Introduction

Matthew, also known as Levi, is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the traditionally attributed author of the Gospel of Matthew. His Gospel is the first book of the New Testament and serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Matthew's Gospel is particularly noted for its structured teaching sections, including the Sermon on the Mount, and its focus on the Kingdom of Heaven.

Background and Authorship

Matthew was a tax collector before being called by Jesus to be one of His disciples. Tax collectors were often despised by their fellow Jews for their association with the Roman authorities and perceived dishonesty. Despite this, Jesus called Matthew to follow Him, demonstrating the transformative power of His ministry. The Gospel of Matthew is traditionally attributed to him, although the text itself does not explicitly name its author. Early church fathers, such as Papias and Irenaeus, affirmed Matthew's authorship.

Structure and Themes

The Gospel of Matthew is structured around five major discourses, which some scholars suggest parallel the five books of the Torah. These discourses include the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the Mission Discourse (Matthew 10), the Parables of the Kingdom (Matthew 13), the Discourse on the Church (Matthew 18), and the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25). This structure highlights Jesus as the new Moses, a teacher and lawgiver.

Key themes in Matthew's Gospel include the fulfillment of prophecy, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. Matthew frequently uses the phrase "that it might be fulfilled" to connect Jesus' life and work with Old Testament prophecies, underscoring Jesus as the promised Messiah.

The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew uniquely uses the term "Kingdom of Heaven" rather than "Kingdom of God," which is more common in the other Synoptic Gospels. This phrase reflects a Jewish reverence for the name of God and emphasizes the spiritual nature of Jesus' kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven is presented as both a present reality and a future hope, inaugurated by Jesus' ministry and awaiting its full consummation.

The Sermon on the Mount

One of the most significant sections of Matthew's Gospel is the Sermon on the Mount, found in chapters 5-7. This discourse contains the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, and teachings on love, forgiveness, and righteousness. Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard of living, one that reflects the values of the Kingdom of Heaven. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3) exemplifies the countercultural nature of Jesus' teachings.

The Great Commission

Matthew concludes his Gospel with the Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). This charge underscores the universal scope of the Gospel and the responsibility of believers to spread the message of salvation.

Conclusion

Matthew's Gospel is a foundational text for understanding the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Its emphasis on prophecy fulfillment, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the call to discipleship continues to inspire and challenge Christians today. Through Matthew's account, believers are invited to see Jesus as the Messiah who fulfills God's promises and calls His followers to live according to the values of His kingdom.

Matthew's Genealogy of Jesus Christ
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII MATTHEW'S GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST. 'The book
of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/matthews genealogy of jesus christ.htm

Of the Consistency of Matthew's Version with that of Mark in the ...
... Chapter XI."Of the Consistency of Matthew's Version with that of Mark in the Account
of the Potion Offered Him to Drink, Which is Introduced Before the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xi of the consistency of.htm

Of Matthew's Declaration That, on Leaving These Parts, He came ...
... Chapter LI."Of Matthew's Declaration That, on Leaving These Parts, He Came into
the Coasts of Magedan; And of the Question as to His Agreement with Mark in ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter li of matthews declaration that.htm

Matthew's Story of the Entry into Jerusalem. Difficulties Involved ...
... 17. Matthew's Story of the Entry into Jerusalem. Difficulties Involved in It for
Those Who Take It Literally. ... Take in the first place what we find in Matthew. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/17 matthews story of the.htm

Matthew's Feast. Discourse on Fasting.
... Part Fifth. From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) LVII. Matthew's Feast. ...
(Capernaum.) ^A Matthew 9:10-17; ^B Mark 2:15-22; ^C Luke 5:29-39. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lvii matthews feast discourse on.htm

Of Matthew's Agreement with Mark in the Statement About the Leaven ...
... Chapter LII."Of Matthew's Agreement with Mark in the Statement About the Leaven
of the Pharisees, as Regards Both the Subject Itself and the Order of ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lii of matthews agreement with.htm

Of the Words of St. Matthew's Gospel, Chap. Iii. 13, "Then Jesus ...
... testament. Sermon II. Of the words of St. Matthew's Gospel, Chap. iii. 13 ... Trinity.
[LII. Ben.] Of the words of St. Matthew's Gospel, Chap. iii ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon ii of the words.htm

On the Lord's Prayer in St. Matthew's Gospel, Chap. vi. 9, Etc. To ...
... Sermon VI. On the Lord's Prayer in St. Matthew's Gospel, Chap. vi. 9, etc. ... [LVI.
Ben.] On the Lord's Prayer in St. Matthew's Gospel, Chap. vi.9, etc. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon vi on the lords.htm

Of the Calling of Matthew, and of the Question Whether Matthew's ...
... Chapter XXVI."Of the Calling of Matthew, and of the Question Whether Matthew's Own
Account is in Harmony with Those of Mark and Luke When They Speak of Levi ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxvi of the calling of.htm

Of the Testimony of John to Jesus in Matthew's Gospel,
... 17. Of the Testimony of John to Jesus in Matthew's Gospel,. ... So far, then, our
examination of the statements in the Gospel according to Matthew. Footnotes: ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/17 of the testimony of.htm

Matthew's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Matthew's (1 Occurrence). Matthew 9:10 It happened
as he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors ...
/m/matthew's.htm - 6k

Beatitudes
... particularly in the Psalms (Psalm 32:1, 2; Psalm 41:1; Psalm 65:4, etc.), and Jesus
on various occasions threw His utterances into this form (Matthew 11:6 ...
/b/beatitudes.htm - 16k

Innocents (2 Occurrences)
... to the slaughter by HEROD, I (which see) of children two years old and under in
Bethlehem and its environs at the time of the birth of Christ (Matthew 2:16). ...
/i/innocents.htm - 20k

Version
... This was followed by Tyndale's translation (1525-1531); Miles Coverdale's
(1535-1553); Thomas Matthew's (1537), really, however, the work of John Rogers, ...
/v/version.htm - 37k

Massacre (1 Occurrence)
... to the slaughter by HEROD, I (which see) of children two years old and under in
Bethlehem and its environs at the time of the birth of Christ (Matthew 2:16). ...
/m/massacre.htm - 20k

Matthias (2 Occurrences)

/m/matthias.htm - 9k

Prayer (406 Occurrences)
... also be offered in the faith that God is, and is the hearer and answerer of prayer,
and that he will fulfil his word, "Ask, and ye shall receive" (Matthew 7:7 ...
/p/prayer.htm - 80k

English
... 5. From Wycliffe to Tyndale 6. William Tyndale 7. Miles Coverdale 8. Matthew's Bible
9. Richard Taverner 10. The Great Bible (Cranmer's Bible) 11. ...
/e/english.htm - 38k

Lord's (548 Occurrences)
... name. (see SABBATH.). Lord's Prayer. The name given to the only form of prayer
Christ taught his disciples (Matthew 6:9-13). The closing ...
/l/lord's.htm - 88k

Josaphat (1 Occurrence)
... JOSAPHAT. jos'-a-fat (Iosaphat, the King James Version in Matthew 1:8 for JEHOSHAPHAT
(which see)): A king of Judah, mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Christ. ...
/j/josaphat.htm - 6k

What is the Matthew Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Gospel of Matthew - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Who wrote the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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