The Gospel of Matthew was authored by one of the twelve apostles selected by Jesus. He was a publican from Galilee and universally hated by the Israelites because of the heavy tax burden he imposed on behalf of the Romans. The waning Seleucid Empire lost its grip on Israel with the Maccabean revolt, leading to a century of revolving control by the Hasmonean crime family. With the mix of Sadducees, Pharisees, Herodians, Essenes, and others, it made for a sensational storyline involving political power, greed, betrayal, war, death, and destruction. The Israelites lived with constant civil unrest, a corrupt system, and to top it off, a descendant of Esau had been appointed to rule over them. They longed for a Messiah that would re-establish the Kingdom of Israel and drive out the invaders. The constant turmoil made it seem there was no hope of a righteous king and this is why the apostles asked Jesus when He would restore the kingdom to Israel.

The Gospel of Matthew

Part 1: Historical Introduction

We are a Bible centered group of believers who desire to grow in the full knowledge of Jesus Christ without compromise to His Word. We believe, teach and practice all things that Jesus taught and were practiced by the Church in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. 

Jesus called his disciples to be salt and light. Salt is a preservative but it is also something that adds savor and enjoyment to our daily food. Light is a symbol of truth; it is comforting, penetrating, guiding and exposes darkness. We seek to preserve biblical truth and shed the glorious light of the Gospel in a world that is consumed by darkness.

New tracks tagged #roman tax collector