Matthew: Introduction

Author and Date

Author attested early as Matthew/Levi

Written just before AD70 (destruction of the temple)

Matthew 10:3

Probably written in Palestine

Probably written to a primarily Jewish audience

Though not exclusive and do not overemphasize

Theological Emphases

Matthew’s gospel is a story with a point

God’s plan from the beginning

Matthew starts with genealogy going back to Adam

He continues through the Old Testament—one of the key features is Matthew’s use of the term “fulfill”

Jesus’ identity

Titles—Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David

Who is Jesus adn how does that fit into God’s overarching plan

The Gospel and Judaism

The conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders

Where Jesus comes to fulfill the OT, the tension comes when the Jews don’t like what the fulfillment means

It doesn’t fit their plan or narrative

This is important when we consider the audience is probably predominantly Jewish

Jesus and the Law

One of the key features is Matthew’s painting of Jesus as the New Moses (see structure)

The Sermon on the Mount contains—you have heard it said, but I say to you

Jesus doesn’t come to abolish but fulfill the Law

The Law has a teleological end

Jesus is not at odds with the Law

The Law and righteousness

There is a difference between the Jews and Jesus

The Jews saw righteousness in keeping the letter of the Law

Jesus sees righteousness in more than external Law keeping but in heart change

There is a difference between Jewish ethics and Kingdom ethics

The inbreaking of the Kingdom

The Kingdom of God is future while at the same time moving and growing in the present

As Jesus comes He calls people to trust Him and live as citizens of heaven

Matthew 23:13

Israel and the church

Jesus comes to establish a community

Matthew 16:18

Matthew 18:17

As the Jews opposed Jesus, they will oppose His followers

Israel finds its future in the church (God still has a plan for Israel)

Structure of Matthew

5 main discourses

5:1-7:29 Sermon on the Mount

10:5-11:1 Discourse on mission and martyrdom

13:1-53 Parables discourse

18:1-19:2 Discourse on life in the Kingdom

24:1-25:46 Olivet Discourse

The point, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law

He is the new Moses

Deuteronomy 18:15

Matthew 1:1-17 The Genealogy of Jesus

Broken into three sections

Abraham to David—High point in Israel’s History

David to Jeconiah (Jehoiachin)—Lowpoint in Isael’s history

Shealtiel to Jesus—a new point in Israel’s history

The Jews had a backward focus, they looked at the past as the pinnacle of God’s work

This points us forward that God has something new in store

Key point: Jesus is the Son of David

Key figures: Abraham

Forebear of Israel

Points to God’s plans and purposes for His people

Genesis 22:18

Jesus is the culmination of God’s promises

Key figures: David

The key king in Israel’s history

God promised a descendant to sit on His throne forever

2 Samuel 7:14-16

Key Figure: Zerubbabel

The leader of Israel after the exile

Points to God’s continued plan for His people after the exile

Zechariah 4:8-10

Unexpected Figures: Tamar

Judah has relations with his daughter-in-law

Genesis 38

Unexpected Figures: Rahab

Prostitute who shelters the spies in Jericho

Joshua 2

Unexpected Figures: Ruth

A Moabite widow who marries Boaz

Ruth 1-4

Unexpected Figures: Bathsheba

The wife of Uriah the Hittite with whom David had an affair

He had Uriah killed to cover his sin

2 Samuel 11

Key takeaway: God’s path doesn’t always go the way we expect