Matthew

Author

• Matthew is not the authors

• rather a Jewish Christian scribe who knew Hebrew and Aramaic.

Date

It was created around AD 80s, more likely AD 85.

Context

audience (Jewish Christians) was struggling to discover how to continue Judaism after the destruction of the Temple.

Why first

References New Testament most

Reference count.

130

Infancy narrative

Conception of Jesus through HS

Jospeh’s dream about virginal conception and name of Jesus

Jesus’ brith in Bethlehem

Magi visit

Plotting of evil Herod

Joseph being warned in a dream

The flight to egypt

The massacre of the infants

Return of Holy Family from Egypt after Herod’s death

Family moving to Galilee in fear of Herod’s son Archelaus

Five teaching sections

1. Sermon on the Mount - summarizes new law of Gospel

2. Sharing the faith with others- Jesus tells Apostles to imitate his ministry

3. Parables about the Kingdom- seven that help reveal the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven

4. Jesus founds and Instructs the church- discusses various offices of the church and what they do

5. The final Judgement- addresses the end of the world and temple, and the divine judgment in the last days

Beatitudes

1. No murder

2. No adultery

3. No divorce

4. No idle oaths or swear

5. No revenge

6. Love thy enemies

Summaries of basic New Law of Gospel

Famous prayer

Our father

Parable

A short story that is easy to remember that has a message about the KoG

Themes

1. Judgement

2. Jesus as Emanuel

3. Discipleship

4. Church

5. Right instruction

Why does Simon get new name

He identifies Jesus correctly and is now the founder of the Church

Symbol

Angel

How does Matthew organize Jesus ministry

Five alternating blocks of teaching action

References to the Pentateuch