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TWELVE COMMON MEN

TWELVE COMMON MEN. Matthew and Thomas The Transformed Apostles. T HE SECOND CIRCLE. Philip. Matthew. Thomas. Nathanael. INTRODUCTION. The Apostles were from among the common people. Ps. 8:2; Isa. 26:5-6; Zep. 3:12; Eze. 21:26

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TWELVE COMMON MEN

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  1. TWELVE COMMON MEN Matthew and Thomas The Transformed Apostles

  2. THE SECOND CIRCLE Philip Matthew Thomas Nathanael

  3. INTRODUCTION • The Apostles were from among the common people. • Ps. 8:2; Isa. 26:5-6; Zep. 3:12; Eze. 21:26 • Jesus had no use for religious elitism. No one came under more fire from Him than the Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees.- Miracles appeared to have no spiritual effect on them. - They saw Him as an interloper and intruder.- They sought His death from the outset (Lk. 4:28-29). - They could not tolerate being called sinners. • Jesus chose Apostles who were willing to admit their sins and set about to change. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  4. MATTHEW - THE TAX COLLECTOR • What we know about Matthew from the scriptures: • Matthew the apostle and evangelist is mentioned in Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lu 6:15; Ac 1:13. • The name is a Greek reproduction of the Aramaic Mattathyah, i.e. "gift of Yahweh." • Before his call to the apostolic office, according to Mt 9:9, his name was Levi. Did Jesus nickname him of Matthew? We don’t know. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  5. MATTHEW - THE TAX COLLECTOR • What we know about Matthew from the scriptures: • He was a customs officer (Mt. 10:3) in Capernaum, in the territory of Herod Antipas. • In addition to the native Aramaic must have been acquainted with the Greek. • He must have belonged to that group of publicans and sinners, who looked longingly to Jesus (Mt.11:19; Lk.7:34; 15:1) Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  6. MATTHEW - THE TAX COLLECTOR • What we know about Matthew from the scriptures: • Time of his call uncertain. • He was not a follower of John the Baptist. • Tradition states that he preached for 15 years in Palestine and then he went to foreign nations. • Some scholars attribute stories of his martyrdom to Catholic and Orthodox legend, not facts. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  7. MATTHEW - THE TAX COLLECTOR • The author of the Gospel of Matthew- Mk. 2:14; Lk. 5:27-29; Lk. 6:15; Acts 1:13. • Tax collectors were often dishonest; using strong-arm tactics to extort tolls from the Jews. Most were scoundrels according to extra-biblical accounts. • His Call – Mt. 9:9-12 Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  8. MATTHEW - THE TAX COLLECTOR • The Three Tax Collectors of the NT • Zaccheus: Lk. 19:2-10 • The publican of the parable: Lk. 18:10-14. • Matthew • Jesus’ appeal to the tax collectors - Lk. 15:1; 7:29; Mt. 21:31,32 • Of the two types of tax collectors, Matthew was of the type most hated. A Little Mokhes. • His job literally made him worse than a Gentile in the eyes of the Jews. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  9. MATTHEW - THE TAX COLLECTOR • Why would Matthew answer the call so suddenly? - He was obviously spiritually hungry.- His Gospel makes it clear that he was a true student of the OT. - He believed in the one true God. He understood the promise of the Messiah. • Somehow he had heard about Jesus and his gladness is shown in his unhesitant urge to follow and take Jesus to eat at his house. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  10. MATTHEW - THE TAX COLLECTOR • The thread that runs through his Gospel after his call in chapter 9 is forgiveness. • Matthew knew he was a sinner; guilty of graft, extortion, oppression and abuse. • He obviously sensed that in answering the call to Apostleship that forgiveness of these sins would become available. • He walked away from a lucrative career and followed Jesus to the end without giving it a second thought. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  11. THOMAS – THE TWIN • What we know about Thomas: • Also called "Didymus" or "the Twin" (compare Jn. 11:16; 20:24; 21:2) • In Jn. 11:1-54, Thomas protested, "Let us also go; that we may died with him" (Jn. 11:16). • On the eve of the Passion, "Lord, we know now whither thou goest; how know we the way?" (Jn. 14:5). Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  12. THOMAS – THE TWIN • What we know about Thomas: • After the crucifixion, he was not present when the risen Christ first appeared to them (compare Jn. 20:24). • -"except I shall see .... I will not believe" (Jn. 20:25)--had him among their number 8 days afterward (Jn. 20:26) in the upper room. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  13. THOMAS – THE TWIN • What we know about Thomas: • He made the confession, "My Lord and my God" (Jn. 20:28), and was reproved by Jesus for his previous unbelief: "Because thou hast seen me thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (Jn. 20:29). • Jesus manifested Himself at the Sea of Tiberias (Jn. 21:1-11). Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  14. THOMAS – THE TWIN • Character of Thomas • He is typical of that nature which contains within it certain conflicting elements exceedingly difficult of reconciliation. • He could be called The Pessimistic Hero • A perplexed faith in the teaching of Jesus was mingled a sincere love for Jesus the teacher. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  15. THOMAS – THE TWIN • Character of Thomas • Thomas desired to test all truth by the evidence of his senses. • It was his sincerity which made him to stand apart till he had attained to personal conviction regarding the resurrection. • His sincerity also drew from him the testimony to that conviction, "My Lord and my God," the greatest and fullest in all Christianity. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  16. THOMAS – THE PESSIMIST • Perhaps pessimism (more than doubt) was his problem. • Jn. 11:16 – “Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.” • He was willing to follow Jesus to Bethany; to death if necessary. • This is heroic pessimism. • Thomas was loyal; His courage was real. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  17. THOMAS – THE PESSIMIST • His Devotion to Christ • The Apostles followed Thomas’ lead. • His pessimism could not dampen his devotion to Christ. - Following Jesus would not be easy. - He would rather die than be separated from Christ.- John 14:1-5 - Thomas could not handle Jesus’ death Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  18. THOMAS – THE PESSIMIST • How He Handled the Death of Jesus • Jn. 20:19-24 – Thomas was not present when Jesus first appears to the Apostles. • Where was he? Why wasn’t he there? • Jn. 20:25 – The testimony of the other disciples. This was not enough for Thomas. • But the other disciples had not believed in the resurrection either. (Mk.16:10-11) Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  19. THOMAS – THE PESSIMIST • His Confession of Christ (Jn. 20:28) • It is in this very instant that we see Thomas transformed. • Secular history says that he evangelized as far as India, where he too died a martyr’s death. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  20. CLOSING THOUGHTS • God chose a publican and a pessimist to be two of His greatest emissaries of the New Covenant. • Matthew – a sinner of the worst sort; an outcast. • Thomas – tenderhearted, moody, melancholy. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  21. CLOSING THOUGHTS • Who can God use for His purposes? Anyone! • Personality, status, family background, etc mean nothing to Him. • God does demand a willingness to acknowledge our sinfulness and look to Christ for grace and mercy. • God will do this for all that truly trust Him. Matthew and Thomas – The Transformed Apostles

  22. TWELVE COMMON MEN Matthew and Thomas The Transformed Apostles

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