Matthew

Gospel of Matthew   

Title: Gospel of Matthew. Gospel – Good News. Matthew – gift of YHWH  

Date of writing: 40 AD

Date of Narrative: From Abraham (1:1) [also see the ADaM structure in 1:1] to commissioning the 11 disciples after Resurrection (28:20).  

Structure:

a. Historical narrative of birth and early ministry, ch. 1 – 4  

I. First Discourse (5:1 – 7:28), Sermon on the Mountain

   b. Historical narrative of healing and cleansings, 8:1 – 9:34  

II. Second Discourse (9:35 – 11:1), Apostolic authority and martyrdom

      c. Historical narrative of lordship over the creation, 11:2 – 12:45

III. Third Discourse (12:46 – 13:53), Parables of the Kingdom

      c’. Historical narrative of lordship over the creation, 13:54 – 17:27

IV. Fourth Discourse (18:1 – 19:1), Rules for the Church

   b’. Historical narrative of healing the social brokenness, 19:2 – 22:40  

V. Fifth Discourse (22:41 – 26:1), End times 

a’. Historical narrative of Arrest, Death, and Resurrection, 26:2 – 28:20   

Main themes:

Jesus as a Priest – the one who teaches and maintains the boundaries of the Kingdom.

“As it is written” – the fulfillment of the prophesies, typologies, and allusions.    

Main Characters:

Joseph, Mary, John the Baptist, 12 disciples, Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, Herod(s), Guards. 

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: Jesus as a New and Greater Moses  

	Event	Life of Moses	Jesus in Matthew
1	Miraculous birth	Ex. 2	Mt. 1
2	Danger after being born	Ex. 2	Mt. 2
3	Commissioning to the Ministry	Ex. 3	Mt. 3
4	Teaching on the mountain	Ex. 20	Mt. 5-7
5	Establishing the Kingdom	Numbers	Mt. 13
6	Teaching on the Rules of the community	Deuteronomy	Mt. 18-19
7	Last words on the plain	Deuteronomy	Mt. 26-27
8	Last scene on the mountain	Deuteronomy	Mt. 28:16-20

Lutheran teaching:

16:15-19 on confession of Peter is discussed in “Power and Primacy of the Pope” [7-31] giving the Testimony of Scripture, Testimony of History, including the quotes from holy Church Fathers: Origen, Cyprian, Augustine, Hilary, and Bede. Also with an opinion of Chrysostom. 

28:18 is a basis for the authority and power of Jesus Christ discussing the presence of the body and the blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar. The Book of Concord gives examples of correct and incorrect interpretations (cp. FC, Epitome, VIII:16, 34, 39). 

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 357 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel  

We Three Kings – not found in the Lutheran hymnals

Relevancy of the Book:

Gospel of Matthew is an important bridge between the Old Testament (with its prophesies and Torah settings) and Theology of New Testament – which is based on the figure, ministry, and achievements of Jesus Christ who fulfilled them.

Only Gospel of Matthew (in the New Testament) presents Jesus as a fulfillment of prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 which presents Him as a son of the Virgin Mary and the embodiment of “God-with-us”. Also, only the Gospel talks about the visit of the Wisemen to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, showing how the Nations will come to worship the Messiah of Israel.     

Memory verses:

16:16-17 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon, Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who are in heaven.”