Tom Clark Gnomes:Matthew -6009

The Gospel Writers Series… Matthew "His was one of the most despised occupations in Capernaum. As the tax collector for a foreign government, Levi was considered an enemy and a traitor by his fellow Jews. To some, this makes the story of his calling to become a disciple of Jesus all the more compelling. The Gospel of Matthew 9:9 records, in a very simple manner, his call by Jesus, and his response of unwavering faith: "And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him." With a bag of money and the Biblical passage to show the two disparate halves of Levi’s life, my statue seeks to portray the moment of his calling. The emotions of disbelief, joy and hope play across his face. He is in the traditional pose, based primarily on the oil painting by Caravaggio, "The Calling of St. Matthew." To signify this experience, Jesus bestowed upon Levi a new name – Matthew, which means "Gift of God." The engraving by Matthew’s name is part of the "Christ in Glory" from the Cathedral of Limoges. The "man with wings" is the traditional symbol for Matthew, as taken from Biblical imagery in both the Old and New Testaments. The first book of the Gospel closes with yet another affirmation of Matthew’s faith as he records Jesus’s words to the eleven disciples at Galilee: "Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."" Artist: Tom Clark Release Date: January, 1996 A Registration Form will be sent for your completion to receive a Certificate of Authenticity.