According to evangelical Christian tradition, the Gospel of Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew, also known as Levi. Matthew was one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to be his closest followers and witnesses to his ministry on earth.

Matthew was a tax collector before he became a disciple of Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, he is referred to as Levi, and he is called by Jesus to follow him while he is collecting taxes in Capernaum. After becoming a disciple, Matthew dedicated his life to following Jesus and spreading his teachings.

It is believed that Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew to provide a detailed account of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus for a primarily Jewish audience. The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and fulfills Old Testament prophecies.

In Matthew 18:15, Jesus gives instructions on how to handle conflict within the church community, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness. The passage highlights the principles of confronting sin, seeking repentance, and restoring the relationship between believers.

Ultimately, evangelical Christians view the Gospel of Matthew as an inspired and authoritative account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, written by one of his closest disciples.