St. Matthew, originally called Levi, was probably born in Galilee - the son of Alphaeus. He became a publican tax collector - a social status that was considered low by Jewish religious society and is associated with sinners. When he was in his post as tax collector one day, Jesus called him and he immediately responded and soon became one of the apostles of Jesus (Mt 9:9-13; 10:3).
Matthew is the author of the first gospel, which was written at about the same time as the gospel of Luke was written - ca. 70-80 A.D. The gospel was originally in Aramaic, a Hebrew tongue known to be the native language of Jesus of Nazareth. Although what we have is the Greek translation of the gospel, many passages in the gospel reveal without question that the author is a Jewish Christian of Palestinian origin who was writing to Jewish Christians.
According to tradition, St. Matthew preached in Judea first and then went to the East where he suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia. This is in the records of the Roman martyrology. Legends say he may also have been martyred in Persia.
Art often represents the gospel of Matthew with a human face. The reason behind is because Matthew starts his gospel with the human genealogy of Jesus. Mark is represented by a lion [since the gospel starts with John the Baptist in the wilderness]; Luke is represented by an ox [signifying an animal of sacrifice]; and John is represented by an eagle [signifying the high and lofty beginning of the gospel through the prologue].
The gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as a "new Moses" who often preaches and teaches from a mountain [cf. Sermon on the Mount]. Bible scholars teach that just as Moses went up the mountain of Sinai to help seal the covenant of God with His people Israel, so does Jesus who seals the new covenant, not with the blood of animals, as was the tradition of the Jews in the Old Testament, but with His own blood on the cross at Calvary.
The Church celebrates the feast of St. Matthew, the great apostle and evangelist, on September 21
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