MATTHIAS - "LET'S STOP BEING SO CRITICAL" (PART 4 OF 6)

St. Mathias by Peter Paul Rubens from his Twelve Apostles series at the Museo del Prado, Madrid, c. 1611

Sometimes, a person gets criticized because of someone else's actions. Matthias is in this point. The sole criticism of Matthias was not anything he did or said, but just that he wasn't God's choice as Judas' replacement. Nor was the other man on the ballot. Obviously, Paul was God's choice. At least, that's what they say, criticizing Peter for rushing ahead before the Holy Spirit came down.

Sigh. What is the real root of that theory? Simple. Paul is a prominent figure in Acts and the New Testament, and Matthias isn't. They add that there are references to the twelve apostles like "you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28) and "Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:14). So doesn't mean there are only twelve apostles?

Let me deal with these issues.

• Matthias is not an apostle because he's not mentioned as much as Paul? Let's see - give me all the references in Acts to Thomas and Andrew and Simon the Zealot. Matthias fits in the mix with them. Never mind that the view that prominence shows God's blessing is of the flesh; God saves by few as by many.
• What is the significance of twelve? Well, duh, it relates to the 12 Tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28 talks about the Apostles judging the 12 tribes. Revelation 21:14 follows 21:12, which talks about the 12 tribes. Could the 12 Apostles be a signal of a rebirth of Israel, starting the day of Pentecost? Then why wasn't Paul there?
• Let's look at instances when Post-Judas the disciples are referred to as "The Twelve." First, Luke mentions them in Acts 6:2. Second, there is the reference of Jesus appearing to the twelve after the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:5. We know who 11 of the 12 are, and we know Judas wasn't there. Who was the 12th in both cases? Paul? No, not converted yet. Could the 12th be Matthias? Of course, it could. By the way, Paul considered Matthias to be one of the twelve; he did not consider himself one of the twelve.
• Again, the ministry of the 12 was to the 12 tribes. Paul's ministry was to the Gentiles. There is no indication that he ever was a part of the 11 in his ministry. 
• Of course, we're not saying that Paul's not an apostle. But is it possible that the references of the 12 apostles were connected to Israel, meaning apostles to the Gentiles could be apostles but not of the 12, like Paul?
• Also, who said Peter was jumping the gun? Jesus spent 40 days with the Apostles. There was no record that He spoke about replacing Judas... and no record that He didn't. He told them to wait in Jerusalem, but He didn't tell them what to do or not to do while in Jerusalem waiting. One friend made fun of casting lots - hey, God commanded lots be used in calling out Achan's sin and His choice of King Saul, as well as using that means in other instances. The qualifications? For a person to be a witness of Christ's life and resurrection? Not commanded. Not. Condemned.

Yes, this is an issue for me. After all, the text nowhere suggests Peter was jumping the gun or that they were to wait for Paul to be saved. Again, it's looking down on Matthias because of a lack of prominence. But all the references that say he wasn't God's choice are located either preceding Genesis or following Revelation.

 

SIMON THE ZEALOT - BIBLICAL PEOPLE I'M CURIOUS ABOUT (PART 5 OF 6)

St. Simon by Peter Paul Rubens from his Twelve Apostles series at the Museo del Prado, Madrid, c. 1611

It should be no surprise that the majority of these obscure people in Scripture were in the Old Testament. But there are a pair from the New Testament we're not as aware of. We'll look at one this week and conclude this series with the other.

There were two Simons among the 12 apostles. Of course, one is better known as Peter. The other is called Simon the Cananite in Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:16-19, and as Simon the Zealot Luke 6:14-16 and Acts 1:13. And I've just mentioned every passage where he's mentioned by name in Scripture.

If you notice, the 12 are divided into three groups; their names might be in a different order, but it's the same three groups. The first started with Peter and included Andrew and the Zebedee boys. The next group featured Matthew, Thomas, Phillip, and Bartholomew. Finally, we find Simon with James the Son of Alpheus, Lebbaeus (Matt.) aka Thaddeus (Mark) aka Judas the son of James (Luke and Acts; John calls him "Judas not Iscariot" and the voice text on our phone put it "Judas not as scary at"), and you know who (missing, obviously, in Acts). James and the other Judas, like Simon, have nothing written about them in Scripture other than their names and calling.

But Simon has a designation that arouses my curiosity - particularly "The Zealot." Historians are aware there was a violent Zionist group by that name. But was he a zealot? The miniseries "Jesus Of Nazareth" had him leave the Zealots to follow Christ. The little I've seen of "The Chosen" with Simon implies he still had that mindset. Others say that he never was a Zealot. 

What about the other designation - "the Cananite?" Note the writing - it's not saying "Canaanite." Some believe he was from Cana, and possibly was the groom at a certain wedding that took place there. I've heard someone else, however, say that "Cananite" is an Aramaic word meaning ... you guessed it. "Zealot."

Having interest in politics, I'd love to get to know Simon when we get to heaven.