A Historical & Theological Background to Matthew

An Introduction to the Gospel

I. Historical Background

    

Author

: Matthew the tax-collector and apostle, also known as Levi.

Date

: Sometime after 70 A.D.

Place of Writing

: Two possibilities:   Antioch of Syria Palestine (Jerusalem?)

Purpose in Writing

: To show Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures— He is the Messiah, the King.

Audience/Recipients

: mostly Jewish

II. Matthew’s Content

    Matthew focuses on the Kingdom of God and Jesus as the King.

 The Kingdom is for everyone—Jews and Gentiles.

 Wise men are from the East—outsiders. Jesus is the “son of David” (1:1) and therefore heir to the throne and Davidic covenant.

Matthew is organized around 5 speeches of Jesus. This reflects the first 5 books of the OT.

The gospel message is the new “law” or instruction for Christians.

II. Matthew’s Content

   More teaching  than in other gospels.

Contains the most parables of any gospel  Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7).

There are more references to the Old Testament —this shows its strong Jewish nature.

Matthew begins with the genealogy    of Jesus.

Birth information is exclusive to Matthew.

Focuses on Joseph’s perspective. Notice the women mentioned in the list.

II. Matthew’s Content

  The name “Jesus” appears over 150 times in Matthew (more than the number of times in Mark and Luke combined).

In Matthew, Jesus’ identity Mark, it remains hidden).

 is clearly seen (in Born “King of the Jews” (1:54)     The new Moses; he delivers God’s law (ch. 5).

The New Abraham—a blessing for the Gentiles.

The Lord (8:2, 6, 8, 21, 25) The Teacher of the Law (8:19; 9:11; 12:38).

III. Details Found Only in Matthew

        The genealogy of Jesus (1:2-17) Visit of the Magi (2:1-12) The flight to Egypt and return (2:13-21) Parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl (13:44-46) Parable of the net (13:47-50) The death of Judas (27:3-10) The guards at the tomb of Jesus and their report (27:62-66; 28:16-20) The Great Commission (28:16-20)

IV. Key Themes in Matthew

      

1.

The “

fulfillment

” of OT (1:22-23; 2:15; 2:17 18).

2. Mountains

: they represent the presence of God, revelation and worship.

Final resistance to Satan is on a mountain (4:8) Delivers the Sermon on the Mount (5:1) Feeds the 5,000 (15:32) Transfiguration on a mountain (17:1) Commissions his disciples (28:16-20)

IV. Key Themes in Matthew



3. Jesus is worshipped

in this gospel.

 By the Magi (non-Jewish) 2:2, 11.

 By the synagogue ruler (9:18)  By the disciples in the boat (14:33)  After the resurrection (28:9, 17) 

4. “Kingdom of heaven”

occurs over 30 times.



5. “Father”:

term used over 50 times; this stresses the love of God.



“Church”:

only gospel to use this word (16:16).

IV. Key Themes in Matthew

 

6. Righteousness / Justice

 Hunger and thirst for it (5:6)    (moral teaching).

It should be first priority (6:33) Not to be paraded before others (6:1) It must exceed that of the Pharisees (5:20)

7. Immanuel

: “God with us”—is especially important in Matthew.

 At his birth (1:23)   Will be with his disciples always (28:20).

There is no ascension of Jesus at the end.