Matthew
Author
Matthew the Apostle is unanimously considered to be the author of the book, although the book itself does not contain any author attribution. Matthew was a tax collector prior to his coming to Jesus (see Matthew 9:9-13), and is a great, personal example of how the grace he writes about truly contains the power to change lives.
In the gospels of Mark and Luke, Matthew is called Levi (see Mark 2:13-17 and Luke 5:27-32).
Date
Some believe that Matthew wrote his gospel sometime after the destruction of the Temple in 70AD, but many other scholars contest this view. It is possible that he wrote as early as 55AD
Audience and Purpose
It is believed that Matthew was writing specifically to the Jewish nation, as a connecting point between the promise of the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Christ. It is traditionally believed that Matthew originally wrote his gospel in the Hebrew language, which was later translated into Greek (though some modern scholars disagree with this assessment due to Matthew’s Greek usage lacking some of the common difficulties and clarity issues caused by a Hebrew to Greek translation). The earliest evidence of this comes from Eusebius who quoted Irenaeus as saying, “Matthew published his gospel among the Hebrews in their own language, while Peter and Paul in Rome were preaching and founding the church” (Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica III. 24.5–6 and V. 8, 2.)
In writing to the Jewish audience, Matthew quotes from the Old Testament more than any other New Testament book, in order to demonstrate that Jesus was the fulfillment of all Messianic prophecies and is the Christ.
Matthews’s purpose in writing was to give a biographical history of Jesus’ life and ministry, as well as to recall all the teachings and commandments Jesus gave, clearly intending to fulfill the commission he records from Jesus in Matthew 28:20. This book contains more of Jesus’ teachings than any other gospel, as well as containing historical accounts not present in other gospels. For examples, see the visit of the wise men from the East at Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:1-12) or the Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30).
Major Themes
- Gospel. Matthew is the first book in the New Testament, and shows that Jesus is the promised prophet, priest, and King who would bring God’s Kingdom into the world.
- Jesus as Messiah.
- The Kingdom of God.
- Prophecy Fulfilled.
Key Scriptures
- Matthew 4:17 — “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
- Matthew 28:18-20 — “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
Outline
- Matthew 1:1-2:23 — Jesus’ Early Life
- Matthew 1:1-17 — Jesus’ Genealogy
- Matthew 1:18-25 — Jesus’ Birth
- Matthew 2:1-12 — Visit of the Wise Men
- Matthew 2:12-23 — Escape to Egypt and Move to Nazareth
- Matthew 3:1-4:12 — Jesus’ Preparation for Public Ministry
- Matthew 3:1-17 — Jesus’ Baptism
- Matthew 4:1-12 — Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness
- Matthew 4:13-8:38 — Jesus Reveals the Kingdom of God
- Matthew 4:13-25 — Jesus Begins Ministry and Calls First Disciples
- Matthew 5:1-7:29 — Jesus Teaches about Life in God’s Kingdom
- Matthew 8:1-9:38 — Jesus Demonstrates the Power of God’s Kingdom
- Matthew 10:1-13:58 — Jesus Commissions Others for Kingdom Ministry
- Matthew 10:1-42 — Commissioning of the 12 Apostles
- Matthew 11:1-19 — Recognition of John the Baptizer’s Ministry
- Matthew 11:20-30 — Prophetic Call on Cities to Repent and Follow Him
- Matthew 12:1-50 — Jesus Again Demonstrations the Power of God’s Kingdom
- Matthew 13:1-58 — Jesus Teaches Parables Concerning Access to God’s Kingdom
- Matthew 14:1-16:12 — Jesus’ Ministry Gains Widespread Recognition
- Matthew 14:1-12 — Herod Hears About Jesus
- Matthew 14:12-16:12 — Jesus Ministers to Massive Crowds While Defending Against Religious Opposition
- Matthew 16:13-25:46 — Jesus Revealed as the Christ (Messiah)
- Matthew 16:13-28 — Jesus Proclaimed as Christ (Messiah) among the Disciples
- Matthew 17:1-13 — Transfiguration: Jesus Recognized as Christ (Messiah) by Moses, Elijah, and the Voice of God
- Matthew 17:14-20:34 — Jesus Defines the Life of a Christ-Follower
- Matthew 21:1-25:46 — Jesus Asserts His Authority as the Christ
- Matthew 26:1-28:20 — Jesus’ Final Days on Earth
- Matthew 26:1-25 — The Plot to Kill Jesus
- Matthew 26:26-30 — The Last Supper
- Matthew 26:31-46 — Final Time with the Disciples
- Matthew 26:47-27:23 — Jesus’ Arrest and Trial
- Matthew 27:24-66 — Jesus’ Crucifixion
- Matthew 28:1-15 — Jesus’ Resurrection
- Matthew 28:16-20 — Jesus’ Great Commission on His Disciples Then and Now.
Gospel Summary
It is difficult to give a gospel summary of Matthew, as the book itself is a “gospel” and a summary of the life of Jesus Christ.
The book begins with His supernatural birth and follows through as His life fulfills all Old Testament predictions of who the Messiah would be and how He would live. Although Jesus was rejected by the religious elite at the time, due to the preconceived notions they had as to how the Messiah would free them from pagan (Roman) occupation and rule, when compared to the scriptural prophecies Matthew shares, it becomes clear that Jesus did fulfill both the biblical expectations of the Messiah, as well as proving Himself to be the Son of God by the power and supernatural events occurring throughout His life.
To those “with ears to hear” what the Spirit says through the gospel writer, there will be little doubt that Old Testament prophecy points to Jesus.
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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.
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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
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