Matthias

  Matthias and Paul

“You know, Matthias was never meant to be the 12th Apostle…

“It was meant to be Paul…

“Who was Matthias anyway..?

“he doesn’t appear to do anything…

“his name’s only mentioned once in the Bible - after that he disappears…” 

These shocking statements - and others like them, were made by a celebrity TV ‘preacher’ amid the usual “Ooos” and “Wows” from his staged audience, at this amazing “new revelation”. 

I have been brought almost to tears by this blatant butchering of God’s Word over the airwaves: The audacity to say this about a disciple and Apostle of Jesus - and  a martyr!

So who exactly was Matthias? And should Paul have been chosen instead of him? 

We know he wasn’t one of the original twelve - and yes his name is hardly mentioned…

And yet, we also know that he was with Jesus from the beginning (Acts1:21-22): humbly serving, quietly following, faithfully believing. Church history tells us that he will be faithful to the end…like most of the other Apostles, following His Lord even unto death.

Matthias or Paul?

In Acts ch.1 we read how Peter calls for the disciples to draw lots “that another will take the place of Judas” - so that there would once again be twelve. Why? 

Maybe the answer to that is found in Matthew ch.19:28.

Jesus said to (the disciples) “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. {See also Luke 22:28-30                                      And Revelation 21:14 with Ephesians 2:20}

Just like the original judges that presided over Israel under the Old Covenant, the 12 apostles will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the 12 tribes. This was why another (Matthias) had to be chosen.

The Book of Judges is a type and shadow of this future event, which will likely take place during the millennial reign of Christ.

So where does Paul fit in? 

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 

Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 

Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”

 (1Corinthians15:3-8)

Why…? 

Because he (Paul) was called to be an (extra) Apostle - not assigned to any of the twelve tribes, but to the 13th tribe  - the gentiles!

vs.9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 

Twelves tribes…Twelve apostles: 

But then unexpectedly, an extra Apostle is added to the mix - 

Because God will unexpectedly graft an extra tribe - the gentiles - in to the plan of Salvation. We gentiles are the ‘thirteenth tribe’…and just like Paul we are a people as if “untimely born”(vs.8)…once excluded from the Covenant, until in the last days, when God would unveil this great mystery (Eph.3:1-6)…when he would bring the Gentiles in to be co-heirs with Israel…and he would use Paul to blaze the trail.

Meanwhile Matthias, an unknown name, an unsung servant, is selected by God in place of Judas…he was not one of the original twelve, but was a faithful, humble follower regardless…and content to be so (Psalm 84:10). He will willingly step into this commission as Apostle, and lay down his life as a result; 

Just like the One he had followed, Matthias will also humble himself to the point of death. Surely he is an example for all of us. 

And yet as I listened in shock at this preacher, who sounded offended…almost annoyed that Matthias was chosen, because “his name is hardly mentioned”, I realized how dangerously deceptive the celebrity culture in the Church has become. Have we forgotten the Ways of God? See: Matthew 20:20-28…

I wish that we were ALL like Matthias!