The Book of Matthew

What Makes Matthew Essential for Understanding Jesus as the Jewish Messiah?

The Gospel of Matthew stands as the bridge between the Old and New Testaments, deliberately crafted to demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited Messiah promised throughout Hebrew Scripture.¹¹ Written by Matthew the apostle, also known as Levi the tax collector whom Jesus called to discipleship, the Gospel was composed around 60-70 AD for a primarily Jewish Christian audience struggling to understand how Jesus fulfilled ancient messianic expectations.¹² Matthew's Gospel opens with a genealogy tracing Jesus' lineage through David and Abraham, immediately establishing His credentials as both the royal heir to David's throne and the seed through whom all nations would be blessed.¹³ The historical context reveals early Jewish Christianity grappling with questions about the relationship between the law and the gospel, the inclusion of Gentiles in God's salvation plan, and how to respond to increasing persecution from both Jewish religious authorities and Roman political powers.¹⁴ Matthew's purpose is both evangelistic and apologetic: to present compelling evidence that Jesus is the Christ while providing practical instruction for living as His disciples in a hostile world. The Gospel serves as a comprehensive handbook for Jewish Christians seeking to understand their faith's continuity with Hebrew Scripture while embracing the radical newness of life in God's kingdom inaugurated through Jesus' death and resurrection.

How Does Matthew Present Jesus' Teaching and Ministry as the Fulfillment of Scripture?

Matthew organizes his Gospel around five major teaching discourses that echo the structure of the Pentateuch, presenting Jesus as the new Moses who brings definitive revelation about God's kingdom and righteous living.¹⁵ The Gospel contains more direct quotations from the Old Testament than any other Gospel, repeatedly using the formula "this was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet" to demonstrate the precise correspondence between ancient prophecy and Jesus' life and ministry.¹⁶ Central to Matthew's presentation is the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7), where Jesus presents the ethical standards and spiritual principles that characterize kingdom living, including the Beatitudes, the Golden Rule, and the Lord's Prayer. The Gospel emphasizes Jesus' teaching through parables about the kingdom of heaven, using familiar images from Palestinian life to communicate profound spiritual truths about God's reign, human response, and eternal judgment. Matthew carefully balances Jesus' teaching ministry with His miraculous works, demonstrating divine authority through healing the sick, casting out demons, controlling nature, and ultimately conquering death through His own resurrection. The Gospel's climactic Great Commission (28:18-20) presents the risen Christ commissioning His disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all His commandments. Throughout these varied elements, Matthew maintains that Jesus both fulfills the law and prophets while inaugurating a new covenant that extends God's salvation to all peoples while calling for radical discipleship characterized by love, mercy, and justice.

Why Does Matthew Remain Crucial for Understanding Christian Discipleship and Mission?

Matthew's enduring significance lies in its comprehensive presentation of Jesus as both the fulfillment of Jewish messianic hopes and the universal savior whose teaching and example provide the foundation for Christian discipleship across all cultures and generations. The Gospel offers contemporary believers essential insights into the relationship between the Old and New Testaments, demonstrating how Jesus fulfills rather than abolishes the law while establishing new covenant principles that transcend ethnic and cultural boundaries. Matthew's emphasis on Jesus' teaching ministry provides practical guidance for Christian living through the Sermon on the Mount, parables, and ethical instructions that address issues like forgiveness, money, relationships, and social justice that remain relevant for modern believers. The Gospel's focus on the kingdom of heaven offers both present reality and future hope, encouraging believers to live according to kingdom values while anticipating the ultimate consummation of God's reign through Christ's return. Throughout church history, Matthew has served as a foundational text for Christian education, evangelism, and missions, providing the Great Commission mandate that has motivated worldwide gospel proclamation and church planting. For contemporary Christians, the Gospel provides essential guidance for understanding the continuity between biblical faith and modern discipleship, motivation for cross-cultural mission and evangelism, and practical wisdom for living faithfully in a pluralistic world while maintaining distinctive Christian identity and values, ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ as the perfect revelation of God's character and the authoritative teacher whose words provide eternal life for all who believe and follow Him.