The Gospel of Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew

In the early church Matthew was the most highly valued and widely read of the four gospels. It was revealed by its position in the canon. It is found in the first place in all the known lists of the gospels.because of its widespread citation, it is more often quoted in the Christian literature. The two reasons for this are:

1.      The gospel’s apostolic authority- Matthew name was associated with it from at least the early 2^nd century AD.

2.      Its emphasis on christ’s teaching – A growing church needed the authoritative word of Christ both to instruct and refute heresy.

AUTHORSHIP

Although there is an impressive list of scholars who argue that the first Gospel was apostolic ( the commentators Zahn, Lagrange, Schlatter, Tasker, Albright Gundry and Carson), there are several arguments that have been use to argue that the first gospel was not penned by the apostle Matthew.

The rise of modern critical studies ascribe it to Matthew ( one of the twelve disciples) Matt 9:9 103 Mk 3:18 Acts 1:13. He was a Levi, a tax collector by occupation. The evidence of Matthew’s dependence on Mark have led many biblical scholars of the older school, the German Protestants T.Zahn and A. Schlatter and more recently the Roman Catholic scholars b.C Butler and L. Vaganay to abandon Matthew’s authorship. Modern Biblical scholarship is that the first gospel was ascribed to matthew , not because he wrote it bu because he was the author of one its source (ie) a sayings source usually referred to as Q. Despite results of source criticism strong arguments persist for the traditional view, the following are the reasons for it;

1.      Matthew was a Tax Collector- he was qualified as a official recorder of the words and works of Jesus. His job was note-taking and keeping records. Shorthand was widely known in ancient Hellenstic world, perhaps he kept a shorthand record of Jesus activities and teachings. E.J Goodspeed suggests that Jesus, after the practice of the prophets (IS 8:16-17) may have called Matthew to become a disciple for the specific purpose of preserving a written account of his teachings.

2.      There is good historical tradition that Matthew actually wrote the Gospel. This comes from Papias of Hierpolis as quoted by the church Historian Eusebius, ‘ Matthew wrote down the logia in the Hebrew language and everyone translated them as best he could.’ The two reasons for this coud be as follws,

a.       Matthew’s Aramaic gospel for the Jewish Christian community in Palestine.

b.      Papias refers to Aramaic compilation of the sayings of our Lord made by Matthew for the instruction of Jewish converts.

Literary Structure

The outline of Matthew does not produce well balanced parts. The outline would then reflect a theme that is clear in the Gospel without the outline: Jesus is the new Moses and new Israel with a new revelation from God. Compared to Mark and Luke, Matthew is more obviously artificial even contrived in its arrangement. Matthew emphasis the sayings of Jesus both in discourses and in narratives. Matthew has written in good greek, superior to that of Mark; but a conscious effort to write good greek is seen more clearly in the narratives than it is in the discourses and sayings, which more frequently reflect an Aram source. But matthew also shows features of Semitic style; he employs synonymous and antithetic parallisms (7:24-27;16:25), repetition of formulas and strophic structure, all this cannote be attributed to a Aram source Matthew was sufficiently versed in Semitic style to be able to combine it with greek. The schematism of the Gospel as a whole is also reflected in details. The form mathew’s sayings often reflect beyond doubt the experience of the primitive Church and its meditation on the person and the words of Jesus.

1. The Five Great Discourse Sections

Alternation of large blocks of teaching material with narrative sections, all teaching sections conclude with similar formula. The fivefold scheme was patterned on the fivefold character of the boos of the law. The planning of the book is skillfully done. Matthew did not belong to a literary group in the accepted sense of the word, they were men with dominant purpose and the skill they possessed under the guidance of the Spirit of God was put to fullest use.

2. Numerical Groups

The author’s methodological mind is also seen in the large number of times that he groups together similar sayings or events. Favourite numbers are 3,5,and 7. It does not attach any symbolic importance, it illustrates vividly the way in which his mind works. It was a methodological arrangement.

3. The Grouping of Materially Generally

Matthew aims to illustrate various aspects of the ministry of Jesus. His structure is designed to give as comprehensive as possible the main facts of the life and character of Jesus.

Purpose  

Matt. Shares with the other gospel writer the intention of presenting a portrait of Jesus as the Christ and in doing so , of showing how the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus are bound up with his role as Messiah. But Matt. Is also concerned about the church and its way of life in response to the message of Jesus. Accordingly he has edited the stories and sayings of Jesus in such a way as to pint up the claims that (a) the church is the true Israel, replacing the old Israel in the center of God’s purpose (b) the church in the present age is a mixed body including both worthy nd unworthy among its members; (c) the church is called to live a new and higher way of righteousness that exceeds even the Jewish law in the radical quality of its demands.

Matt. Has alternated between narratives and discourse material to achieve this purpose, so that one receives from this gospel the picture of Jesus as one who not only acts the role of Messiah but also carefully and fully instructs his followers as to th meaning of his ministry. Thus Matt. Aims are served by the very structure he has given to his gospel.

Characteristics

1. Conciseness

Matt. has followed general orderliness.

2. Messianic Interest

There are found many OT predictions of Jesus Christ in the gospel. There are also many quotations.

3. Particularism and Universalism

Particularism is seen in the gospel with its restricted outlook o the Jewish community. The law will not become invalid (5:18ff), scribes and Pharisees occupy the seat of Moses and their instructions to be observed. (23: 2ff); Jewish tax is paid (27:24); disciples fast , keep the Sabbath and bring offerings as in the Jewish tradition (6:16f), Jesus declares that he is sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (15:24).

The significant thing about Matt.’s Gospel is that universalism appears alongside with particularism. This is seen as following events; Triumphal entry into Jerusalem focus attention upon Jewish Christian regard.; Birth of Jesus, when Jesus was in jeopardy it is a Gentile land which offers asylum and protection (2:13ff); Great Commission extends to all nations (28:18ff)

4. Ecclesiastical Elements

There is specific teaching about the church. Matt.16:18- basis of the church is to be Peter, he was given the keys of the kingdom, with authority to bind or loose.Matt18:17ff- Authority appears to be vested in the church , the gathering of two or three in the name of Christ with the promise of his presence.Matt 28:19 – Relevant to the future church,its work is twofold, i) teaching the nations and ii) baptizing disciples in the triune name.

5. Eschatological Interest

Through the great discourses and narratives the end of the age is brought into sharp focus.

Date:

Matthew was likely written about 65- 70 AD.

Major Themes

1. Infancy Narratives – Matt presents a direct statement that Mary was with Child of the Holy Spirit. The story is written out of knowledge of Palestinian customs. The evangelist makes no attempt to present a full chronological account of the events of Jesus birth and infancy. The visit of the Magi is symbolic of the divine preparation for the advent of Jesus. Their gifts point to the kingly rights of te child and to the worldwide acknowledgement that he is ultimately to receive. The birth of the child in Bethelehem is seen as the fulfillment o Mic 5:2. Apart from sparing Jesus from the wrth of Herod, the narrative of the flight into Egypt serves Matt’s purpose by showing that scripture was fulfilled by both the sojourn in Egypt and the return to Nazareth.
2. The Five Discourses

-      Sermon on the Mount (5-7)

-      Missionary Discourse (10)

-      Parable Discourse (13)

-      Church Discourse (18)

-      Eschatological Discourse( 24-25)

3. Ekklesia

This term could be the translation – equivalent of more than one Hebrew or Aramaic word. It can refer to a local group of pious people, equivalent to a ‘synagogue’. Matt 18:17-20 implies that the disciples constitute some kind of organization. In Matt 16:18, it refers to Qumran community where God appointed the teacher of Righteousness to build for himself a congregation. It is His congregation which is built on the rock, against which the gates of Hades cannot prevail. Altogether Ekklesia means the children of God are called to live together as brothers and sisters.