Matthew #40

Matthew presents Jesus’ life and teaching in a way that suits a primarily Jewish audience, repeatedly showing how he fulfills the Old Testament as Israel’s promised Messiah-King. It closes with his commission to make disciples of all nations.

Read Matthew in the King James Version →

Author and Date

The Gospel is anonymous, but from early on tradition has attributed it to Matthew, the tax collector who became one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 9:9, 10:3). Some scholars accept this and date it to the 50s-60s AD, while many others propose an anonymous author writing c. AD 70-90, often assuming he used Mark as a source. Authorship and date remain matters of scholarly discussion.

Background and Audience

Matthew’s frequent citations of Old Testament prophecy, concern for Jewish law and customs, and emphasis on Jesus as son of David and son of Abraham suggest readers with a Jewish background. Its final scene sends the disciples to all nations, showing that the audience is ultimately wider.

Outline

• Chapters 1-2: Genealogy, birth, the visit of the magi, and infancy
• Chapters 3-4: John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism and temptation, and the start of his Galilean ministry
• Chapters 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount
• Chapters 8-10: Miracles and the mission discourse to the twelve
• Chapters 11-13: Growing opposition and the parables of the kingdom
• Chapters 14-17: Feedings and controversies, Peter’s confession, Jesus’ first prediction of his death, and the Transfiguration
• Chapters 18-20: Teaching on community life and the journey toward Jerusalem
• Chapters 21-25: Jesus in Jerusalem: controversies, the Olivet Discourse, and parables of judgment
• Chapters 26-28: The Last Supper, crucifixion, resurrection, and the Great Commission

Key Themes

• Fulfillment: Events in Jesus’ life are repeatedly tied to the Old Testament.
• The kingdom of heaven: Its arrival, its character, and its demands.
• Discipleship: Jesus teaches a righteousness deeper than outward observance.
• Authority and mission: Jesus speaks with divine authority, and the good news reaches all nations.

Key Verses

• Matthew 1:21-23 — the child is named Jesus because he will save his people, and is called Emmanuel, “God with us”
• Matthew 5:3-12 — the Beatitudes, which open the Sermon on the Mount
• Matthew 6:9-13 — the Lord’s Prayer
• Matthew 16:16 — Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God
• Matthew 22:37-40 — the two great commandments, love of God and love of neighbor
• Matthew 28:19-20 — the Great Commission to disciple all nations, with the promise of Jesus’ presence

How It Fits the Bible

Matthew opens the New Testament and forms a bridge from the Old, following Malachi and beginning with a genealogy that links Jesus to Abraham and David. It is the first of the four Gospels, alongside Mark, Luke, and John, and presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.