Matthew

Gospel of Matthew or simply Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. The narrative tells how the Messiah, Jesus, rejected by Israel, finally sends the disciples to preach his Gospel to the whole world.

When

Many scholars believe the Gospel of Matthew was composed between 80 and 90 CE. There are others who imagine a broader range of possibilities as early as 70 CE to as late as 110 CE. Few suspect an earlier date but sources like the Gospel of Mark, the Q source and something called "Special Matthew", or the M source.

Who

This Matthew may not be the Matthew of the Gospel mentioned for the first time in Matthew 9 but the author seems to remain somewhat anonymous. He is believed to have been a male Jew with some non-traditional Jewish values.

There were many different groups calling themselves Jewish and many "Factions at the altar".

The authors Greek was a polished Semitic "synagogue Greek" and some of his sources were in Aramaic or possibly he wrote in Aramaic and it was translated by him or someone else.

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Choice, Social bonds, Corban, Covetous practices, Repent, Mattias Desmet, Kingdom of God,

Teachings of Jesus

The gospel of Matthew emphasizes Jesus' teachings as much as his acts to express his divine nature. What Mark "young man"^[1] who appears at Jesus' tomb, for example, becomes an angel with "countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:"^[2] in Matthew 28:5.^[3]

Divine nature

The divine nature of Jesus was a major issue for the community and times of the author. He does more to show Jesus as someone who would be called the Son of God from his birth which was in direct conflict with the Caesars who were also called the "Son of God" and even the Savior of the world.

Matthew also wrote that Jesus' coming was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy because he was writing to Jewish Christians.

Manuscripts

The biblical texts we read today are established by collating major surviving manuscripts, and citations of early Church writers in order to produce versions. Through a process of consensus. Scholars approximate the form of the lost autographs which we accept today as scripture but interpretation must be the result of the Holy Spirit rather than Private interpretation.

To whom?

The Greek-speaking Jewish-Christian community to which Matthew belonged, was a part of the larger Jewish community that did not all see Jesus as a messiah much less divine as modern Christians often project. The authors has a vision of the general assembly or congregations of the Church which often included people who would be seen as both Jew or non-Jew, i.e. Gentile, together.

The key to who was a part of the community of Early Christians was that in the early Church they practiced Pure Religion through a daily ministration of charity and love in hope and did not apply to those Fathers of the earth who called themselves benefactors but exercise authority one over the other.

This made them a peculiar people that often drew persecution.

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Footnotes

↑ Mark 16:5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man <3495 νεανίσκος neaniskos> sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
↑ Matthew 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
↑ Matthew 28:5 And the angel<32 ἄγγελος aggelos also translated messenger] answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

[1] Mark 16:5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man <3495 νεανίσκος neaniskos> sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

[2] Matthew 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

[3] Matthew 28:5 And the angel<32 ἄγγελος aggelos also translated messenger] answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

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Matthew

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Matthew

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