Gospel of Matthew Introduction: HG Bishop Youssef

Introduction to the Gospel of St. Matthew

00:00-20:00

• The Gospel of St Matthew has always occupied a position of high esteem in the faith and life of the Early Church
• Most of the Early Church Fathers frequently quoted the Gospel of St Matthew
• Gospel of St Matthew was the most read gospel during the first two centuries of Christianity
• Author: St. Matthew
  • All the Church Fathers agree that the author is St Matthew, himself
  • Matthew means "Gift of the Lord"
  • Also called Levi
  • He was a tax-collector before being called to be one of the disciples of Christ
  • One of the Lord's earliest disciples
  • Because he followed the Lord Jesus Christ so closely, his account is considered a first-hand eyewitness account (contrast with St Luke who depended on others to write his gospel)
• Timing:
  • Irenaeus said it was written while St Peter and St Paul were preaching in Rome
  • Eusebius, the Church Historian, said it was written after St Matthew left Palestine and started to preach outside Palestine
  • Clement of Alexandria said that the first two gospels written were the Gospel of St Matthew and the Gospel of St Luke
• Two Versions
  • Hebrew/Aramaic Version (39-42 AD)
    • All of the Church Fathers reference this, but this work is lost
    • Possibly lost when Jerusalem was destroyed; or destroyed by the Judaizers 
  • Greek Version (60-67 AD)
    • The version that we are using now
    • There is no consensus among scholars as to whether the Greek version is a translation of the Hebrew/Aramaic version, or if it is a different gospel
    • Regardless, the Gospel was written by St Matthew
• Audience: Jews who believed in Christ and became Christian
  • Gives details of Jewish Religious Observances
  • Uses Jewish style of argument
  • Starts with a Genealogy to show that Jesus is Son of Abraham and Son of David
  • Prophetic Formula
  • St Matthew Mentions many evidences that Christ rose from the dead
• Purpose
  • St Matthew wants to prove to them that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messianic King of the Old Testament whom they are waiting for
  • He refers many times to prophecies from the Old Testament to prove that Jesus is the Messiah and in Him the prophecies are fulfilled
  • To make clear that the New Testament is a continuation of the Old Testament
    • • Christ came to fulfill the Law not to destroy it
  • To show that Christ was sent to the Jews (Matthew 15:24 - "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel")
• Theme: Jesus is the King of the Jews
• Sections
  • Matthew 1-4:11 - The Advent of the Messiah
    • Christ is the Son of David
    • Christ was born of a Virgin at Bethlehem
    • His way was prepared by John the Baptist
    • His Baptism
    • The Temptation on the Mountain
  • Matthew 4:12-16:12 - The Public Proclamation of the Messiah's Kingdom
    • He chose His first disciples and started His ministry in Galilee
    • Sermon on the Mount
    • Many miracles performed by Christ
  • Matthew 16:13-Matthew 23 - Distinct and Public Claim of the Messiahship
    • Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?
    • Account of the Transfiguration
    • Entering Jerusalem as the Son of David
    • Assuming Messianic Authority in the Temple
  • Matthew 24-27 - Sacrifice of the Messiah, the High Priest, on the Cross
    • Prepared His Disciples for His Sacrificial Death
    • The Crucifixion
  • Matthew 28 - Victory of the Messiah, the Savior and the King
    • The Resurrection
• Numerology
  • In Scripture in general, numbers usually have more significance than just a quantity
    • e.g. 7 is a symbol of perfection
  • Gematria
    • Each letter has a corresponding number
    • So a name or a word has a number
    • D = 4
      V = 6
      DVD = 14 (in Hebrew, there aren't any vowels so the name David is DVD)
  • St Matthew uses numerology a lot
    • 14 = King David's Number
      • St Matthew wants to establish the link between Christ and King David
      • Three sets of 14 in the Genealogy in Ch 1
      • Total 42
    • 42 is 6x7
      • 6 is the number of man (since man was made on the 6th day)
      • 7 is the number of God (perfect number)
      • So 42 is the conflict between man and God
        • Man rebelled against God
        • But God sent His Son to reconcile man with God
    • 7 is a perfect number
      • 7 Beautitudes (Matthew 5)
      • 7 Repetitions in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6)
      • 7 Parables (Matthew 13)
      • 7 Woes (Matthew 23)