Author: This gospel is known as the Gospel of Matthew because  it was written by the apostle of the same name. The style of the book is  exactly what would be expected of a man who was once a tax  collector. Matthew has a keen interest in accounting (18:23-24;  25:14-15). The book is very orderly and concise.  Rather than write in  chronological order, Matthew arranges this Gospel through six  discussions.

As a tax collector, Matthew possessed a skill that makes  his writing all the more exciting for Christians. Tax collectors were  expected to be able to write in a form of shorthand, which essentially meant  that Matthew could record a person’s words as they spoke, word for  word. This ability means that the words of Matthew are not only inspired by  the Holy Spirit, but should represent an actual transcript of some of Christ’s  sermons. For example, the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in chapters 5-7,  is almost certainly a perfect recording of that great  message.

Date of Writing: As an apostle, Matthew wrote  this book in the early period of the church, probably around A.D. 50. This  was a time when most Christians were Jewish converts, so Matthew’s focus on  Jewish perspective in this gospel is understandable.

Purpose of  Writing: Matthew intends to prove to the Jews that Jesus Christ is the  promised Messiah. More than any other gospel, Matthew quotes the Old  Testament to show how Jesus fulfilled the words of the Jewish prophets.  Matthew  describes in detail the lineage of Jesus from David, and uses many forms of  speech that Jews would have been comfortable with. Matthew’s love and  concern for his people is apparent through his meticulous approach to telling  the gospel story.

Key Verses: Matthew 5:17: “Do not think  that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish  them but to fulfill them.”

Matthew  5:43-44: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your  enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute  you.”

Matthew  6:9-13: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed  be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven  our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil  one.”

Matthew  16:26: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet  forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matthew  22:37-40: “Jesus replied, ‘”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and  with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest  commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All  the Law and the Prophets hang on these two.'”

Matthew 27:31: “After they  had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they  led him away to crucify him.”

Matthew  28:5-6: “The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you  are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as  he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’”

Matthew 28:19-20:  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of  the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey  everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very  end of the age.”

Brief Summary: Matthew discusses the  lineage, birth, and early life of Christ in the first two chapters. From there,  the book discusses the ministry of Jesus. The descriptions of Christ’s teachings  are arranged around “discourses” such as the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5  through 7. Chapter 10 involves the mission and purpose of the disciples; chapter  13 is a collection of parables; chapter 18 discusses the church; chapter 23  begins a discourse about hypocrisy and the future. Chapters 21 through 27  discuss the arrest, torture, and execution of Jesus. The final chapter describes  the Resurrection and the Great Commission.

Connections: Because Matthew’s purpose is to present Jesus Christ as the King and Messiah of  Israel, he quotes from the Old Testament more than any of the other three gospel  writers. Matthew quotes more than 60 times from prophetic passages of the Old  Testament, demonstrating how Jesus fulfilled them. He begins his gospel with the  genealogy of Jesus, tracing Him back to Abraham, the progenitor of the Jews.  From there, Matthew quotes extensively from the prophets, frequently using the  phrase “as was spoken through the prophet(s)” (Matthew  1:22-23, 2:5-6, 2:15, 4:13-16, 8:16-17, 13:35, 21:4-5). These verses  refer to the Old Testament prophecies of His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2),  His return from Egypt after the death of Herod (Hosea 11:1),  His ministry to the Gentiles (Isaiah  9:1-2; 60:1-3),  His miraculous healings of both body and soul (Isaiah  53:4), His speaking in parables (Psalm 78:2),  and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah  9:9).

Practical Application: The Gospel of Matthew  is an excellent introduction to the core teachings of Christianity. The logical  outline style makes it easy to locate discussions of various topics. Matthew is  especially useful for understanding how the life of Christ was the fulfillment  of the Old Testament prophecies.

Matthew’s intended audience was his  fellow Jews, many of whom—especially the Pharisees and Sadducees—stubbornly  refused to accept Jesus as their Messiah. In spite of centuries of reading and  studying the Old Testament, their eyes were blinded to the truth of who Jesus  was. Jesus rebuked them for their hard hearts and their refusal to recognize the  One they had supposedly been waiting for (John  5:38-40). They wanted a Messiah on their own terms, one who would fulfill  their own desires and do what they wanted Him to do. How often do we seek God on  our own terms? Don’t we reject Him by ascribing to Him only those attributes we  find acceptable, the ones that make us feel good—His love, mercy, grace—while  rejecting those we find objectionable—His wrath, justice, and holy anger? We  dare not make the mistake of the Pharisees, creating God in our own image and  then expecting Him to live up to our standards. Such a god is nothing more than  an idol. The Bible gives us more than enough information about the true nature  and identity of God and Jesus Christ to warrant our worship and our  obedience.