Welcome to the Gospel of Matthew!

July 15, 2009

 

The Questions

 

1. When was Matthew written?

2. To whom was it written?

3. What is its primary purpose or message?

4. Who wrote it?

Read Matthew 1:1-17

5. Why were all these names recorded?

6. Why would Matthew want to include “son of David and son of Abraham?”

7. Did you notice the adultery and harlotry and murder in this linage?

8. What does this mean?

9. Did you notice it all starts with women who are barren?

10. What does this mean?

11. Matthew doesn’t say Joseph was the father of Jesus. What does this mean?

12. There are 42 generations. What does this mean?

13. God’s people spent 400 years in Egypt. What does this mean?

14. Pray hard and hold on! What does that mean?

 

 

Welcome to the Gospel of Matthew!

July 15, 2009

 

Some Answers

We began with a discussion of the Synoptic Gospels. This relates to the observation that the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke contain much of the same material, although occasionally in different contexts (compare Matthew's account of the Lord's Prayer with Luke's account). John's Gospel is quite different.

The first three Gospel agree extensively in language, in the material they include, and in the order in which events and sayings from the life of Christ are recorded (chronological order does not appear to have been rigidly followed in any of the Gospels).

For an example of agreement in content, see Matt. 9:2-8; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-26. An instance of verbatim agreement is found in Matt. 10:22a; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 12:17.

A mathematical comparison shows that 91 percent of Mark's Gospel is contained in Matthew, while 53 percent of Mark is found in Luke. These agreements raise the question as to the origin of the Synoptic Gospels. Was there a common source? Were they interdependent? These questions are called the Synoptic Problem. There are numerous theories (too many to mention here), but 2,000 years later, no firm answer. Source: Zondervan's TNIV Study Bible (2006), p. 1604; Scofield Study Bible-English Standard Version (2001, 2006), pp. 1250-1251.

 

1. When was Matthew written?

The opinions of Biblical scholars are a three-way split. Some argue that this Gospel was written in the early church period, possibly the early part of 50 A.D. Others who assume that Matthew drew heavily from Mark conclude that Matthew was written in the late 50s or early 60s. Finally there is the group that holds that Matthew was written in the 70s or even later. There is insufficient evidence to be dogmatic about any of these views. Source: Zondervan's TNIV Study Bible (2006), p. 1604; Scofield Study Bible-English Standard Version (2001, 2006), p. 1253.

 

2. To whom was it written?

The Greek-speaking Jews.

 

3. What is its primary purpose or message?

To show Jesus was the Messiah, directly descended from Abraham via David. Writing it in Greek gets that Gospel to a very large audience, and a wide circulation of reading.

Matthew's main purpose is to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their Messiah. He does this primarily by showing how Jesus in his life and ministry fulfilled the OT Scriptures. Written in Greek, many scholars believe that numerous elements point to a primarily Jewish readership:

Matthew does include other elements that expand his view to a more universal readership. Source: Zondervan's TNIV Study Bible (2006), p. 1604; Scofield Study Bible-English Standard Version (2001, 2006), p. 1253.

 

4. Who wrote it?

Matthew.

Although it is anonymous, the early church father's were unanimous in holding that Matthew, one of the 12 apostles, was its author. A small recent opinion holds that if this Gospel was heavily influence by the Gospel of Mark, that Matthew – an eyewitness to the events in our Lord's life – would not have been the author, since he would have independent, first-hand evidence and not need to rely on Mark's Gospel.

Matthew is also referred to by his other name, Levi, in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. The name Matthew means “gift of the Lord.” He was a tax collector, and was thus despised by loyal Jews; the story of how he was called to be a disciple is in Matt. 9:9-13.

9 As Jesus went on from there [i.e., “his own town”], he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 9:13 Hosea 6:6

Source: Zondervan's TNIV Study Bible (2006), p. 1604; Scofield Study Bible-English Standard Version (2001, 2006), p. 1253.

 

Read Matthew 1:1-17

5. Why were all these names recorded?

Genealogy and heritage was an extremely important cultural issue for the Jews. In addition, in this genealogy, we see God's inspiration and God's plan.

It has also been pointed out that because Jesus is portrayed in Matthew's Gospel as a King, thus, His genealogy is traced through King David. Luke's genealogy (3:23-38) traces His descent from Abraham through Mary, fulfilling different purposes.

 

6. Why would Matthew want to include “son of David and son of Abraham?”

This gets the attention of the Jews.

By tracing Jesus from Abraham and David, He is given “validity.” “Son of David” is a Messianic title; Jesus fulfills the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7:5-16). “Son of Abraham” was important in fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:2-3; Gen. 15:9-21; Gen. 17; Zec. 9:10).

 

7. Did you notice the adultery and harlotry and murder in this linage?

Yup.

 

8. What does this mean?

God is gracious, and hasn't given up on His people.

 

9. Did you notice it all starts with women who are barren?

Yup.

 

10. What does this mean?

God is powerful.

In each case, we have a miracle of birth. This presages Mary, and demonstrating the filling and fulfilling power of God.

 

11. Matthew doesn’t say Joseph was the father of Jesus. What does this mean?

The Holy Spirit was the father of Jesus.

Joseph was the adoptive father (and a pretty good one, as nearly as we can tell). Because of Matthew's genealogy, Jesus is the legal son of Joseph, and therefore a descendant of David.

In the Old Testament “Holy Spirit” is almost always called “the Spirit of God” or “the Spirit of the Lord.”

 

12. There are 42 generations. What does this mean?

Seven is one of those special numbers in scripture. 42 generations = 7 x 6. But the more important point is that God’s ways are not our ways, nor is His timing our timing. I know 7 is perfection and 10 is completeness and multiples of these magnify the meaning – but I am not sure numerology explains these years. While this was a cultural “hook” for Matthew in accomplishing his goal of showing that Jesus was the Messiah, the most important point is that God had a plan that He executed over more 42 generations then, and continues to execute today, July 15, 2009. And tomorrow. And the day after into the Fulfillment.

 

13. God’s people spent 400 years in exile. What does this mean?

It's an incubation period for the Jews. Egypt + 70 years in Babylon + 40 years in the desert. See question 12.

 

14. Pray hard and hold on! What does that mean?

The gate is narrow, and the road can be pretty bumpy. Persecutions of Christians started early (St. Stephen, one of the first deacons), and continues today. Daily prayer can help keep you connected to God, especially during the hard times.

 

Et Cetera

John 14:26: But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 16:14: He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.