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, Evangelist
Profession Before CallTax Collector (Publican)
Traditional Author OfThe Gospel of Matthew
Period of ActivityFirst century CE
Location of ActivityPalestine
Western Feast DaySeptember 21
Eastern Feast DayNovember 16

The Writing That Matthew Mac Gave Us

The book written by Matthew Mac, often called the Gospel According to Matthew, has a very special place in the collection of books that make up the New Testament. It is, in fact, the first of the four main stories about Jesus's life. This position, you see, might suggest that people thought it was the first one written, or perhaps it was just considered very important for other reasons. It starts with a record of Jesus's family tree, going all the way back to Abraham, which is a rather significant detail.

This book is also the first one you will find in the entire New Testament. And if you are looking at the whole Bible, it is the fortieth book in that very long collection. So, it holds a position of some prominence, you might say, right there at the start of the part that tells us about Jesus and the early followers. The way it is put together, and what it talks about, tends to make people believe it truly came from the disciple Matthew Mac, based on what we can gather from the writing itself and what people have believed for a very long time.

Matthew Mac's account, along with the writings from Luke, John, and Mark, gives us a history of Jesus's life. These writings are seen as being inspired, meaning they are considered accurate and true accounts of what happened. They offer different perspectives, yet they all point to the same central figure. His particular telling begins by tracing Jesus's family line from Abraham, a key figure in older sacred writings. This is a pretty unique way to start a story like this, you know.

What Makes Matthew Mac's Account So Important?

So, what makes Matthew Mac's story about Jesus stand out? Well, for one thing, it is placed right at the beginning of the New Testament. This placement is not just random; it often reflects a long-held view that this particular account was one of the earliest ones put down in writing. It also happens to be the first of the four major stories about Jesus's life, which gives it a kind of foundational role. People generally turn to it first when they want to read about Jesus's time on earth.

The writing itself is considered a truthful and precise record of events. It is seen as a source that gives an honest look at Jesus's life. This means that when people read it, they are reading what is believed to be a very reliable account of what Jesus did and what he taught. This belief in its truthfulness, you see, is a big part of why it has been so widely read and valued for so many centuries. It is, in a way, a cornerstone for many people's beliefs.

The story also includes some really powerful moments. For instance, it mentions a time when crowds saw what Jesus could do, and they were filled with a feeling of deep respect and wonder. They gave praise to God for giving such power to people. This kind of detail shows the impact Jesus had on those around him, and how Matthew Mac captured those moments for people to read about later. It really brings those old scenes to life, you know.

How Does Matthew Mac Connect to Ancient Prophecies?

One of the main things Matthew Mac set out to do with his writing was to show his readers, especially those who were Jewish, that Jesus was indeed the Messiah they had been waiting for. This was a really big deal because the idea of a Messiah was deeply rooted in their ancient writings and hopes. So, he made it a point to connect Jesus's life and actions directly to those old predictions, which is pretty clever, actually.

He did this by showing how Jesus, through his life and what he did, fulfilled the predictions found in the older sacred writings. He would often point out specific instances where something Jesus did or said matched up with what had been written long before. This was a very direct way to make his point, to help people see the links between the past and the present. It was, you might say, a way of proving his case.

For example, the very beginning of his book talks about Jesus's family tree, tracing it back through important figures like David and Abraham. This genealogy was not just a list of names; it was a way to show that Jesus had the right lineage, the right family background, to be the promised leader. This was something that people at the time would have looked for, so it was a very important detail to include. It really helped to build his argument, you know.

His writing, in this way, was a powerful tool for explaining who Jesus was to people who were already familiar with those older sacred texts. He wanted them to see that everything was coming together, that Jesus was the person those writings had talked about for so long. It was, in a way, an effort to bring clarity and confirmation to those who were searching for answers about the future leader. So, he put a lot of thought into how he presented these connections, clearly.

What Was the Audience for Matthew Mac's Writing?

The group of people who first read Matthew Mac's book was, at the start, mostly made up of Jewish followers of Jesus. These were people who came from a Jewish background but had also come to believe in Jesus. So, the writing was very much shaped by their way of thinking and their knowledge of older sacred texts. It was, you know, written with them specifically in mind, which makes sense.

However, over time, the group of followers who used Matthew's book changed. It became a community where people who were not Jewish, often called Gentile Christians, became the larger part. This meant that the book, which was originally very much focused on Jewish ideas, started to be used by a wider group of people. This shift shows how the early community of followers was growing and changing, too.

Matthew Mac's writing also tried to answer questions about how people should live, about what it means to do what God wants. His book, you see, tries to explain how living a life that follows God's wishes works out in practice. It gives guidance and examples, helping people understand how to live in a way that aligns with the teachings they had received. This was a really practical aspect of his writing, helping people figure out their day-to-day lives, actually.

So, while it began with a certain group of readers in mind, its messages proved to be helpful for many others as well. The way it addressed questions of right living and belief made it something that could speak to a growing and diverse group of people. It shows how a piece of writing can have a lasting impact beyond its initial readers, which is quite interesting, really.

Looking at the NIV Application Bible with Matthew Mac's Insights

The NIV Application Bible is put together in a way that helps people take the very old messages from the Bible and see how they can be used in their own lives today. It is built from a whole series of detailed explanations and thoughts, aiming to make those ancient words feel relevant and helpful for modern situations. This means it tries to bridge the gap between what was written long ago and what we experience now, which is pretty neat, you know.

When you look at Matthew Mac's writing through the lens of this particular Bible, it helps you see the deeper meaning and how it can apply to your own world. His original story, which tells about Jesus's family tree and his call to follow him, is presented in a way that encourages you to think about what those things mean for you. It is a way of bringing the past into the present, making it feel less distant, you see.

The idea is to help people not just read the words, but to think about what they mean for their own choices and their own way of living. It takes the ideas Matthew Mac wrote about—like the genealogy of Jesus, or the story of Jacob giving birth to Joseph, who was Mary's husband, and from whom Jesus was born—and helps you consider their importance for today. So, it is about making those old stories come alive in a new way, really.

It helps you connect with the sense of wonder that people felt when they saw what Jesus could do. The text mentions how crowds were filled with awe and gave praise to God because of the power given to people. This kind of reaction, you know, is something the NIV Application Bible wants to help you understand and perhaps even experience for yourself, by showing how those ancient events can still stir similar feelings in people today. It is quite a thoughtful way to present the material, actually.

Where Can You Find Matthew Mac's Story?

If you want to read Matthew Mac's story for yourself, you can easily find the book of Matthew online. There are many places where you can access it, which is pretty convenient. This means you can read it whenever and wherever you want, which is a good thing, you know.

These online versions often come with extra tools to help you understand what you are reading. You can usually find the different parts of the book organized by chapters and verses. And, in many cases, they will also have a full summary of what each section is about, along with explanations of the meaning and connections to other parts of the Bible. This is very helpful for anyone who wants to look into it more deeply.

These extra bits of information are there to help you with your study. They can help you figure out what the words mean in their original setting and how they might apply to your own life. So, you are not just reading the words, but also getting some background and thoughts that can make the reading experience richer. It is a very practical way to approach older writings, really.

So, whether you are just curious or you want to spend some time looking into the details, the story written by Matthew Mac is very much available for you to explore. It is, you see, a widely accessible piece of writing that has continued to be a source of thought and discussion for a very long time. This makes it easy for anyone to find and read what he wrote, which is quite nice.

Matthew's Lasting Impact and Story

Matthew Mac, as one of the original twelve companions of Jesus, left a lasting mark on history. His name, you know, is still spoken of and remembered centuries later, which is a true sign of his importance. He is recognized for his direct connection to Jesus and for being a key figure in the early days of the Christian movement, which is quite something to think about.

The fact that he is consistently thought of as the person who wrote the first account of Jesus's life, the Gospel of Matthew, is a very strong tradition. This idea has been passed down through generations of followers and is supported by what is actually in the book itself. So, it is not just a random guess, but something that people have believed for a very long time and found evidence for in the text, too.

His story and his writing have continued to shape the way many people think about Jesus and his teachings. The insights he put down on paper have guided countless individuals and groups throughout the years. It is, you might say, a foundational piece of writing that has helped people understand their beliefs and their purpose. This kind of lasting influence is pretty remarkable, actually.

Even today, there are special days set aside to remember Matthew Mac. In the western tradition, people observe September 21st, and in the eastern tradition, it is November 16th. These days are a way of honoring his contributions and keeping his memory alive. It shows how much his work and his life continue to mean to people, even after so much time has passed. So, his story, you see, is still very much a part of our shared human experience.

Apostle and Evangelist Matthew - Orthodox Church in America
Apostle and Evangelist Matthew - Orthodox Church in America

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Meet Matthew the Apostle, Tax Collector, Gospel Writer
Meet Matthew the Apostle, Tax Collector, Gospel Writer

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Book of Matthew History
Book of Matthew History

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