NT Person The Early Church ☍ Family Tree

Matthew (Levi)

Matthew (Levi) (new_name)Levi, Son of Alphaeus (birth)

The despised Capernaum tax collector who left everything at Jesus' two-word call ('Follow me') and threw a great feast in his house where forgiven outcasts tasted the new wine of the Kingdom.

Testament NT

Historical Era The Early Church

Featured In Season 11

Key Passage Matthew 9:9–17

✦ Tap Any Card to Unfold Full Scriptural Proof (4 Verified Insights)

Levi — 'Joined / Attached'; Matthew (Hebrew: Mattityahu) — 'Gift of Yahweh'

Matthew 9:9Luke 5:27

Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee

Mark 2:1, 14

Former tax collector turned Apostle and author of the Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 9:9Matthew 10:3

Levi's dining room was the living demonstration of a supple new wineskin: a former tax collector stretching wide to welcome grace while the rigid old skins stood outside complaining.

Episode S11E1 →

📜 Complete Scriptural Narrative

Sitting at the Roman tax booth in Capernaum as a social and religious outcast, Levi son of Alphaeus heard Jesus speak two words — 'Follow me' — and immediately 'leaving everything, he rose and followed him' (Luke 5:27–28).

To celebrate his new life, Levi hosted a great feast in his own house for Jesus and a large company of tax collectors and others. When the Pharisees grumbled outside, Jesus declared, 'I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance,' and gave the parable of the new wine and fresh wineskins right at Levi's table (Luke 5:29–39). Renamed Matthew ('Gift of Yahweh'), he became one of the twelve apostles and authored the Gospel of Matthew, opening with the royal Messianic genealogy.

How Students Search & Remember Matthew (Levi):

“tax collector levi who left his booth and threw a feast for jesus”“host of the banquet where jesus told the parable of the new wineskins”“author of the gospel of matthew”

ESV Scripture Index:

Matthew 9:9–17Mark 2:13–22Luke 5:27–39

Season 11 • Episode 1 Main Character Luke 5 • Ephesians 5

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The Bursting Skins — The Pharisees' Rigidity, Fermenting New Wine & Supple Goatskin Vessels

Role in Storytime: Redeemed tax collector who leaves his booth at Jesus' call and hosts the joyful banquet where outcasts taste the new wine.

Jesus warns that fermenting new wine will burst brittle old leather skins, calling us to become supple new vessels for the Spirit.

✦ Storytime Broadcast Theater • S11E1

The Pharisees' Rigidity, Fermenting New Wine & Supple Goatskin Vessels (Luke 5 • Ephesians 5)

🎬 X-Ray • Also in Episode S11E1 (Tap to Switch Character)

Jesus Christ

The Pharisees

The Wine Steward (Vintner)

Greek • G779 Askos — “Leather Wineskin”

A leather bag or bottle made from sewn animal hide (usually goatskin) used in the ancient world to hold and ferment wine.

Greek • G3631 Oinos Neos — “New Wine”

Freshly pressed grape juice in the active, volatile process of fermentation, releasing gas and expanding pressure.

Greek • G4137 Pleroo — “Continually Filled”

To make full, fill up to the brim so that nothing is wanting; in Ephesians 5, a continuous present passive command.

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Mentored by

Jesus Christ

Luke 5:27–28 • Scripture states

Adversary of

The Pharisees

Luke 5:29–30 • Scripture states

Appears with

The Wine Steward (Vintner)

S11E1 • Shawna's teaching