Matthew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and is traditionally considered to be the author of the Gospel of Matthew. He was a tax collector from Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and was called to be an apostle by Jesus. He is believed to have been martyred in Ethiopia. Little is known about Matthew's life before his call to be an apostle. He is believed to have been a tax collector, which was a despised profession in Jewish society. He was likely a wealthy man, as tax collectors were paid a percentage of the taxes they collected. Matthew is best known for his Gospel, which is the first book of the New Testament. It is believed to have been written between AD 50 and 70. The Gospel of Matthew is the longest of the four Gospels and is the only one to include the Sermon on the Mount. It is also the only Gospel to include the parable of the talents. Matthew's Gospel is unique in that it emphasizes the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the life of Jesus. It also emphasizes the importance of Jesus' teachings and the need for repentance. Matthew's Gospel is also the only one to include the Great Commission, in which Jesus commands his disciples to go out and make disciples of all nations. This command has been seen as the foundation of Christian mission work. Matthew is also believed to have written the Epistle to the Hebrews, although this is disputed.
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