St. Matthew's House

Emblem: Man/Angelos
Color: Orange
AKA: St. Matthew’s (St. Matt’s)

Matthew is historically represented by the face of a man representing the way in which Matthew’s gospel emphasizes the humanity of Jesus, the tone of which is set by the opening genealogy and detailed birth narrative. Grounded in the history and lineage of the people of Israel, Jesus—Matthew makes clear—is the long-awaited messiah of Israel, the son of Abraham, the Davidic King, the incarnation of Israel as the true and faithful son of God the Father–fully God and fully man. God made flesh–something no one thought possible until it happened. Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter’s son, is the One True God. 

On occasion, and likely because the figure of the man is often given wings, some have interpreted this figure as an angel, but it is most likely that the wings are meant to emphasize the evangelist's role as a “messenger,” or indeed Christ as the “sent one,” the literal meaning of the Greek word angelos.

 



Patronage:

Because of his profession as a tax collector when Jesus called him, St. Matthew is considered the patron of bankers and civil servants.

Death:

Church history holds that St. Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia as he celebrated communion at the altar, having enraged the king of Ethiopia by his preaching and call to personal holiness. 

Feel/Flavor:

Earthy (dirt, clay, parables, agricultural images, sowers and seeds), human/e, rustic, hand-made, wood/carpentry, strong, vulnerable, the revolutionary teacher, the suffering servant, the great king.

Chief Virtues:

Wisdom + Love