If you’ve met someone named Matthew or are considering this classic biblical name for your baby boy, you may be curious about its spiritual significance. At its roots, the name Matthew carries profound meaning regarding identity and purpose.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: The name Matthew means ‘gift of God’ and carries spiritual themes of divine gifts and talents, a calling to leadership, and walking a righteous path.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the name Matthew in depth from spiritual and biblical perspectives. Discover its origins, symbolic meanings, connections to the disciple Matthew, and the spiritual lessons and affirmed tied to this prominent masculine name.
Meaning and Origin of the Name Matthew
Literal Definition: ‘Gift of God’
The name Matthew finds its origins in the Hebrew language and literally translates to “Gift of God” (Mattithiah) in Hebrew. According to name researchers, the meaning implies that the bearer of the name is a blessing or gift from God.
Hebrew Origins
Matthew has Hebrew origins as a variant of the name Mattithiah, consisting of the elements mattan, meaning “gift” and Yah, referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament, Mattithiah was a musician in the temple services under King David.
The name Mattithiah appears roughly 20 times in the Old Testament.
The name Matthew was brought into the Greek language as Ματθαῖος (Matthaios). This Greek name appears under various spellings in places like the Book of Ezra and 1 Chronicles in ancient Hebrew religious texts.
Use in the Bible
In the New Testament, Saint Matthew is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Matthew was previously a tax collector before becoming a follower of Christ. Jesus saw Matthew sitting in his tax collector’s booth and said “Follow Me” (Matthew 9:9).
This Biblical story illustrates the transformative spiritual power associated with the name Matthew.
The Gospel according to Matthew contains Jesus’s most comprehensive commands on how his followers should conduct their lives and ministries. Thus, the name Matthew carries a sense of discipleship and spiritual renewal.
| Name | Meaning |
| Matthew | Gift of God |
| Mattithiah (Hebrew origins) | Gift of Yah (God) |
Symbolic Meanings and Spiritual Affirmations
Divine Gifts and Talents
The name Matthew carries deep symbolic meaning related to the gifts and talents bestowed by God. In the Bible, the apostle Matthew was chosen by Jesus to spread his teachings despite his past as a tax collector.
This demonstrates that God sees inherent potential within all people, calling us to develop our natural abilities in service to higher ideals of truth and compassion.
If your name is Matthew, you are likely gifted with intuition, empathy, and values-oriented leadership. These divine talents enable you to know and uplift others while walking a path of righteousness. By nurturing such gifts through prayer, meditation, and skillful effort, Matthews often become teachers, counselors, or ministers who empower communities.
A Call to Spiritual Leadership
The name Matthew is associated with themes of spiritual rebirth. After becoming a disciple of Jesus, Matthew experienced profound transformation (Matthew 9:9). This reflects the soul’s journey – moving from states of ignorance toward enlightenment by answering the call to lead and serve.
If Matthew is your name, you may feel destined for purposeful work that demands spiritual strength and virtues like integrity, wisdom, and perseverance. By facing trials and temptations with courage and humility, you can realize your highest potentials in roles like minister, missionary, social activist, or inspirational author.
Your name calls you to manifest moral leadership.
Walking a Righteous Path
The name Matthew evokes the righteous path walked by the biblical apostle after pledging his life to Christ. Despite hardship, Matthew traveled spreading the gospel and became the likely author of the first gospel book.
This symbolizes the soul’s journey – an arduous road seeking truth through seasons of faith and doubt.
If Matthew is your given name, you may resonate with themes of spiritual seeking, renewal, and redemption. During difficult crossroads and tests of faith, connect with the higher self by living true to your values. Maintain devotion through daily spiritual practices.
Join communities of belonging for support. Your name signifies the winding adventure one undertakes through inner worlds and outer ones to align with divine will. Along this pilgrimage, you discover the kingdom of heaven within – your eternal source beyond all suffering.
Matthew the Disciple and Biblical Connections
Matthew the Tax Collector Turned Disciple
Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector in Capernaum who left his profession to become one of Jesus’s twelve disciples. As a tax collector, Matthew would have been despised by many Jews since he worked for the Roman Empire collecting taxes.
However, Jesus saw Matthew’s potential and called him to be a disciple while Matthew was sitting at his tax booth (Matthew 9:9). This demonstrated Jesus’s desire to reach out to those rejected by society.
Matthew’s quick response to follow Jesus showed his readiness to leave his old way of life behind. Though we know little else about Matthew’s background, his occupation as a tax collector signifies the transformational power Jesus had in people’s lives.
Gospel Writer
In addition to being one of the twelve disciples, Matthew is traditionally considered the author of the first gospel in the New Testament bearing his name. The Gospel of Matthew focuses on proving Jesus’s messianic role as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
Some key themes in Matthew include:
- Jesus as the long-awaited messiah sent to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)
- The kingdom of heaven and Jesus’s role in inaugurating the kingdom through his life, death, and resurrection
- The importance of righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20)
- Discipleship and teachings for following Jesus like the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
Though the gospel itself does not name its author, early church tradition strongly favors Matthew as the writer. As one of the twelve disciples, Matthew would have witnessed firsthand Jesus’s time on earth.
Patron Saint of Bankers
Because of his former profession as a tax collector, Matthew is considered the patron saint of bankers, accountants, tax collectors, and related professions. People in financial fields often pray to Saint Matthew seeking his intercession and calling on his life story as an example of integrity.
The idea comes from Matthew using his administrative skills for spreading the gospel rather than collecting money after becoming a disciple. Every year on September 21st, many churches honor the life of Saint Matthew.
Understanding Matthew’s identity as a disciple highlights for later Christians the deep change faith can bring even when someone seems deeply embedded in a sinful structure.
Spiritual and Life Lessons from Matthew
Using Your Gifts for God
The name Matthew means “gift of God”, referring to the gifts and talents God has given each person. Matthew in the Bible was a tax collector who left his work to follow Jesus and become one of the twelve disciples (Matthew 9:9).
This illustrates how we can use our own unique gifts to serve God, even if it means leaving something behind. Just as Matthew used his organizational skills for collecting taxes to later record the gospel, we too can utilize our talents for God’s kingdom.
Answering the Call
When Jesus said “Follow me” to Matthew, he immediately got up, left his lucrative business, and followed Christ (Matthew 9:9). This exemplifies being willing to answer God’s call in our lives, even when it leads to the unknown or requires sacrifice on our part.
We can follow Matthew’s example by listening for God’s voice and being ready to obey when He calls us to a new direction or purpose.
Turning from Sin
As a tax collector, Matthew would have been viewed as a traitor and sinner by many Jewish people in his day. However, leaving his old way of life behind, Matthew turned from the sin and corruption he was immersed in to live a righteous life devoted to Christ.
This reflects how leaving a sinful lifestyle to follow Jesus leads to transformation. Just as Matthew’s life took on new meaning and purpose when he left his tax booth to follow Christ, God can redeem anyone willing to turn from sin and towards the Savior.
Teachability and Learning
Matthew earnestly studied Jesus’ life and teaching during his time as a disciple. He soaked up the knowledge, setting an example of having a teachable spirit even later in life as he wrote his Gospel account.
As one of Jesus’ disciples, Matthew allowed his worldview to be shaped by listening to Christ day after day. We too can embrace this attitude of lifelong learning as we sit at the feet of Jesus in study and prayer, allowing God’s truth to reshape our minds and hearts.
Conclusion
While a name is just an identifying word, the name Matthew carries profound biblical meaning regarding identity, giftedness, purpose, leadership, and righteousness. Studying its spiritual connections provides deeper appreciation for all it represents.
Understanding these themes can affirm those named Matthew to walk confidently in their divine gifts and callings. It also inspires the qualities of the disciple Matthew himself—faith, wisdom, integrity, service, and sacrifice.
