About the Book of Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew stands as a majestic bridge, connecting the promises of the Old Testament with their fulfillment in the New. Written primarily to a Jewish audience, its central purpose is to present a powerful, irrefutable case for Jesus of Nazareth as the long-awaited Messiah, the prophesied King from the line of David. Matthew meticulously demonstrates how Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection are the culmination of Israel’s entire history and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. It is a Gospel steeped in the language of royalty, authority, and the establishment of a new Kingdom—the Kingdom of Heaven. More than just a biography, Matthew is a masterful work of discipleship, carefully arranging Jesus’ teachings into five great discourses that provide a foundational curriculum for what it means to live as a citizen of this new Kingdom.

Summary of Matthew's Narrative

Matthew’s narrative unfolds like a royal proclamation, beginning with a genealogy that firmly establishes Jesus' credentials as the heir to the thrones of both David and Abraham. It recounts his miraculous virgin birth, his anointing by the Spirit at his baptism, and his triumph over temptation in the wilderness. The heart of the Gospel is Jesus' public ministry, where he authoritatively teaches the ethics of his Kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount, demonstrates his power over sickness, sin, and nature through miracles, and calls a group of twelve disciples to follow him. Throughout, Matthew highlights Jesus' escalating conflict with the religious leaders of Israel, who ultimately reject their King. The narrative culminates in Jerusalem, with Jesus' triumphal entry, his final week of teaching, his sacrificial death on the cross as an atonement for sin, and his glorious resurrection, which vindicates all his claims. The book concludes with the resurrected King commissioning his followers to take his message of salvation and discipleship to all nations, promising his authoritative presence with them to the very end of the age.

Key Themes and Theological Concepts

The Five Great Discourses

A unique structural feature of Matthew is its organization around five major blocks of Jesus' teaching, possibly mirroring the five books of the Torah (the Pentateuch). This presents Jesus as the new and greater Moses, the ultimate lawgiver for God's people.

• The Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7): The constitution of the Kingdom, describing the character (Beatitudes) and conduct (ethics) of its citizens.
• The Missionary Discourse (Chapter 10): Instructions for the disciples as they are sent out to proclaim the Kingdom, including warnings of persecution.
• The Parables of the Kingdom (Chapter 13): A collection of stories that reveal the nature, growth, and value of the Kingdom of Heaven.
• The Discourse on the Church (Chapter 18): Teachings on humility, forgiveness, and relationships within the community of believers.
• The Olivet Discourse (Chapters 24-25): Prophecies concerning the end times, the destruction of the temple, and Jesus' second coming.

Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy

More than any other Gospel writer, Matthew uses the formula "This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet..." (over 10 times). He meticulously links events in Jesus' life—his birth in Bethlehem, his flight to Egypt, his ministry in Galilee—to specific Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating to his Jewish readers that Jesus is not an unexpected interruption but the planned climax of their sacred story.

The Kingdom of Heaven

This is Matthew's preferred term for the "Kingdom of God." It refers to the sovereign rule and reign of God, which has broken into human history through the person of King Jesus. Matthew presents this Kingdom as both a present spiritual reality to be entered by faith and a future physical reality that will be consummated when Jesus returns.

Frequently Asked Questions about Matthew

1. Who was Matthew, the author?

Church tradition unanimously identifies the author as Matthew (also called Levi), one of the twelve apostles. Before following Jesus, he was a tax collector—a profession despised by the Jews as it involved working for the Roman occupiers and was often associated with corruption. His calling by Jesus (Matthew 9:9) is a powerful demonstration of the Gospel's grace, showing that the Kingdom is open to all, even social outcasts.

2. Why is Matthew's Gospel placed first in the New Testament?

While not necessarily the first Gospel written (many scholars believe Mark was written earlier), Matthew's Gospel serves as a perfect transition from the Old Testament to the New. Its strong emphasis on the fulfillment of prophecy, its Jewish flavor, and its structured presentation of Jesus' teachings made it an ideal introductory book for the early church to understand how Jesus' story connects with the story of Israel.

3. What is the Sermon on the Mount?

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is the most famous and extensive collection of Jesus' ethical teachings. It is not a list of rules to get saved, but a description of the character and conduct of those who are already citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. It includes the Beatitudes (the "blessed are" statements), teachings on anger, lust, prayer (The Lord's Prayer), anxiety, judging others, and concludes with the wise and foolish builders, emphasizing the importance of not just hearing Jesus' words, but doing them.

4. Why does Matthew's genealogy of Jesus differ from Luke's?

This is a classic question. Matthew's genealogy traces Jesus' lineage through his legal father, Joseph, back to David and then Abraham, emphasizing his role as the legal heir to the Davidic throne and the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. Luke's genealogy, on the other hand, traces Jesus' lineage back through Mary's side (though still mentioning Joseph) all the way to Adam, emphasizing Jesus' role as the Savior of all humanity, not just the Jews. Both are theologically purposeful and historically accurate.

5. What is the Great Commission?

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is the final command of the risen Christ to His disciples. Having declared that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, Jesus commissions his followers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them... and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." It is the foundational mission statement of the church, a global mandate to take the good news of King Jesus to every people group on earth, with the promise of His empowering presence.