About Matthew
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God - the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, and whose kingdom is now breaking into history.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:3
Written
circa AD 50-90
Author
Matthew
Genre
Gospel / Biography / Narrative
Position
1st NT book - First of the Four Gospels
Authorship
Matthew (Levi), a tax collector who became one of the Twelve Apostles (Matt 9:9, 10:3). Early church fathers (Papias, Irenaeus) consistently attributed this Gospel to Matthew.
Historical Context
Written primarily for a Jewish-Christian audience, possibly in Antioch of Syria, during a period when Jewish Christians were navigating their relationship with the synagogue and understanding Jesus as the fulfillment of their Scriptures.
Purpose
To demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfillment of every strand of OT promise - the new Moses, the Son of David, the Suffering Servant.
Key Message
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God - the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, and whose kingdom is now breaking into history.
Book Structure
Interesting Facts
Matthew uses kingdom of heaven (rather than kingdom of God) 32 times - possibly out of Jewish reverence for the divine name.
Matthew contains five major teaching discourses (chs. 5-7, 10, 13, 18, 24-25), possibly mirroring the five books of Moses.
Matthew 1's genealogy includes four women - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba - foreshadowing the scandalous grace of the gospel.
The Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20) has shaped Christian missions for 2,000 years.
Matthew uses fulfillment formulas 14 times - this was done to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet - more than any other Gospel.