November 29/16 – Apostle and Evangelist Matthewtranslated

The holy apostle and evangelist Matthew is one of the 12 apostles. In the Holy Scriptures he is also called Levi (Luke 5:27). Before his calling to the apostolic rank, he was a Galilean publican, i.e. tax collector. At the time of Christ, Judea was a Roman province. Like all conquered regions, it was subject to taxes in favor of Rome. To collect this tax, special positions of tax collectors were established. The Jews hated the loss of their statehood and were very reluctant to pay taxes to the Romans. They transferred their hatred of the conquerors to the tax collectors, because they saw in them an instrument of foreign, pagan power. The publicans were not required to be strictly responsible, and they often allowed themselves all kinds of abuse and oppression in order to enrich themselves. According to popular understanding, the name of a publican meant a person without feelings, hard-hearted, capable of any evil deed, in general - an outcast. The majority considered it bad to have any relations with publicans, as obvious sinners, to enter their houses, drink and eat with them.

Meanwhile, the Roman government appointed persons mainly from local residents to collect taxes, as they knew local conditions well. Matthew lived...