Being so close to Jesus during His earthly ministry, Matthew was able to give a first hand account of the life and teachings of Jesus. He was then called to be one of Jesus' earliest disciples (Matt. Why was this Gospel so impacting and popular, and why has it ministered to so many countless hearts over the centuries? Perhaps we can find out why as we venture into the background of and reasons for which it was written.Īuthorship: Matthew, whose name means a "gift of the Lord" was also named Levi (surname, Luke 5:27), son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14), a tax collector (2:14 Luke 5:27), and one whom Jesus met at the tax office (Matt 9:9 Mark 2:14 Luke 5:27). Matthew remains as the starting point of faith and knowing the Lord, and the cradle of the Lord. Thus, the focus shifted to Romans as the cradle of theology. Then the Reformers called the Church away, not from Matthew, but from the abuse and misrepresentations that accrued. Matthew was the most frequently quoted book by the early church (the writings during the first two centuries of the church), and perhaps the most widely read Gospel (or book for that matter) ever! Matthew also occupied the royal seat of theology for the Catholic Church, as they used its imagery to define itself though worship and icons. William Barclay (who has excellent insights, but must be read with much discernment, as he denies miracles, and the Person and work of Christ, as most secular and liberal theologians do.) Here is what one "liberal" commentator had to say: When we turn to Matthew, we turn to the book which may well be called the most important single document of the Christian faith, for in it we have the fullest and the most systematic account of the life and the teachings of Jesus. From its position as the first book in the New Testament, it is the most read and quoted book in church history. The Gospel of Matthew has always occupied a special place of high esteem in the life of the church.
It is the book for an understanding of who we are in Christ, what He did, and how we are to live. How he did it, and what his sources may have been were in debate amongst scholars and theologians for years, but what we have is the prince of the Gospels that conveys the life and blood of the Lamb. He never quoted himself, or laid a claim on this work. Introductory Thoughts: Twenty or so years after the risen Lord gave the Great Commission, a humble disciple named Levi, who was led by the Spirit, wrote a masterful work without literary parallel.
The Background of the Gospel According to Matthew
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