“These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”
The Scriptures are full of lists of people. The lists differ, from genealogical records and tribe membership to the order of kings or inclusion in a particular group (as in David’s mighty men, or those Paul is thanking at the end of his epistles). Lists can be found in most books of the Bible, and each of those lists are included in God’s Word under divine prerogative. That means they are purposeful. For instance, we know that the genealogical record of Christ’s family line ties Him to David and the tribe of Judah. Knowing that grows our faith as we understand how Christ fulfilled prophesy. The lists of Scripture are purposeful and meaningful.
That purpose and meaning differs from list to list as the purpose and meaning of each book of Scripture differs. So it is not a surprise to us to see the list of apostles that Matthew provides here is not in chronological order. Matthew is writing with a largely Jewish readership in mind. While John details how Andrew came to know Christ before Simon Peter in his Gospel, and the Gospel of Luke walks us through the mechanics of Jesus formally calling both Simon and Andrew while they worked in the fishing boat, Matthew lists the names in a particular order, and for a particular reason.
He notes that first is Simon Peter. Matthew uses virtually the identical wording from 4:18, “Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.” He also uses identical wording from 4:21, where he had listed, “James son of Zebedee and his brother John.” The Gospel writer had also previously identified himself (Matthew) as a tax collector (9:9), even though by the point of writing it is obvious that Matthew was no longer working in that trade. He lists Judas last, explicitly calling him out as a traitor to Jesus. Matthew wants us to know that God knows our humble beginnings. He also wants us to know that calling super-cedes our beginnings, and that what we do with our calling matters.
Everyone who knows Christ is on God’s list. We know this because the Revelation also notes that on the judgment day, “if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire,” and Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” Nevertheless, the fact that we are on God’s list does not mean we equal in reward. What some do with their lives for Christ is clearly and obviously more than what others do with their lives for Christ. Although we all stand before Him as sinners saved by grace, the manner in which we reflect Him and His glory matters.
John Nollard wrote, “The listing of the twelve names clearly points to a unique role, but for the most part Matthew labours to present the Twelve as patterning something which belongs more broadly to Christian identity and role.” That unique role, and the pattern Matthew is hinting at, is the ultimate identity that Christ assigns to His people. It is an identity rooted in Him, filled with meaning and purpose, flushed with blessing and to God’s very great glory. As John will later write in his Revelation, “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
The kingdom of God topples our cherished priorities and demands of disciples new ones. It takes from those who follow Jesus things they would keep, and gives to them things they could not imagine.
James Edwards
APPLICATION: Intentionality
Thank God that He wrote your name in His book of Life with the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Knowing He did that for you, what are you doing for Him?