The Gospel of Matthew
In Church history, there has been a longstanding connection between the four gospels and the four creatures mentioned in the book of Revelation (4:7-8). This association can be traced back to the early second century. The gospel Matthew wrote is most often associated with the winged man because he begins with the genealogy of Jesus and His role as God in the flesh.
Theme to Watch for
The long-awaited messiah we have been longing for has come.
About the Author
The author of the Gospel of Matthew is Levi (his Hebrew name), who is also referred to as Matthew in Scripture. He is best known for being a former tax collector from Capernaum and completely changing his way of life to become a disciple of Jesus. Funny enough, he was called to follow Jesus while he was in the tax collector’s booth.
As Jesus went on from there, 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.
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Matthew 9:9-13, NIV).”
*To cross-reference the call of Matthew with the other gospels, read Mark 2:13–17 & Luke 5:27–32.
When was it written?
When dating Matthew, we must look at the information we have available. The gospel itself does not state when it was written. Most scholars agree that Matthew was probably written between the late 50s and early 60s AD.
About the Audience
It is quite clear who the intended audience of Matthew’s gospel is, even though they are not directly mentioned. Consider this: Matthew places a significant emphasis on the fulfillment of prophecy, drawing from the Hebrew Scriptures. Unless the reader is familiar with the said Scriptures, this would not be of much importance to them. This demonstrates that the audience most likely had a Jewish background and was familiar with the Old Testament. There is also an emphasis on typology, which draws connections between Jesus and various significant figures from Israel’s history who are considered heroes, which again confirms the audience had to have prior knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures. Matthew discusses the fulfillment of prophecy, which may not be helpful to readers unless they are familiar with the specific prophecy mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).
With all of this in mind, scholars have concluded that Matthew’s intended audience likely consisted of Jews who converted to Christianity, a group also known as Messianic Jews. These individuals may have either been recently driven out of the synagogue because of their conversion or were still practicing their faith alongside fellow Jews who were not convinced Jesus was the Messiah.
What Kind of Relationship Did Matthew Have with His Audience?
Neither the Jews nor the Christians fully accepted the Messianic Jews (Jewish Christians). Matthew was a Jew turned tax collector turned Christ follower. If anyone knew what being an outsider looked like, it was Matthew. His gospel is a warm welcome to a group trying to navigate their new identity as Christians. He includes familiar ideas and concepts and then uses them as a springboard to uncover the new covenant. For example, the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew records Jesus saying, “You have heard it said... but I say...” He wants them to know the gospel is for them, the outsiders.
Historical & Cultural Factors to Keep in Mind
The Jewish people harbored a deep animosity towards tax collectors, particularly due to the fact that those chosen to collect taxes on behalf of Rome were selected from within the local Jewish population. Rome implemented this measure to ensure the accurate identification of local residents, thereby preventing any potential deception of the tax collector. The tax collectors were known for their questionable practices, such as extorting people and working on the Sabbath. Additionally, their frequent interactions with Gentiles made them ceremonially unclean. The devout Jews held contempt and deep mistrust towards this group.
Note for Teachers: Matthew had a strong affinity for numbers, particularly those that held significant symbolic meaning for Jewish people. He enjoyed organizing various materials into groups of two, three, five, and seven. I am sure this shocks you – a tax collector with an affinity for numbers.
Why was the gospel of Matthew written?
The main objective of this author is to provide evidence supporting that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah for the people of Israel.
Some argue that the purpose of Matthew’s gospel should be seen as centered around Jesus Himself. There is a case that Jesus is the embodiment of the Torah: “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 5:17, NIV).”
Matthew’s gospel was to present Jesus as the king of Israel for the sake of the whole world. [He] was convinced that Jesus was the Christ, the Savior, the Immanuel, the Son of God. And he would use every argument, promise, prophecy, typology, and commandment to prove it. [1]
Timeline of Matthew:
Matthew is a retelling of the Old Testament. Matthew’s gospel is trying to show that Jesus is the better Israel.
Used with permission.
