Symbols Of Biblical Characters: Matthew

Symbols Of Biblical Characters:
Church Symbol: Lion, Money Bags and, a Chest.

A Symbol of Matthew, son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14-possible brother to James) a tax collector, for the Roman Empire, in the area of Capernaum, where he lived.

Levi plied his trade on what was known as the “Damascus-Road,” an area between Damascus and the Mediterranean.
The Jews generally disliked tax collectors, because they were a dishonest lot.

Matthew's name originally was Levi.
When Levi became a follower of the Lord Jesus, his name was changed to that of
Matthew, meaning “Gift of Yahweh.”

Matthew 9:9,10 KJV
[9] And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto him, Follow Me. And he arose, and followed Him.
[10] And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

[11] And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
[12] But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
[13] But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:9,10 NLT
9 As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow Me and be My disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed Him.
10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (Perhaps, Matthew's way of saying thanks to Jesus, for loving the outcasts.)

11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
12 When Jesus heard this, He said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”
13 Then He added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Hosea 6:6 KJV (See also I Samuel 15:22)
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

The Lion represents the gospel of Matthew, because ....
50 times the Kingdom is mentioned.
30 times the Kingdom of heaven in mentioned.

Christ is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Revelation 5:5 KJV
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Jesus is the Messiah King/ King of Israel.
Speaks of His Royalty and Authority.

Jesus the mighty conqueror.

Matthew's gospel was written to assure the Jews, the Jesus was the promised Messiah.

Tradition, tells us that Matthew went on to evangelize Judea, and the nations of the East.
Whether or or not he was martyred or not, again, is not known for certain.