James the son of Alphaeus
James the younger or the lesser could have been small in stature, so it could refer to his physical features. It could also mean he was the youngest of the chosen disciples. What we can learn for this is we do not have to be huge in stature, nor do we have to be old. Jesus chooses who He wants.
Matthew 10:3-4; Luke 6:15; Mark 3:18
There is not much known about James the son of Alphaeus. Matthew 10:3-4; Luke 6:15; Mark 3:18 identifies James the son of Alphaeus as one of the twelve disciples. “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1-4).
Mark reports Jesus calling Levi (the name for the disciple Matthew), the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. Jesus sat at meat in his house. Matthew and James were both the sons of Alphaeus. (Mark 2:14-15).
James the son of Alphaeus is called the “James the Lesser” in Mark 15:40. When Jesus gave up the Ghost there were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
James, the son of Alphaeus, was in the upper room after the Ascension of Jesus with the rest of the disciples. (Acts 1:13).
James was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18). He lived in Galilee and was the brother to the Apostle Jude. Matthew the tax collector may have been their brother. This is the James who probably wrote the Epistle of James (though that is disputed).
What Can This Story Teach Us?
James the Younger (or James the Less), was the son of Alphaeus of Cleophas. His mother Mary was either a sister or a close relative of the Mary the Mother of Jesus, and for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord.
James the younger or the lesser could have been small in stature, so it could refer to his physical features. It could also mean he was the youngest of the chosen disciples. What we can learn for this is we do not have to be huge in stature, nor do we have to be old. Jesus chooses who He wants.
The Bible tells us: “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16). “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30).
We should always give thanks to the LORD we have been chosen from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. We were called by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “James the son of Alphaeus:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Oct 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1746,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, October) “James the son of Alphaeus:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1746,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “James the son of Alphaeus:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (October), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1746, (accessed).
