The New Testament: Notes on Matthew

The New Testament Overview

  • Consists of 27 books.

  • Divided into several categories:

    • The 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John): tell the Good News

    • Acts: Praxis

    • 14 Epistles (Pauline): Written by St. Paul

    • 7 Catholicon: Written by St. James, St. Peter, St. John, and St. Jude

    • The Revelation: Apocalypsis; Written by St. John the Beloved

Comparison Between the Four Gospels

  • Matthew

    • Written to: The Jews

    • Portrays Jesus as: King

    • Symbol: Man (Rev. 4)

    • Emphasis: Prophecies

    • Chapters: 28

    • Genealogy: Abraham (Legal)

    • Style: Groupings, Illustrations from OT

    • Meaning of the name: "Gift of God"

  • Mark

    • Written to: The Romans

    • Portrays Jesus as: Servant

    • Symbol: Lion

    • Emphasis: Events & Miracles

    • Chapters: 16

    • Genealogy: Adam (Blood line)

    • Style: Snapshots

    • Meaning of the name: "hammer"

  • Luke

    • Written to: The Greeks

    • Portrays Jesus as: Savior

    • Symbol: Calf

    • Emphasis: Salvation

    • Chapters: 24

    • Genealogy: Eternal

    • Style: Narrative

    • Meaning of the name: "Illuminate"

  • John

    • Written to: All

    • Portrays Jesus as: God

    • Symbol: Eagle

    • Emphasis: Divinity

    • Chapters: 21

    • Style: Mystical

    • Meaning of the name: "Mercy"

Symbolism of the Four Evangelists

  • St. Irenaeus pointed out that the faces of the cherubim in Ezekiel 1:10 (Rev 4:7) – the lion, the ox, the man, and the eagle – are symbols or attributes of the four Evangelists.

Gospel Comparison: Key Points

  • Matthew is the longest Gospel.

  • Mark is the shortest Gospel.

  • Only Matthew and Luke detail Jesus' birth and childhood.

Geography of Ministry

  • Matthew and Mark: Galilean ministry

  • Luke: Ministry in Perea

  • John: Ministry in Judea

The Synoptic Gospels

  • Matthew, Mark, and Luke are considered the Synoptic Gospels and share similar stories and events from the life of Jesus.

  • Some scholars suggest differences indicate other sources or different emphases.

Differences Between Synoptics and John

  • John is different from the Synoptics.

  • John gives Jesus a ministry in Judea (around Jerusalem).

Emphasis

  • Synoptics emphasize Jesus’ ministry of parables.

  • John emphasizes Jesus’ long discourses.

Parallel Passages

  • Matthew 11:25-27 and Luke 10:21-22 share similar content, thanking God for revealing truths to babes rather than the wise.

  • Key phrases: "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes."

  • All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

The Gospel According to St. Matthew

  • Matthew means "Gift of God to Mankind."

  • Matthew, son of Alphaeus was also called Levi and was a publican (tax collector) from Capernaum, Galilee.

Authorship and Audience

  • Matthew likely preached in Arabia Felix.

  • Matthew ate only vegetables and fish.

  • Matthew wrote for Hebrew Christians. This is affirmed by Irenaeus, Eusebius, Jerome, Theophylact, and others.

  • Origen mentions it was the first Gospel written.

Dating

  • Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) alluded to Matthew’s Gospel.

  • Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 110-115) quoted Matthew 3:15.

  • Irenaeus stated Matthew wrote his Gospel while Peter and Paul were alive.

  • Peter and Paul were martyred during Nero’s reign (ended A.D. 68), suggesting a date before A.D. 70.

Characteristics of Matthew's Gospel

  • It serves as a link between the Old and New Testaments, bridging the Old and New Covenants.

  • Jesus is presented as the true Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.

  • It was the most quoted Gospel in catechism and early liturgy for the first two centuries.

Key Themes

  • Gospel of the Kingdom

  • Gospel of Teaching

  • Gospel of Prophetic Fulfillment

Kingdom of Heaven

  • The word "kingdom" is used 5555 times in Matthew.

  • The term "Kingdom of Heaven" is unique to Matthew.

  • Apostles are to make disciples (28:18-20).

  • Gentiles worship the infant Christ (2:1-12).

The Kingdom's Inclusiveness

  • Many will come from east and west to sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 8:11-12).

Key Terms and Emphases

  • The field is the world in the parable of the wheat and tares (Matt. 13:38).

  • God will transfer the kingdom from Israel to others (Matt. 21:33-43).

  • Matthew is the only evangelist to use the word "church" (Matt. 16:18; 18:17).

  • Matthew emphasizes what Jesus taught and emphasizes Old Testament predictive passages, using the phrase "that it might be fulfilled" (cf. 1:22; 2:15,17,23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; etc.).

Structure of Matthew's Gospel

  • Geographical Movements of Jesus

    • Galilee

    • North of Galilee

    • Perea and Judea (traveling to Jerusalem)

    • Jerusalem

  • Five Discourses (Kingdom)

    • The constitution of the Kingdom

    • The Servants of the Kingdom

    • Parables of the Kingdom

    • Children of the Kingdom

    • The Coming of the Kingdom

  • Identified by recurrent phrase (cf. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1).

  • These units portray Jesus as the "New Moses," each unit analogous to one of the five books of Moses.

Alternative Structure

  • A theological/biographical format based on recurrent phrases (cf. 4:17; 16:21).

    • Divisions: 1:1-4:16; 4:17-16:20; 16:21-28:29.

Key Events and Teachings in Matthew

  1. Childhood Events

    • Visit of the Magi (2:1-15)

    • Massacre at Bethlehem (2:16-18)

    • Flight to Egypt (2:19-22)

    • Return into Nazareth (2:23)

  2. Miracles

    • The Two Blind Men (20:30-34)

    • The Coin in the Fish’s mouth (17:24-27)

  3. Ten Parables

    • The Tares (13:24-30)

    • The Hidden Treasures (13:44)

    • The Pearl (13:45)

    • The Dragnet (13:47)

    • The Unmerciful Servant (18:23-35)

    • The Laborers in the Vineyard (20:1-16)

    • The Two Sons (21:28-32)

    • The Marriage of the King’s Son (22:1-14)

    • The Ten Virgins (25:1-13)

    • The Talents (25:14-46)

  4. Special Discourses

    • The Sermon on the Mount (5-7)

    • The invitation to the Weary (11:28-30)

    • Idle Words (12:36-37)

    • The Revelation to Peter (16:17-19)

    • Humility and Forgiveness (18:15-35)

    • Rejection of that Generation (21:43)

    • The Eight Woes (23)

    • The Prophecy on Olivet (24:1-25:46)

    • The Commission and Promise (28:18-20)

  5. Events of the Final Week

    • Conspiracy and Suicide of Judas (26:14-16; 27:3-11)

    • The Dream of Pilate’s Wife (27:19)

    • Resurrection of Saints (after His Resurrection) (27:52-53)

    • Suggested Plot about His body (27:62-64)

    • The Watch at the Sepulcher (27:65-66)

    • Earthquake Resurrection morning (28:2)

  • Matthew is the only gospel to use the word church.