Tuesday Contradictions: Matthew 9:9 – Matthew or Levi? Unraveling the Tax Collector Mystery

Host Lance Smith explores the apparent name difference in Matthew 9:9 and Mark 2:14/Luke 5:27, explaining how Matthew and Levi likely refer to the same tax collector called by Jesus. The episode examines historical context, naming practices, Gospel parallels, and theological implications, showing how dual names reflect cultural identity rather than contradiction.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

1. Skeptics Annotated Bible. https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/levi.html 
2. Barreto, E. D. (2018). The Apostle Matthew. Bible Odyssey. Available at: https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/the-apostle-matthew/ 
3. Wilson, R. F. (2004). Jesus Calls Levi. JesusWalk Bible Study Series. Available at: https://www.jesuswalk.com/luke/013-levi.htm 
4. Trigger Man. (2023). What’s in a Name? Matthew, Levi, and the Tension in the Text – Part 1. Trigger Man Blog. Available at: https://triggermanblog.wordpress.com/2023/10/10/whats-in-a-name-matthew-levi-and-the-tension-in-the-text-part-1/ 
5. Hawk, B. W. (2020). The Recovery of St. Matthew. Word on Fire. Available at: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/fellows/the-recovery-of-st-matthew/ 
6. Grant, R. M. (2007). Patristic Traditions About the Evangelist Matthew. The Bible Interpreter. Available at: https://bibleinterp.arizona.edu/articles/patristic-traditions-about-evangelist-matthew 
7. Hansen, C. (2023). Stephen Boyce on Levi/Matthew. Amateur Exegete. Available at: https://amateurexegete.com/2023/08/07/stephen-boyce-on-levi-matthew-guest-post-by-chrissy-hansen/