This gospel was written by a Jew, Matthew the tax-collector, for a Jewish Christian audience. The narrative closely follows the life of Jesus from his birth, through his ministry and unto his ...

Part of the tasks of a tax collector was to keep meticulous records of the taxes received. It would be safe to assume that Matthew was well-educated and meticulous in his work to be entrusted with ...

Tax collectors were hated in biblical times and were regarded as sinners. They were Jews who worked for the Romans, so this made them traitors. People resented paying taxes to the foreigners who ...