Catholic Saints Podcast — St. Matthew

Augustine Institute | Host: Dr. Tim Gray | Guest: Dr. Michael Barber
Episode Release: September 21, 2025

Main Theme

This episode commemorates the feast of St. Matthew, diving deep into his life, Gospel, and significance for Catholic faith and practice. Host Dr. Tim Gray and scripture scholar Dr. Michael Barber explore why Matthew’s Gospel has “pride of place” in Christian tradition, discuss his backstory as a tax collector turned apostle, and reflect on Matthew’s unique perspectives on fulfillment, mercy, and catechesis for the early Church.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Central Role of the Gospels, Especially Matthew

• The episode opens with a reflection on the primacy of the Gospels in Christian tradition (“pride of place” at Mass), emphasizing that they provide a direct window into “the heart and life of Jesus” ([00:02]).
• Quote (Dr. Tim Gray, 00:41):

  “The Gospels give us, in a sense, the heart of Christ... it’s the sacred heart of all of the Word, of God, of all the Bible.”

2. Matthew’s Gospel as the Early Church’s Catechism

• The Gospel of Matthew was the most widely circulated early Christian text and served as the “first catechism” for generations ([01:22], [02:56]).
• Quote (Dr. Tim Gray, 02:23):

  “Matthew’s Gospel was really the first catechism for the church... out of all the New Testament writings, Matthew’s gospel was copied and circulated the most.”

3. Fulfillment as Central Theme

• Dr. Barber explains Matthew’s focus on Old Testament fulfillment (citing the “fulfillment formulas” and Matthew 5:17).
• This theme shapes how Christians read the New Testament—as the climax and continuation of Israel’s story, not a break with it ([03:44], [04:58]).
• Quote (Dr. Michael Barber, 03:44):

  “One of the key ones is the theme of fulfillment... Jesus comes not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.”

4. Matthew’s Organization and Scribe-Like Structure

• Matthew, a former tax collector (accountant), structures his Gospel carefully—sermons, miracles, and teachings are ordered in “boxes,” making it the most organized Gospel ([06:41]–[08:21]).
• Quote (Dr. Tim Gray, 07:07):

  “Matthew’s going to write a gospel that’s the most structured out of all the four Gospels. It’s very organized... he puts these miracles in this box. Then you have chapters five through seven, it’s the Sermon on the Mount. He’s got a box for that...”

5. The Identity and Background of Matthew

• Discussion on Matthew’s dual identity: “Matthew” and “Levi”—likely the same person, with Levi hinting at priestly, scribal heritage ([09:00]–[10:59]).
• Dr. Barber draws attention to Matthew 13’s parable about a scribe “trained for the kingdom,” connecting Matthew’s background to his Gospel’s blend of old and new ([09:00]).
• Quote (Dr. Michael Barber, 09:24):

  “Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

6. The Scandal and Radical Mercy of Matthew’s Calling

• Both hosts emphasize how radical it was for Jesus to call a tax collector, considered a traitor working for the Roman occupiers, to be an apostle ([11:14]–[15:36]).
• Dr. Barber reflects on how Matthew’s own experience of mercy colors the entire Gospel, embodied in the Hosea 6:6 quotation: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” ([23:26]–[25:22]).
• Quote (Dr. Michael Barber, 16:56):

  “So Jesus is bringing about the new creation. In Matthew, who is turned away... no matter how far you go from the Lord, you’re never too far, that his hand is too short to reach you.”

7. Historical Authorship and Gospel Transmission

• Early Church tradition firmly holds that Matthew the Apostle authored the Gospel. The discussion covers manuscript traditions and references by Church Fathers such as Eusebius, Papias, Irenaeus, and Jerome—especially the note that Matthew’s Gospel may have existed in Hebrew ([19:47]–[23:26]).
• Quote (Dr. Michael Barber, 21:14):

  “Not just the tradition that he wrote a gospel, but that he originally actually wrote it in Hebrew. This is widely reported... Jerome actually had access to a Hebrew Matthew in his day, which is really interesting.”

8. The Emphasis on Economics and Reward

• Matthew’s background as a tax collector shows in his frequent use of economic language: profit, payment, reward, loss—linking spiritual and material reckoning ([23:26]).
• Quote (Dr. Michael Barber, 23:00):

  “One other aspect: it’s strong emphasis on economics. Right. Throughout the gospel, you get this idea of reward, which is payment, the idea of profit. ‘What will it profit you if you gain the whole world and you lose your soul?’”

9. Mercy, Law, and the Heart of Matthew’s Teaching

• The episode highlights Matthew’s focus on mercy as the true heart of the Law, opposed to mere ritual or external observance. Mercy, justice, and faithfulness are the “weightier matters” ([25:22], [26:00]).
• Quote (Dr. Tim Gray, 26:00):

  “Here’s Matthew, who is teaching the new law of the new covenant of Christ... And yet this catechism... has a deep sense from its heart that it’s got to be about mercy and faithfulness and love. And that permeates it.”

10. The Great Commission and Trinitarian Baptismal Formula

• Only Matthew’s Gospel records the full Trinitarian baptismal formula (“in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28)—a detail foundational for Christian identity ([26:45]).
• Quote (Dr. Michael Barber, 26:45):

  “Only in Matthew’s Gospel do we find ‘in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ You wouldn’t have that expression in the New Testament if it wasn’t for what Jesus says in Matthew 28.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Transformative Mercy of the Calling:
  Dr. Michael Barber (16:56):

  “No matter how far you go from the Lord, you’re never too far, that his hand is too short to reach you... in the story of Matthew, I have a beautiful illustration of this.”

• On the Scribe for the Kingdom:
  Dr. Tim Gray (18:28):

  “He personally embodies the reception of God’s mercy... all that learning that he had done, he realized it wasn’t for simply his own self-aggrandizement and profit, it was for the kingdom of heaven.”

• On the Early Church’s Use of Matthew:
  Dr. Tim Gray (02:31):

  “The early Christians didn’t have a catechism. They had the Gospel of Matthew.”

Important Timestamps

• 00:02-02:56 — Introduction to Gospel primacy and Matthew as the Church's catechism
• 03:41-06:20 — Matthew’s place in the Gospel canon & the theme of fulfillment
• 06:41-08:21 — Matthew’s character as organizer/accountant, the structure of the Gospel
• 09:00-11:08 — Background on Matthew/Levi, connections to priestly and scribal class
• 13:16-16:56 — Calling of Matthew, Roman oppressors, and Caravaggio’s painting
• 18:22-19:47 — Matthew as a recipient and herald of God’s mercy
• 19:47-23:26 — Authorship tradition, Hebrew Matthew, economic language
• 23:26-26:45 — Mercy instead of sacrifice, the “weightier matters,” unity of love and law
• 26:45-27:21 — The Great Commission and Trinitarian formula; practical encouragement to read Matthew

Flow and Tone

• The tone is reverent, informed, and warmly invitational—aimed at both scholars and the faithful.
• Dr. Gray often personalizes the discussion: connecting Matthew’s story to listeners’ own experiences of mercy, calling, and vocation, and extending practical advice about reading the Gospel of Matthew.
• Both speakers maintain an approachable, open, and lively dialogue, weaving scholarship with pastoral encouragement.

Summary Takeaways

• Matthew as a model: He bridges old and new, repentance and calling, faithfulness and mission.
• His Gospel: Vital for Christian formation, echoing ancient promises fulfilled in Christ.
• Mercy Over Sacrifice: Matthew’s narrative, shaped by his own redemption, urges believers to embody justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
• Mission for All: The episode closes by exhorting listeners to read the Gospel of Matthew, embrace personal mission, and seek intercession from this “scribe for the Kingdom.”

For those who haven’t listened, this episode offers a rich, multi-faceted portrait of Matthew—his life, Gospel, and enduring influence—blending scholarly insight with deep pastoral wisdom.