In this ongoing study of the Gospels, we examine the background of the Gospel of Matthew, including who the author was, how he wrote to prove that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, and how the internal evidence shows that his intended audience was Hebrew/Jewish. We note how Matthew’s opening verse is a remez pointing to several great truths and points out several interesting and unusual facts about how Matthew begins his Gospel, and explore evidence for Matthew having originally written his Gospel in Hebrew. After this, we cover in-depth Jesus Christ’s calling of Matthew, including what it meant to be a tax collector in that day, how tax collectors were viewed in Jewish society of that time, Matthew’s socio-economic status, what he gave up to follow Jesus as a disciple, how Matthew needed to be rescued from a hopeless situation, and what Jesus saw in him and what that means for us. Matthew’s story is ultimately a story of hope for everyone!

Scott Ashley

United Church of God Pastor, Beyond Today Managing Editor

Scott Ashley is managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado. 
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he has worked for 50 years.