The Gospel According to Matthew

MATTHEW
The most widely used gospel in the Church Has been considered the first gospel not only in the list of the NT books, but in importance as well Its place at the beginning of the canon means that it is probably the most frequently read of all the NT writings

CONTENT
The Lords Prayer (Ch. 6) The Beatitudes (Ch. 5ff) The Account of the Wise Men from the East (Ch. 2) The Narrative of the Last Judgment (Ch. 25) Jesus addressing Peter as the rock on which the Church will be built (Mt. alone)

CHARACTERISTICS
Among the synoptics, Matthew is the gospel that stresses the continuity between the old and the new law. Matthew is the gospel fulfillment This was to fulfill what the Lord has spoke by the prophet (occurs 10x) Example: Mt. :22, 23/Is 7:14 (Jesus born of a virgin)

CHARACTERISTICS
A teaching gospel Matthew wants to present Jesus as second Moses, greater far than the first lawgiver of Israel Of the four gospels, it is solely Matthew whom mentioned the word Church on two occasions (16:18 and 18:17) You are Peter,

and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

CHARACTERISTICS
It is only in Matthew where we read the disputes or conflicts are to be settled by the church. If the member

refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church (18:17)

THE EVANGELIST
Authorship Matthew the apostle? The author seems to have relied heavily on Marks gospel By the year 85-90 CE/AD, the apostle Matthew would probably have been dead

THE EVANGELIST
The concerns or the theological outlook of this gospel are those of second generation Christians (the first generation were very much preoccupied with the imminent coming of the Lord)

The Real Author Can Never be Identified

Internal evidence says, the author was probably a Jewish Christian convert of the second generation after Jesus
He must have undergone rabbinic schooling because of his familiarity with Jewish law and traditions, prophets, and Messianic expectations

The Real Author Can Never be Identified

The author knew Greek language very well and at home with literary forms and methods of his time He was probably a converted Jewish rabbi

Why such a conclusion?

A rabbinic mode of thinking and arguing: He is very fond of stereotyping and using formula quotations (He is the only evangelist who uses the terms Kingdom of Heaven (an expression common to the rabbis) while his source used Kingdom of God.

Why such a conclusion?

He expanded the simple form of address, Father (Lk 11:2) to Our Father who art in heaven (6:9) He replaced Jerusalem with Holy City (4:5) contrary to Luke 4:9 (Q)

Why such a conclusion?

He repeatedly used the formulae, When Jesus finished saying these things and All this took to place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet throughout the gospel.

MATTHEW
His terms are Jewish in tone: Kingdom of Heaven, righteousness, sons of God, Your heavenly Father, day of judgment
His pictures of Jesus: Son of Abraham, Messiah, or Coming One, Son of David, King of the Jews

HIS READERS
Jewish Christians (because of his frequent reference to the Jewish scriptures and traditions)

HIS READERS
An established urban community, relatively wealthy (use of terms like gold, silver and talents) Written in Antioch of Syria (present-day Turkey)

THE LANGUAGE

DATE OF COMPOSITION
Written after the destruction of Jerusalem (85-90 CE/AD)