Matthew
Summary[i]
Writer: The Writer of the first Gospel,
as all agree, was Matthew, called also Levi, a Jew of Galilee who had taken
service as a tax-gatherer under the Roman oppressor. He was, therefore, one of
the hated and ill-reputed publicans.
Date: The date of Matthew has been
much discussed, but no convincing reason has been given for the discrediting
the traditional date of A.D. 37.
Theme: The scope and purpose of the
book are indicated in the first verse. Matthew is the "book of the
generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham" (Mat_1:1). This connects him at once with two of
the most important of the Old Testament Covenants: the Davidic Covenant of
kingship, and the Abrahamic Covenant of promise. ; 2Sa_7:8-16;
Gen_15:18.
Of Jesus Christ in
that twofold character, then, Matthew writes. Following the order indicated in
the first verse, he writes first of the King, the son of David; then of the Son
of Abraham, obedient unto death, according to the Isaac type Gen_22:1-18; Heb_11:17-19.
But the prominent
character of Christ in Matthew is that of the covenanted King, David's
"righteous Branch" Jer_23:5; Jer_33:15. Matthew records His genealogy; His
birth in Bethlehem the city of David, according to Mic_5:2,
the ministry of His forerunner according to Mal_3:1.
His rejection by Israel; and His predictions of His second coming in power and
great glory.
Only then (Matthew
26-28) does Matthew turn to the earlier covenant, and record the sacrificial
death of the son of Abraham.
This determines the
purpose and structure of Matthew. It is peculiarly the Gospel for Israel; and,
as flowing from the death of Christ, a Gospel for the whole world.
Matthew falls into
three principal divisions:
1.
The manifestation to Israel and rejection of Jesus Christ the Son of David,
born King of the Jews (Matthew 1:1 - 25:46). The subdivisions of this part are:
a) The
official genealogy and birth of the King (Matthew 1:1-25);
b) The infancy and
obscurity of the King (Matthew 2:1-23);
c) The kingdom
"at hand," (Matthew 3:1 - 12:50) (the order of events of this
subdivision is indicated in the text);
d) The mysteries of
the kingdom (Matthew 13:1-52);
e) The ministry of the
rejected King (Matthew 13:53 - 23:39);
f) The promise of the
King to return in power and great glory (Matthew 24:1 - 25:46).
2.
The sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of Abraham (Matthew
26:1 - 28:8).
3. The risen Lord in
ministry to His own (Matthew 28:9-20).
The events recorded in Matthew cover a period of 38 years (Ussher).