Matthew, the Gospel of
Authorship and Origin
The Gospel of Matthew has been unanimously attributed to the apostle Matthew (also known as Levi) by the ancient church. Papias, an early second-century church father, reported that Matthew composed sayings of Jesus in Hebrew (or Aramaic), which others later translated. The early church fathers Irenaeus, Origen, and Eusebius all affirmed Matthew's authorship, and the Gospel was universally accepted as canonical from the earliest times.
Matthew was a tax collector whom Jesus called to discipleship (Matthew 9:9; 10:3). His background in tax collection would have given him skills in record-keeping and documentation useful for compiling a detailed account of Jesus' teachings. The Gospel's strong Jewish character, its careful attention to Old Testament fulfillment, and its organized presentation of Jesus' teaching all reflect an author deeply rooted in Jewish life who was also concerned with the mission to all nations.
Structure and Content
Matthew's Gospel is notable for its careful literary structure. It alternates between narrative sections and five major blocks of Jesus' teaching, a pattern some scholars see as echoing the five books of Moses:
The five teaching discourses are the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7), the Mission Discourse (chapter 10), the Parables of the Kingdom (chapter 13), the Discourse on the Church (chapter 18), and the Olivet Discourse on the end times (chapters 24-25). Each discourse concludes with a transitional phrase such as "When Jesus had finished saying these things" (Matthew 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1).
The Gospel opens with a genealogy tracing Jesus' ancestry through David to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-17), establishing His credentials as the rightful heir to Israel's throne. The birth narrative includes the visit of the Magi, the flight to Egypt, and the massacre of the innocents (Matthew 1-2). The Gospel concludes with the crucifixion, resurrection, and the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).
Major Themes
The dominant theme of Matthew is that Jesus is the promised Messiah who fulfills the Old Testament Scriptures. The phrase "this was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet" appears repeatedly (Matthew 1:22; 2:15, 17, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 27:9), linking events in Jesus' life to specific prophetic texts. Matthew cites the Old Testament more than any other Gospel, drawing connections between Jesus and Moses, David, Isaiah's Suffering Servant, and Daniel's Son of Man.
The Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew's preferred term for the Kingdom of God) is another central theme. Jesus' teaching reveals the nature, values, and demands of this kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount presents the ethics of the kingdom, with the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) describing the character of those who belong to it. The kingdom parables of chapter 13 describe its hidden growth, immense value, and eventual consummation. The Gospel makes clear that the kingdom is both a present reality and a future hope.
Matthew also emphasizes Jesus' authority. He teaches with authority unlike the scribes (Matthew 7:29), has authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6), exercises authority over disease, demons, and nature, and concludes the Gospel by declaring, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18).
The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5-7 contains the most extensive single collection of Jesus' ethical teaching. The Sermon on the Mount opens with the Beatitudes, which overturn worldly values by pronouncing blessing on the poor in spirit, the meek, and the persecuted (Matthew 5:3-12). Jesus declares that He came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17), then proceeds to deepen the law's demands, addressing anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and love for enemies (Matthew 5:21-48).
The sermon includes the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), teachings on fasting, giving, and material possessions ("You cannot serve both God and money," Matthew 6:24), and the golden rule: "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12). It concludes with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, emphasizing that hearing Jesus' words without obeying them is like building a house on sand (Matthew 7:24-27).
The Church and the Great Commission
Matthew is the only Gospel that uses the word "church" (Matthew 16:18; 18:17). Jesus' declaration to Peter, "On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:18), establishes the church as central to God's purpose. Chapter 18 provides practical instruction for community life, including the parable of the lost sheep, guidelines for addressing sin within the fellowship, and the call to unlimited forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22).
The Gospel culminates in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), where the risen Jesus commands His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He has commanded. This universal mandate transforms what began as a message to Israel into a mission for the entire world, with the promise of Jesus' abiding presence: "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Date and Purpose
The Gospel is generally dated between 50 and 70 AD, though some scholars place it later. Its Jewish orientation suggests it was written for a community deeply engaged with questions about Jesus' relationship to the law, the prophets, and the identity of the people of God. Matthew's purpose was to demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ promised in the Old Testament, to preserve His authoritative teaching for the church, and to commission the global mission that would carry the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
Biblical Context
Matthew stands as the first book of the New Testament canon, serving as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments through its extensive use of prophecy and fulfillment. It draws from across the Old Testament, particularly Isaiah, Psalms, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zechariah, and the Pentateuch. Matthew shares significant material with Mark and Luke (the Synoptic Gospels) while containing unique material including the Magi visit, the Sermon on the Mount in its extended form, and several parables found nowhere else.
Theological Significance
Matthew's Gospel establishes Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel's messianic hope, the authoritative teacher of God's will, and the risen Lord who commissions the worldwide mission of the church. The Sermon on the Mount has shaped Christian ethics for two millennia. Matthew's emphasis on the Kingdom of Heaven reveals God's reign breaking into human history through Jesus. The Great Commission defines the church's ongoing mission and assures believers of Christ's continuing presence.
Historical Background
Early church tradition unanimously attributes this Gospel to the apostle Matthew. Papias (circa 130 AD) wrote that Matthew compiled the sayings of Jesus in the Hebrew language. Irenaeus (circa 180 AD) stated that Matthew wrote his Gospel while Peter and Paul were preaching in Rome. The Gospel shows deep familiarity with Jewish customs, geography, and scriptural interpretation. Its organized structure and teaching focus may reflect use in early Christian instruction and worship. The Didache, an early Christian manual (late first or early second century), quotes Matthew extensively, confirming its early and widespread use.