Questions :1. Who was Matthew ?2. How do we know he wrote this gospel ?3. What language was it written in ?4. When was it written ?5. Where was it written ?6. To whom was it written ?7. Why did Matthew write this Gospel ?8. What part of Jesus did Matthew focus on ?9. What did Matthew want to communicate ? (7

key issues) 10.What is the structure of his gospel ?

Question 1.

Who was Matthew ?

(often known as ‘Levi’)

Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man

called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.  

And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples,“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’

For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew the disciple of Jesus Also called ‘Levi’, son of Alpaeous A Jew (name ‘Levi’ suggests Matthew’s father was an

orthodox Jew possibly of the priestly line)

Before Christ …

A sinner - Corrupt Tax Collector for the Roman government. Employee of the Roman authorities

Despised by most Jews as one of the worst of sinners.

E.g. Parable: Luke 18:10-13: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Regarded as – corrupt – thief – traitor

Traitor - worked for the occupying force, taking money from the Jews to support the Roman rule

Corrupt – falsely inflated the value of the goods so could take higher taxes from person

Thief – Became rich from the extra money they made charging higher taxes

Educated – as a civil servant for the Roman Government he had a good level of education to work in this business

Rich – Matthew collected taxes near Capernaum on the busiest road in Israel - huge revenues & profit to cheat from

Sacrifice – the richest of the apostles. Could never return to his work of corrupt and rich living (would never have been accepted back after a follower of the Messiah)

The message : The LORD not only brought a corrupt despised tax collector to salvation - but used him to write the very gospel that speaks the message of Christ to all Jews

Evangelist – brought many fellow corrupt tax collectors to come and meet the Messiah. Later Ireneous (early church father) records – Matthew continued to preach the gospel of salvation among the Hebrews / Jews.

Question 2.

How do we know He wrote this gospel ?

How do we know? Issue . . Not recorded in the gospel we have that

Matthew wrote it But . . Early manuscripts title – “gospel according to

Matthew” Papias, early church leader, 100 years after

Christ – affirmed Matthew the tax collector was author

All early Church Fathers (major church leaders & theologians in the first 300 years) unanimously agreed – Matthew the tax collector was author

Question 3.

What language and style was it written in?

The debate: Hebrew or Greek . . Possibly in Hebrew Papias mentioned – in Hebrew first

• But .. Greek version has no sign of being a translation• Though .. No Hebrew or Aramaic version found

Therefore .. The Greek edition was directly written by Matthew

(even if in Hebrew before) The Greek version is the inspired word of God (not just

a translation) Many of Christ’s sayings were in Hebrew – for the

benefit of the Jewish readership

Question 4.

When was it written ?

When ? Speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem as the future

(AD 70) Reason for writing: once dispersed from Jerusalem

– need for gospels to be recorded in order to be communicated to all believers

Exact date is difficult to calculate Estimated date = between AD 40 - 70

Debate : was Matthew copied from Mark ?

Was Matthew’s material directly taken from Mark? Arguments for YES

• 91% of Mark’s gospel is contained in Matthew• View: Mark’s gospel written 1st in 50s/60s – then both Mark’s

and a common source document ‘Q’ used for material in Matthew & Luke

Arguments for NO• All early church Fathers argued: NO • View: Matthew’s gospel was the first written – because there

first was need for a gospel written to the first believers, Jewish believers about the Jesus as being the Jewish Messiah, the fulfilment of the OT prophecies

• View: (i) teachings & life of Jesus had been clarified first in clear oral (verbal) messages (ii) early written fragments recording teachings & events of life of Jesus – were used by all 3 gospel writers

Question 5.

Where was it written ?

Where ? Impossible to give exact location of the writing In one of first locations of the Early Church Most likely:

Antioch of Syria Otherwise:

In Israel after the dispersion

Question 6.

To whom did Matthew write this to ?

(who was the audience?)

Audience ? First audience: the Jewish people Second audience: all believers (great commission) Greek – speaking Jews Evidence:

– Focus on fulfilment of the Jewish OT prophecies – Seeks to prove that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah– Makes little effort to explain Jewish customs (because

already known)– Uses Jewish terms (e.g. Kingdom of Heaven)– Focus on Jesus as ‘Son of David’

Question 7.

Why did Matthew write this gospel ?

(what was his purpose?)

Purpose ?1. To prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the

promised Messiah prophesied to come, the King of the Jews

2. By demonstrating that the prophecies of the OT were fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth

3. In order - to bring Jews to come to believe in Jesus and follow Him as their Messiah (Matthew’s purpose was that of evangelism)

4. To form the connecting link between the writings of the OT and the New Covenant message of the NT

Question 8.

What part of Jesus’ identity did Matthew focus on ?

The promised Messiah & King

The Messiah promised as the ‘Son’ (descendant) of King David

The Messiah who will fulfil the Abrahamic covenant

Matthew starts with this message in chapter 1:1 :

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…..

The descendancy of Jesus Matthew 1: the

paternal line

(Luke 4: the maternal line) Matthew: proves Jesus

is the Son of David, his Davidic origin & the descendant of Abraham - the covenant with the Jews

(Luke 3: goes beyond to emphasise Jesus’ human origin as son of Adam, father of all humanity)

Son of Abraham

Son of David

Son of Adam

Messiah Prophesied: 1 Chronicles1 Chronicles 17:11-14

(11) When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

(12) He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.

(13) I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor.

(14) I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.‘”

Messiah Prophesied: PsalmsPsalm 2:6-12

(6) "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."(7) I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You

are my Son; today I have begotten you.(8) Ask of me, and I will make the nations your

heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

(9) You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

(10) Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

(11) Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

(12) Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Messiah Prophesied: PsalmsPsalm 89: 3-4

(3) You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:

(4) 'I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.'" Selah.

Messiah Prophesied: IsaiahIsaiah 9:6-7(6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will

be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

(7) Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 11:1-5(1) A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a

Branch will bear fruit.(2) The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and

of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD--

(3) and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;

(4) but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

(5) Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Messiah Prophesied: Jeremiah

Jeremiah 23:5-6

(5) "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.

(6) In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.

Messiah Prophesied: DanielDaniel 7:13-14

(13) "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

(14) He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

In light of these prophecies ..– we can see why many Jews at that time having

seen Jesus’ miracles and teaching actually prove that He is the Messiah >

– expected Jesus to bring in the restoration of the powerful nation of Israel – to rise up over the military rule of Rome

The name of Jesus the Christ Many called Jesus in 1st century To explain which Jesus – called:

Jesus of NazarethJesus ben (son of) JosephJesus the Christ (Messiah) – not a surname – a

title

Greek Hebrew Meaning

Jesus Yeshua / Joshua Anointed One

Christ Messiah Yahweh is salvationYahweh saves

Question 9.

What did Matthew want to communicate ?

Focus of Matthew1.Fulfilment of the Old

Testament2.Teachings of Jesus3.Discipleship4.Evangelism & Mission5.Kingdom of God / Heaven6.The Church7.Crucifixion & Resurrection

1. Fulfilment of the O.T. To prove that Jesus is the one prophesied to come

as Messiah 53 direct quotes of OT to prove Jesus fulfilled

prophecies 10 times stated “all this took place to fulfil what the

Lord has said through the prophet” OT predecessors shown as foreshadowings or

“typologies” of Christ. – e.g. Jesus temptation in wilderness 40 days – recalls

Israel’s 40 years in the desert. Christ is fulfilment all 3 centralities of Jewish faith

(Mt.12) :– Israel’s kingly leadership – “one greater than Solomon”

(Mt.12:42)– Israel’s priestly worship – “one greater than the temple”

(Mt.12:6)– Israel’s prophetic guidance – “one greater than Jonah”

(Mt.12:41)

Key Prophecies fulfilled : Birth Birth Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin

will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Micah 5:2 - "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (prophesied = 700-680 BC & fulfilled = 5 BC)

Jeremiah 31:15 - This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.“

Preceded by John the Baptist Isaiah 40:3-5 - A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the

way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God…And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (prophesied = 700-680 BC & fulfilled = AD 27)

Key Prophecies fulfilled : Life Miracles

Isaiah 35:4-5 - Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. (prophesied = 700-680 BC & fulfilled = 27-31 AD)

Enter Jerusalem on a donkey Zechariah 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout,

Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (prophesied = 520-518 BC & fulfilled = 31 AD)

Despised & Rejected Isaiah 53:2-3 - He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. (prophesied = 700-680 BC & fulfilled = 31 AD)

Key Prophecies fulfilled : Crucifixion & Resurrection

Isaiah 53:4-12 - Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (prophesied = 700-680 BC & fulfilled = 31 AD)

2. Teachings of Jesus More covered than any other gospel (60% gospel are

teachings) Organised in 5 blocks each around a topic

– Chapters 5 – 7 : Discipleship– Chapter 10 : Evangelism & Mission– Chapter 13 : Kingdom of God / Heaven– Chapter 18 : Church and Fellowship of Believers– Chapters 24 – 25 : Future

Each finishes with “when Jesus had finished saying these things”

2 methods of teaching:1. Discourses = sermons / lectures e.g. sermon on the mount2. Parables = simple short stories using symbols of everyday

life to explain the abstract concepts about the Kingdom of God

3. Discipleship Ch.5 - 7: Sermon on the Mount – not simply new teaching but in

the process corrections of Jew’s misinterpretations of the Torah, (the teachings & laws of the OT) as Jesus fulfilled it (Mt.5:17).

Took the OT teaching & law from the externals to the heart as Jeremiah (31:33) prophecy: "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” – the fulfilled Law through Christ

– Do not Murder -> Do not have hatred (Mt.5:21-26)– Do not Adultery -> Do not Lust (Mt.5:27-30)

2 forms of the Law (1) written (“it was written”) – 365 laws in OT (2) oral (“it was said”) – Scribes explanation of the laws

(later the Mishnah)

Beatitudes: 8 eternal blessings which flow from true discipleship in the face of: poverty, morning, persecution etc in this world. Disciples called to Jesus criteria of success rather than those of the world (Mt.6:19-21).

Prayer: a new level of relationship with God as ‘Abba’ – our personal intimate father

4. Evangelism & Mission Chapter 10: Disciples given not only the mission of

Christ, but also the authority of Christ to carry out the mission (Shaliah principle)

Replicated Jesus’ ministry in every detail Evidenced in: sick healed, dead raised, lepers

cleansed, demons driven out Chapter 28: The mission applies to all disciples “All

authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore 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 surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”

- note the calling to make disciples not simply converts. - note in Acts the transfer of authority & ministry through

the Holy Spirit

5. Kingdom of God / Heaven Context: Under Roman occupation. Long for restoration of

Kingdom of God in Israel looking back to times of King David & recent Maccabean rule

Jews look for: Political, physical Kingdom of God – Israel Jesus offers: the true eternal (spiritual) Kingdom of God –

the realm and sovereign complete rule of God in every believers life – with its effect across the community & society.

Believers commanded to seek first the Kingdom of God (Mt.6:33)

Reality of Kingdom of God seen visibly in lives & community transformed: – "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind

receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." (Mt.11:3-6)

> Kingdom of God – Arrived but still coming Kingdom of God is both present and future – it has been

inaugurated but not fully consummated. Ongoing living reality: parables seed+weeds+mustard seed+yeast (Mt.13).

Present: Jesus brought the Kingdom of God fulfilling prophecy– (Matthew 4:17) From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent,

for the kingdom of heaven has come near.– The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are

cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor (Mt.11:3-6)

Future: final completion of Kingdom of God with final judgement and new heaven & earth.– Commanded – pray for God’s Kingdom come (Mt.6:10)– The final Kingdom: Parable of the final wedding feast (Mt.22)

Central Focus >> The ‘Kingdom’ is central to Matthew =

55x ‘Life’ is central to John = 36x

The Church and Fellowship of Believers

Matthew = only gospel writer to refer to church (ekklesia)

Not to the structure or organisation –> to the community of believers & how they relate to each other (1st priority)

Central chapters = Mt.18-20: central messages = Humility (Mt.18:1-4) Life of Service to one another (20:24-28) Forgiveness to one another (18:15-35) Church’s decisions of discipline based on scripture

have God’s authority when ‘binding’ (discipline) & ‘loosening’ (judging sin) (Mt.18:15-18).

Question 10.

What is the structure of this Gospel ?How do we follow the direction of Matthew’s gospel?

Structure of Matthew’s Gospel

Direction of Matthew’s Gospel

Public Ministry to the multitudesMt.4:17 – from that time Jesus began to preach ..”

Growing rejection & attacks on Jesus esp. Mt. 12:24 – accusing Jesus of being Satan

Private Ministry to equip the 12 apostles to take his ministry to the ends of the earthMt. 16:21 – “from that time Jesus began to show his disciples”

References: Books to Read … Benware, Paul (1990) Survey of the New

Testament.

Berding, Kenneth and Matt Williams (2008) What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About.

Tenney, Merrill C. (1997) New Testament Survey.

Recap: Can you answer these 10 Questions :

1. Who was Matthew ?

2. How do we know he wrote this gospel ?

3. What language was it written in ?

4. When was it written ?

5. Where was it written ?

6. To whom was it written ?

7. Why did Matthew write this Gospel ?

8. What part of Jesus did Matthew focus on ?

9. What did Matthew want to communicate ? (7 areas)

10. What is the structure of his gospel ?

Key Words to learn … Jesus (Yeshua) = Yahweh is salvation / Yahweh

saves Christ (Messiah) = anointed one Immanuel = God with us Abba = Father (Aramaic) Parable = simple short stories using symbols of

everyday life to explain the abstract concepts about the Kingdom of God

Kingdom of God / Heaven = the sovereign, complete rule of God in people’s lives

Beatitudes (latin) = a series of 8 blessings declared by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount

Church (ekklesia) = community/assembly of believers united into one body