People have been reading the Gospel of Matthew for roughly two thousand years, but lately, the conversation has shifted in a way the early church fathers probably never saw coming. We aren't just talking about theology anymore. We're talking about neurodiversity. Specifically, was Matthew from the Bible autistic? It’s a question that’s exploded in popularity thanks to modern media portrayals and a growing desire for representation within faith communities.
Labels didn't exist back then. Not like they do now.
If you look at the historical and biblical record, Matthew—also known as Levi—is a fascinating figure. He was a tax collector. In the first-century Roman world, that job meant you were an outcast. You were a man of numbers, systems, and rigid structures, living on the fringes of your own society. For many people in the autistic community today, that specific social isolation and hyper-focus on data feels incredibly familiar.
The Chosen Effect: Why Everyone is Asking if Matthew was Autistic
We have to address the elephant in the room: The Chosen.
Dallas Jenkins’ hit series explicitly portrays Matthew, played by Paras Patel, as being on the autism spectrum. He exhibits classic traits like difficulty with social cues, an obsession with accuracy, and sensory sensitivities. He’s seen counting his steps and struggling with the "messiness" of human interaction. It’s a brilliant piece of character work.
But is it biblically accurate?
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Well, it’s "interpretive." The Bible doesn't give us a diagnostic manual for the disciples. However, the show didn't just pull this out of thin air. They based the characterization on the specific way Matthew’s Gospel is written compared to Mark or Luke. It’s more organized. It’s structured. It’s obsessed with fulfilling specific prophecies—basically a giant checklist of "if-then" statements.
Examining the Biblical Evidence and Literary Style
When you read the Gospel of Matthew, you notice something immediately. It’s systemic. While Mark is fast-paced and sort of chaotic, Matthew is grouped into five clear blocks of teaching. This mirrors the Torah, showing a deep respect for patterns and traditional structures.
- The Genealogy: Matthew starts with a massive list of names. He’s tracing a lineage with mathematical precision. Most people skip the "begats," but for someone who values record-keeping, those 42 generations (divided into three sets of 14) are a masterclass in symmetry.
- The Focus on Numbers: He mentions money more than the other Gospel writers. He’s the one who tells us about the three talents and the exact amount of silver paid to Judas.
- Literalism: There’s a certain directness in his prose. He records the Sermon on the Mount with a level of detail that suggests a "recorder" mindset.
Is this enough for a diagnosis? Honestly, no. Not in a clinical sense. We can't put a man from 30 AD in a room with a modern psychologist. But we can look at the vocation of a tax collector. In the Roman system, "publicans" had to be meticulously organized. They dealt with spreadsheets of the ancient world. They were hated because they worked for the enemy, but also because they were "different." They lived in booths. They observed. They calculated.
Social Isolation and the Life of a Tax Collector
Imagine being Matthew. You sit in a tax booth all day. Your own people see you as a traitor. You’re excluded from the social rhythms of the synagogue.
For a neurodivergent person, this kind of social "othering" is a lived reality. Some theologians argue that Jesus chose Matthew specifically because he was an outsider who saw the world through a different lens. While Peter was impulsive and emotional, Matthew was the one making sure the "data" of Jesus' life was preserved for a Jewish audience that demanded proof.
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Grant Macaskill, a professor at the University of Aberdeen and author of Autism and the Christian Community, has written extensively about how we project modern identities onto biblical figures. He suggests that while we can't definitively say Matthew was autistic, the reception of him as such provides a vital bridge for neurodivergent Christians who often feel like they don't "fit" the standard mold of a believer.
People often think faith is all about "feeling" or "vibing" with a community. But Matthew’s Gospel is about logic. It’s about fulfilling the law. It’s about things making sense.
The Controversy of Retroactive Diagnosis
Some scholars get really annoyed by this. They argue that "was Matthew from the Bible autistic" is the wrong question because autism is a modern construct. They’re right, technically.
However, humans have had the same brain structures for millennia. Neurodiversity isn't new; our names for it are. When we look at historical figures—from Michelangelo to Isaac Newton—we often see traits that we now recognize as being on the spectrum.
The danger is flattening Matthew into a stereotype. He wasn't just a calculator in a robe. He was a man who left everything behind at a single word from Jesus. That takes a massive amount of conviction. It’s not just "logic" at work; it’s a radical shift in focus. If we assume Matthew was autistic, his decision to follow Jesus becomes even more profound. It means he left the safety of his numbers and his booth for a life of social unpredictability and sensory overload.
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That's a high-stakes move for someone who likes routine.
Why This Matters for the Church Today
Why does the internet care so much? Because for a long time, the "ideal" Christian was portrayed as a social butterfly—the person greeting everyone at the door, the emotive worshiper.
If Matthew was autistic, it changes the hierarchy of "spiritual gifts." It suggests that:
- Detail-oriented work is a form of worship. 2. Social awkwardness is not a barrier to being a pillar of the faith.
- God uses specific, "niche" brains to document the most important events in history.
Looking at the Gospel of Matthew through this lens helps people who struggle with "small talk" in the church lobby realize they have a place at the table. Matthew didn't have to stop being a "numbers guy" to follow Jesus; he just used his skills for a different Kingdom.
Final Thoughts on the Biblical Record
We will never have a DNA test. We will never have a video of Matthew’s childhood. What we have is a text. That text is structured, rhythmic, and obsessed with the fulfillment of ancient patterns.
Whether Matthew was "clinically" autistic or just possessed a personality type that we would today label as neurodivergent, the impact is the same. He represents the "outsider" who finds a home. He represents the mind that seeks order in a chaotic world.
If you're looking for a definitive "yes" or "no," you're looking for something the Bible doesn't provide. But if you're looking for a figure who validates the way a neurodivergent mind processes the world, Matthew is your guy.
Actionable Insights for Further Study
- Read the Gospel of Matthew alongside Mark. Notice the differences in how they describe the same events. Matthew’s version is almost always more structured and detailed regarding Jewish law and numbers.
- Watch the portrayals. Check out The Chosen to see how they dramatize these traits, but keep your Bible open to see where they took creative liberties versus what is actually in the text.
- Explore Neurotheology. Look into the works of Grant Macaskill or Benjamin Kilchör to understand how the church is beginning to integrate neurodiversity into historical biblical studies.
- Re-evaluate the "Outcast" Narrative. Instead of seeing tax collectors as just "sinners," consider the social and cognitive barriers that might have led someone to that profession in the first century.