The Twelve - TWL - S4E8

Welcome back to Truth Worth Living, where we seek to understand God’s Word so we can live in God’s will.

Today, we take a look at Matthew, also known as Levi. If you’re a fan of The Chosen, you might know Matthew as the quirky, neurotic, and OCD disciple who struggles with being ostracized due to his past. While this creative depiction captures some relational tension, the truth is that scripture tells us very little about Matthew as a person.

What we do know about Matthew comes from his own account in the Gospel of Matthew:

📖 Matthew 9:9-13 “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”

Matthew wasn’t just a tax collector—he was a despised one. Tax collectors were seen as traitors, working for the Roman Empire to squeeze wealth from their fellow Jews. They were wealthy, but at the expense of betraying their people.

When Jesus saw Matthew, sitting in plain sight at his tax booth, the world saw a traitor. Jesus, however, saw a man—a human being made in the image of God. Jesus saw a broken soul, not a despised title. He looked at Matthew with love and called him to follow, and Matthew immediately left everything behind to do just that.

What’s more, Matthew didn’t just leave his old life behind—he invited Jesus into it. He hosted a dinner party, inviting all of his friends (many of whom were just like him) so they could meet Jesus too.

This speaks volumes about Matthew’s heart: 👉 He was all-in for Jesus – Matthew didn’t hold anything back. He opened his life, his home, and his circle of influence to Jesus. 👉 He wanted others to meet Jesus – Despite his past, Matthew wanted his friends to experience the same life-changing love he had encountered. 👉 He let his past shape his service – Matthew didn’t deny his past as a tax collector. Instead, he used his story to point others to Jesus, both at that dinner table and through the gospel he would later write.

Matthew’s story is a beautiful reminder that Jesus sees beyond our failures and flaws. He calls us as we are and transforms us into who we’re meant to be. Like Matthew, we should be all-in for Jesus—inviting others to experience his life-changing love and using our stories for his glory.

That’s truth worth living! 🙌

✨ If Matthew’s story inspired you, like and share this post to encourage others. Let’s live all-in for Jesus together! ❤️ #TruthWorthLiving #TheTwelve #Matthew #AllInFaith