Gospel of Matthew Intro

Written By Julius Shumpert

Author: Tradition says former tax collector Matthew (who was one of the disciples) was the author. Scholars don't know for sure.

Audience: Jews and the Jewish Christians

Year Written: Somewhere between the years 70 AD and 110 AD

Language: Ancient Greek and or possibly Aramaic

The Gospel of Matthew stands out as an extraordinary account of the life of Jesus Christ. Its goal is to present Him as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. Aimed primarily at a Jewish audience, Matthew's Gospel portrays Jesus as "the new Moses," drawing clear parallels between the lives of these two pivotal figures. By comparing their origin stories—found in Exodus 1-2:10 and Matthew 2—readers can see the intentional echoes of Baby Moses' story in the birth of Jesus, emphasizing His role as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy.

Structure and Significance

Matthew's Gospel is meticulously structured to resonate with Jewish listeners. Just as the Torah contains five books (Genesis-Deuteronomy), Matthew's Gospel is organized around five significant discourses delivered by Jesus, where He reinterprets the Law. These speeches can be found in:

  1. Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

  2. Mission Discourse (Matthew 10)

  3. Parabolic Discourse (Matthew 13)

  4. Discourse on the Church (Matthew 18)

  5. Olivet Discourse (Matthew 23-25)

This structure would have been significant to Jewish believers who were beginning to place their faith in Jesus and recognize Him as a master rabbinic Teacher.

The Great Rabbi and King

In His teachings, Jesus often used dualistic imagery—such as "this vs. that"—to guide His audience through the initial stages of faith. Dualistic thinking is a way to establish clear standards and boundaries, which are essential for early spiritual formation. Jesus skillfully incorporated the assumptions of His audience before challenging and transcending them. A prime example is Matthew 5:38-48, where Jesus reinterprets the Law to elevate it beyond mere legalism to a higher moral and spiritual plane.

Key Themes in Matthew

Prophecy

Prophecy plays a dual role in Matthew's Gospel. On one hand, prophecy predicts future events. On the other, it serves as a lens through which the present is understood in light of the past. Many Jews reading Matthew's account would have recognized how the events of Jesus' life mirrored significant moments from their history, reinforcing the idea that He was the promised Messiah.

Hell

The concept of "Hell" in Matthew's Gospel is rooted in a few Greek words, such as "Tarturus," "Hades," and "Gehenna." Gehenna is a term that would have been familiar to a Jewish audience. Gehenna was a valley outside Jerusalem associated with idol worship and child sacrifice, and it had become a symbol of divine judgment. By using this imagery, Jesus communicated the spiritual consequences in terms that His listeners could easily understand. Learn More about the “History of Hell”, here.

Julius Shumpert