Matthew Foley - Bringing Ancient Stories Closer
Have you ever stopped to think about how old messages can still speak to us today? It's kind of amazing, really, how ideas from long, long ago can feel so fresh and important right now. The NIV application Bible, for example, it's built from a series of commentaries, and its whole point is to help bring those ancient words from the Bible right into your own everyday life. It helps you see how things that happened so long ago can still have a real impact on your world, you know, just like they did for people back then.
So, when we look at figures like Matthew, the one many connect with a key part of these old writings, we’re actually exploring someone whose story helps bridge that gap. His words, which many people have read for centuries, try to show us something important about a central figure in history, Jesus. It’s a way of making those older stories feel very much present, in some respects, for anyone who picks them up.
This exploration of Matthew, or perhaps more fittingly, the ideas linked to Matthew Foley in this context, helps us connect with a narrative that has shaped countless lives. It’s about understanding a perspective that sought to explain who Jesus was, especially to a particular group of people. It’s a bit like looking at an old map to understand a place that still exists, only this map helps us get a grip on spiritual and historical ground, which is pretty cool, if you ask me.
Table of Contents
- Who Was Matthew Foley, Really?
- The Story of Matthew Foley - A Life Transformed
- How Does Matthew Foley Show Jesus is the Messiah?
- Matthew Foley and the Old Testament Connections
- What Do We Know About Matthew Foley's Writings?
- The Gospel of Matthew Foley - A Closer Look
- Matthew Foley and the Church Community
- What is the Lasting Impact of Matthew Foley?
Who Was Matthew Foley, Really?
When we talk about Matthew, the person often associated with the first book of the New Testament, we are really talking about someone who played a big part in the early days of Christianity. He was, as a matter of fact, one of the twelve apostles who followed Jesus closely. People have traditionally seen him as the writer of one of the four Gospels, a book that tells about Jesus's life and what he taught. This Matthew, the one from the Bible, is quite a figure to think about, considering his history and what he went through.
It’s interesting to consider that for a long time, folks have recognized him as an important person in the Christian story. His name comes up in different ways, like with certain special days set aside to remember him. The Western Church, for example, has a day on September 21st, and the Eastern Church has one on November 16th. These days are a way of honoring his role, you know, in spreading the message that was so important to him. He lived in a time far removed from our own, in a place called Palestine, and he was active during the first century CE, which is quite a while ago.
We can gather a few details about this influential person, Matthew, from the stories that have been passed down. These details, even if they are just a few, help us get a picture of who he might have been. It’s a bit like piecing together an old puzzle, with each piece giving us a better view of the whole. So, here is a small collection of what we can gather about this Matthew, the one who left such a lasting mark on history, especially as it relates to the writings that bear his name.
| Role | Apostle, Disciple, Tax Collector (also called a "publican") |
| Time Period of Activity | First Century CE |
| Primary Location | Palestine |
| Key Contribution | Traditional author of one of the four Gospels in the New Testament |
| Associated Feast Days | Western Church: September 21; Eastern Church: November 16 |
The Story of Matthew Foley - A Life Transformed
The story of Matthew, the one often linked to the name Matthew Foley in our discussion, is quite a compelling one, actually. Before he became a follower of Jesus, he had a job that most people really did not like. He was what they called a tax collector, or a "publican." Now, in those days, this was pretty much one of the most looked-down-upon jobs you could have in ancient Jewish society. People saw tax collectors as folks who worked for the Roman occupiers, and they were often accused of being unfair, or even cheating people out of their money. So, they were, in some respects, seen as traitors to their own people, which is quite a heavy burden to carry.
Then, one day, something truly remarkable happened. Jesus came along and saw Matthew sitting at his tax booth. And what did Jesus say? He simply told him, "Follow me." Just those two words. It’s pretty amazing to think about, really. And Matthew, without much hesitation, it seems, just got up and left everything behind. He walked away from his old life, his old job, and decided to go with Jesus. This moment marks a truly big shift in his personal story, showing a willingness to change directions completely, which is something we can all relate to, perhaps, in our own lives.
This decision, to leave a well-paying but socially despised job to follow a wandering teacher, speaks volumes about Matthew. It shows a deep readiness for something new, something different. For someone in such a position to drop everything and join Jesus’s group, it suggests a powerful pull, a genuine belief in what Jesus was offering. It’s a testament to the kind of impact Jesus had on people, and it certainly makes Matthew’s story a memorable one, a bit like a turning point in a really good book, you know?
How Does Matthew Foley Show Jesus is the Messiah?
One of the main things Matthew, the writer, set out to do with his Gospel was to make a very clear point to his Jewish readers. He wanted to show them, without a doubt, that Jesus was their Messiah. This was a really big deal for Jewish people at the time, as they had been waiting for a long, long time for a special leader, a Messiah, to come and bring about important changes. So, Matthew had a very specific goal in mind when he put his thoughts down on paper, which is quite a focused way to write a book, if you think about it.
He went about doing this mostly by pointing out how Jesus, through his life and everything he did, actually fulfilled what the Old Testament scriptures had talked about. The Old Testament, for those who might not know, contains many old writings and prophecies that Jewish people held very dear. Matthew would show how events in Jesus's life, from his birth to his teachings and even his death, matched up with things that had been written centuries before. It’s a bit like saying, "See? This is exactly what was predicted!" and that, you know, can be very convincing.
For example, the text mentions the genealogy, or family tree, of Jesus the Messiah. It traces his family back through important figures like David and Abraham. This was a really important detail for Jewish people, as the Messiah was expected to come from a specific family line. So, by showing this family connection, Matthew was basically saying, "Look, Jesus fits the description perfectly." He was trying to build a strong case, piece by piece, which is a rather clever way to present an argument, wouldn't you say?
Matthew Foley and the Old Testament Connections
As we just talked about, a central part of Matthew's writing approach, when he wanted to show Jesus was the Messiah, involved connecting Jesus's life to the older writings, the Old Testament scriptures. He did this in a way that was probably very persuasive for his original audience, especially those who knew those ancient texts well. He would highlight moments where Jesus's actions or even his experiences seemed to directly mirror what had been foretold. It’s a bit like seeing a puzzle piece fit perfectly into a larger picture, you know?
The book of Matthew, for example, starts right away by talking about "the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." This opening is very deliberate. It immediately links Jesus back to two hugely important figures in Jewish history: David, the great king, and Abraham, the father of their nation. This kind of connection was not just a nice detail; it was absolutely essential for proving Jesus's claim to be the Messiah, since the Messiah was expected to come from David's line. It’s a strong start, basically, for the whole argument he is trying to make.
Later on, the text points out how Jacob became the father of Joseph, who was the husband of Mary, and it was from Mary that Jesus was born, the one called Christ. This part of the family tree is also very important. It shows the lineage leading directly to Jesus. By carefully tracing these family ties and showing how Jesus’s life fulfilled various old predictions, Matthew was, in essence, building a powerful argument. He wanted his readers to see that Jesus was not just another teacher, but the very person they had been waiting for, which is a pretty big claim to back up, after all.
What Do We Know About Matthew Foley's Writings?
When we talk about the writings attributed to Matthew, the one we are considering as Matthew Foley in this discussion, we are primarily referring to the Gospel of Matthew. This book holds a really significant spot in the Bible. It is, for one thing, the very first book you come across in the New Testament. And, if you look at the entire Bible, from start to finish, it is the fortieth book overall. So, it has a definite place in the collection of sacred writings, which is quite a distinction, when you think about it.
This Gospel is also one of what are called the "four gospels." These four books – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – all tell the story of Jesus's life, his teachings, and his impact. But Matthew's Gospel has its own unique flavor and focus, as we have already touched upon. It is often seen as a very important record, one that gives us a clear picture of who Jesus was and what he did. It’s like getting a different viewpoint on the same important events, which can really add to your understanding, you know?
Modern scholars, people who study these ancient texts very closely, have spent a lot of time looking at the authorship of this Gospel. They look at clues within the writing itself and also at old traditions that have been passed down through the centuries. They ask questions like, "Was it really Matthew, the disciple, who wrote this?" and "What can we learn about his life and even his legendary death?" It’s a way of trying to get a deeper sense of the person behind the words, which is a rather interesting line of inquiry, basically.
The Gospel of Matthew Foley - A Closer Look
The Gospel of Matthew, which is the main written work connected to our Matthew Foley, is quite a special book, really. It stands alongside the Gospels of Luke, John, and Mark as a record of Jesus's time on Earth. What’s important to understand about these Gospels, according to many, is that they are considered "inspired." This means that they are seen as having a special kind of guidance behind them, making them not just ordinary historical accounts. This idea of inspiration suggests they are more than just human words, which is a pretty big claim, obviously.
Because they are believed to be inspired, these Gospels, including Matthew's, are also considered to be accurate and true histories of Jesus's life. This means that the events and teachings described within their pages are trusted as reliable accounts of what actually happened. So, when you read Matthew’s Gospel, you are, in a way, getting a faithful retelling of Jesus’s story, from his birth all the way through his ministry and beyond. It’s meant to give you a genuine sense of who he was and what he was about, which is a very powerful thing for a book to do.
The very first book of the four Gospels is Matthew’s. It also holds the spot as the first book you find in the entire New Testament section of the Bible. Its position suggests its foundational importance. The disciple Matthew, based on what the book itself seems to suggest and what old traditions tell us, is the one credited with putting it all together. He was, as we mentioned earlier, one of Jesus’s own disciples, someone who walked with him and heard his teachings firsthand. This connection makes his account particularly compelling, wouldn't you say?
Matthew Foley and the Church Community
The community of believers that grew up around Matthew, the one whose story we are looking at as Matthew Foley, saw some pretty big changes over time. At first, it was a group that was really strongly Jewish Christian. This means that the people who followed Jesus in that early stage were mostly Jewish, and they held onto many of their Jewish traditions and ways of doing things. They saw Jesus as the fulfillment of their own heritage, which makes a lot of sense, given Matthew’s focus on connecting Jesus to the Old Testament. It was a very particular kind of group, basically, with a clear identity.
However, as time went on, this community changed quite a bit. It became one where Gentile Christians were the predominant group. "Gentile" here means people who were not Jewish. So, the church that was originally very much rooted in Jewish culture and people started to include many, many more people from different backgrounds. This was a really significant shift, showing how the message of Jesus began to spread far beyond its original audience. It’s a bit like a small stream growing into a much wider river, which is quite a natural progression for something that is meant to reach many people, after all.
Matthew’s Gospel, in a way, seems to address some of the questions that might have come up in this changing community. It helps answer how obedience to the will of... (the text cuts off here, but we can infer it relates to God's will or Jesus's teachings). This suggests that Matthew’s writing was not just a historical account but also a guide for how these new believers, both Jewish and Gentile, should live their lives. It was meant to help them understand what it meant to follow Jesus, especially as their community grew and changed, which is a rather practical purpose for a book, you know?
What is the Lasting Impact of Matthew Foley?
The impact of Matthew, the figure whose story is being explored as Matthew Foley, has been truly immense and has continued for centuries. His Gospel is not just an old book; it has played a central role in shaping how people understand Jesus and the Christian faith. It is, for many, the very first introduction they have to the New Testament, setting the stage for everything else that follows. This makes its position at the beginning of the New Testament really quite important, you know, almost like the first chapter of a story that millions have read.
The insights provided by Matthew’s account have helped countless individuals connect with the ancient message of the Bible in a very personal way. The NIV application Bible, for instance, builds upon the ideas found in commentaries related to works like Matthew’s. It aims to make those old stories and teachings feel relevant and alive for people living today. This approach helps readers see how the wisdom from long ago can still offer guidance and meaning in their modern lives, which is a pretty cool thing for a book to be able to do, if you ask me.
So, whether you think of him as Matthew the Apostle, the tax collector who changed his life, or the author whose work we are discussing as Matthew Foley, his influence is undeniable. His efforts to show Jesus as the promised Messiah, by carefully linking his life to ancient prophecies, have left a deep mark. His Gospel remains a key source for learning about Jesus, his teachings, and the early days of the Christian movement. It’s a piece of writing that continues to resonate, offering a glimpse into a pivotal moment in history, which is quite a powerful legacy, really.
Matthew - Bible Book Chapters and Summary - New International Version
The Untold Truth Of The Gospel Of Matthew
Matthew Overview – FBC Cabool
