In the News ... "Apostle Matthew overcame bad reputation"

 Painting by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn 

• Former tax collector was the only New Testament writer to record Sermon on the Mount

By Bob Campbell, Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - The Apostle Matthew is distinctive not only because his Gospel begins the New Testament with Jesus Christ’s genealogy going back to Abraham and King David but also because he had been a tax collector and was despised by his fellow Jews for his venality and implied allegiance to the Roman Empire.

The Rev. Jay Armstrong, Mormon leader Chris Vore and the Revs. Christopher Redden and Dare Stevens say Matthew is also notable because his Gospel is the only one of the four with an account of the Sermon on the Mount ...

• Read the rest of this OA report ...