Matthew was a turncoat tax collector until Jesus changed him. His account as one of the twelve apostles contains over 100 Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus.
These are great books for anyone who wants to learn more about the books of the bible without a huge in depth bible study. They pretty much hit the high points of the books and give commentary and interpretation without going over one's head. It's a great place to start and then move into something more detailed. They are also great as a reference book because certain events and timelines are easy to find in them. I would recommend all in this series, which are now called The Smart Guide to the Bible, having changed publishing companies.