# Gospel of Matthew Introduction: HG Bishop Youssef

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<div id="bkmrk-his-grace-bishop-you">[His Grace Bishop Youssef ~ عظات نيافة الانبا يوسف](https://soundcloud.com/his-grace-bishop-youssef "His Grace Bishop Youssef ~  عظات نيافة الانبا يوسف") · [MATTHEW - Intro &amp; Ch 1 ~ Bible Study](https://soundcloud.com/his-grace-bishop-youssef/matthew-introduction-chapter-1-bible-study "MATTHEW - Intro & Ch 1 ~ Bible Study")</div>#### 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)