The Feast of St. Matthew: From Tax Collector to Apostle
On September 21st, Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew, remembering the remarkable story of one of the Twelve Apostles - a man who was once a despised tax collector and became a beloved disciple and witness to the resurrection. Christian tradition also remembers him as the Evangelist whose name is attached to the first Gospel in our New Testament.
Matthew’s life is one of the great stories of transformation in the New Testament. When Jesus called him, Matthew left behind a career associated with greed and social exclusion and stepped into the heart of God’s redemptive story. His feast gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on mercy, vocation, and the extraordinary things that can happen when an ordinary person hears the words “Follow me” and says yes.
Matthew or Levi?
In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we meet this apostle at his calling, but you may notice something interesting: Matthew’s Gospel calls him Matthew, while Mark and Luke call the tax collector Levi.
Having more than one name was not unusual in the ancient world, and traditionally these accounts have been understood as referring to the same man. But Scripture does not actually tell us why the names differ, and scholars have offered various explanations over the centuries.
The name Matthew comes from a Hebrew name meaning “gift of God,” a beautiful meaning when we consider the life that followed his encounter with Jesus. Throughout Church tradition, he has been remembered as Matthew, the apostle and Evangelist.
The Call of St. Matthew
Before his encounter with Christ, Matthew was a tax collector, or publican. His calling takes place in the region of Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus conducted so much of His early ministry.
In first-century Judea, tax collectors were deeply despised. They worked within the Roman system of taxation, were viewed as collaborators with an occupying power, and had a reputation for enriching themselves through dishonest practices and extortion. Their regular dealings with Gentiles also contributed to their social and religious exclusion. It is not surprising, then, that throughout the New Testament we so often find tax collectors grouped together with “sinners.”
One small detail I especially love - when Matthew’s Gospel later names the Twelve Apostles, it calls him “Matthew the tax collector” (Matthew 10:3). The other apostolic lists simply call him Matthew. The part of his story that might have brought him shame is not erased. Instead, it becomes part of the testimony of what the call of Christ can do with our lives.
Jesus’ Radical Mercy
Against this backdrop, the moment Jesus calls Matthew becomes even more remarkable. Jesus sees him sitting at the tax booth and gives him a simple invitation: “Follow me.” Matthew rises and follows Him.
That same day, Jesus shared a meal surrounded by other tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees are scandalized and demand to know why Jesus would eat with people like these. His response goes directly to the heart of Matthew’s story:
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick… I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”(Matthew 9:12–13)
This is at the heart of Matthew’s story and of the Gospel that bears his name: Christ came for the outsider, the broken, and the unlikely. The man others saw as unclean and unworthy was the very man Jesus called to become one of His closest disciples.
The Ministry and Legacy of St. Matthew
After the resurrection and Pentecost, Matthew is named among the apostles gathered together in Jerusalem. From there, the details of his life become much less certain, and several different traditions developed about where he traveled and preached.
Early Christian tradition associates Matthew with missionary work beyond Judea, and some accounts place him as far away as Ethiopia. Traditions surrounding his death also vary, although he has long been honored in much of the Church as a martyr.
One later tradition tells of Matthew’s confrontation with King Hirtacus, who attempted to force a consecrated virgin named Ephigenia into marriage. According to the story, Matthew defended her and was put to death because of it, laying down his life while defending the Christian faith and Ephigenia’s vow.
Whatever uncertainty surrounds the details of Matthew’s later life, his most enduring legacy in the Church is the Gospel that bears his name and that Christian tradition has long attributed to him.
The Gospel of Matthew is rich with references to the Old Testament and deeply rooted in the story of Israel. Again and again, it connects the life of Jesus with the Scriptures that came before Him, proclaiming with particular clarity that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. As you read it, notice how often Matthew points out that something has happened in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets.
If you have ever noticed Matthew represented in Christian art by a winged man or angel, there is a reason for that, too. Each of the four Evangelists came to be associated with one of the four living creatures described in Revelation 4:7. Matthew’s symbol is the winged man, traditionally connected to the fact that his Gospel begins with the human genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew at Home
As always, celebrating a feast day at home does not have to be complicated. A little Scripture, a good story, and something memorable around the table can be enough to help the people in our homes begin to recognize these days as part of the rhythm of the Christian year.
Here are a few simple and symbolic ways to celebrate St. Matthew on September 21st.
Read Scripture
Begin with Matthew’s own story by reading Matthew 9:9–13 or Mark 2:13–17. Spend some time reflecting together on Jesus’ words, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” and what His willingness to call Matthew tells us about the mercy of God.
With older children, you could also open the Gospel of Matthew and look for some of the places where Matthew connects the life of Jesus to the Old Testament. It is a wonderful way to begin noticing one of the distinctive features of the Gospel that bears his name.
Enjoy Grapes, Grape Juice, or Wine
In Logroño, Spain, the Fiestas de San Mateo coincide with the grape harvest. You can make a simple nod to this tradition by putting grapes on the table or serving grape juice or wine with dinner.
Have a Pay Day
This one is simply fun, especially if you have children at home!
Serve Pay Day candy bars or chocolate coins as a lighthearted reminder of Matthew’s former life as a tax collector and the far greater “treasure in heaven” he chose when he left everything behind to follow Jesus.
Give Something Away
Matthew’s feast is also a wonderful opportunity to turn our attention from keeping money to giving it away.
Consider making a donation to your church, a ministry, or someone in need. If you have children, invite them to choose something from their own money to give. It is a simple way to remember a man who left his livelihood behind when Jesus called and to remind ourselves that what we possess is ultimately entrusted to us by God.
Play Monopoly or Life
A family game night with Monopoly or Life is another playful way to remember Matthew’s former occupation. It can also open the door to a conversation about money, generosity, what we value, and what it means that Matthew was willing to walk away from worldly success when Jesus called him to something greater.
Make Pancake Stacks
For an easy breakfast or dinner, make stacks of little pancakes to resemble piles of coins.
Let’s Get Ready Together
The Feast of St. Matthew is a beautiful reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy and that a single “yes” to Jesus can transform the direction of an entire life.
Matthew was sitting at a tax booth when Jesus found him. Nothing about his life or reputation made him an obvious candidate to become one of the Twelve, and yet Jesus called him anyway. Matthew got up and followed, and the story of his life became something entirely different because of it.
And year after year, as we continue to remember these stories, they slowly become part of the rhythm of our homes and part of the way we understand our own place in the story of God.
Let’s continue walking together through the liturgical year, anchored in Scripture, tradition, and joy.
the recipe -
St. Matthew’s Day Coin Pancakes
1 egg
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
Melt the butter. When cool, blend in the egg. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the egg, butter, and buttermilk to the dry ingredients. Whisk until smooth. Heat a griddle to medium-low heat. Melt 1 tsp of butter in the griddle. Pour out the batter, making small circles. Flip when golden brown. Drizzle with honey or syrup.
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