Who was Levi? Was he Matthew, the Apostle?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

   What do you (we) know about the Apostles of Jesus Christ?  It is kind of like knowing just a little bit of karate, we know just enough to get ourselves in trouble.  This is why I am going to the apostles and look at who they are.  To know more about them and to be able to talk intellectually about each one.

   There was a tax collector named Levi who was dishonest and driven by greed. (sounds like the IRS, lol) We first meet Levi (Matthew) in Capernaum in his tax booth on the main highway. He was collecting duties on imported goods brought by farmers, merchants, and caravans.

    Under the Roman Empire's system, Levi (Matthew) would have paid all the taxes in advance, then collected from the citizens and travelers to reimburse himself.   The tax collectors were notoriously corrupt because they extorted far and above what was owed, to ensure their personal profit. Because their decisions were enforced by Roman soldiers, no one dared object. (IRS)
  Levi met Jesus and it is not clear if Jesus changed his name or he changed it.  Matthew comes from Mattathias which means "the gift of God". The same day Jesus invited him to join him, he threw a feast at his home and invited people to come meet Jesus. The promised Messiah of the Jews.  After this Matthew still collected; but instead of collecting money he began collecting souls for the LORD.
  Matthew was sinful, but he was an accurate record keeper and could watch and evaluate people well.  This served him well when he wrote the gospel of Matthew.
  Here is a sinful, crooked tax collecting man who many would say is not a candidate to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  However, when Jesus called him he immediately followed Jesus and did not look back. He left a life of wealth and security for a life of poverty and uncertainty.
    Here was a man hated by the Jews; he cheated them, had them thrown in prison, and basically was not a nice man.  Jesus called this offensive man to follow Him. He did!
    Matthew did what we are called to do: abandon a world of pleasures for eternal life. Wow!  After Jesus' Crucifixion tradition says that Matthew preached for 15 years; then went into the mission field and spread the gospel to other countries.
     This is only one example of how God can use us.  Being a follower of Jesus Christ and spreading the gospel does not depend on our education, our social status, our material possessions; it depends on our commitment to Jesus Christ.  If we are open to the highest calling we could ever have in the world, being spokes person for Jesus Christ, then God will use us.  Are you open and ready for a move?  What is more important for you - your worldly life or being a minister of God?  Love you all.
Deo Soli Gloria
Johnny