Matthew

Author: Matthew
Date of Writing: AD 50
Type of Book: Gospel
Theme: Jesus Christ, Messiah and King

The Book of Matthew is the first of the four Gospels, or accounts of the life of Jesus.

Between the conclusion of the book of Malachi and the beginning of the book of Matthew there was a 400-year period of silence.  A lot was going on with the nation of Israel, but God was silent.

During this time the Apocryphal Books were written.  These books are not considered to be canonical by the Protestant church, or by the Jewish scholars; but the Roman Catholic Church has included them in their Scriptures, as has also the Eastern Orthodox Church.  The early church rejected them as canonical because they were never quoted by Jesus or by the other New Testament authors.  So the book of Matthew begins again the revelation of the words of God, following 400 years of silence.

This book doesn't reveal its author internally but it was considered to be the work of Matthew, the disciple of Jesus, from a very early date.  Matthew, as a tax collector, would certainly have had the ability to write such a book.  Many have suggested that since it contains more references to money than any of the other Gospels, a tax collector would be a likely candidate.

This book was obviously written by a Jew and was intended for a Jewish readership.  Tradition says that it was originally written in Hebrew and later translated into Greek.  We don't know exactly when it was written, but it was clearly completed before the temple was destroyed in AD 70.

The purpose of the book of Matthew is to present Jesus Christ as Messiah and King.  It opens with Jesus' genealogy demonstrating that He had the right to reign on the throne of David through the line of His adoptive father Joseph.  In Luke 3 it is established that Jesus was also biologically a descendant of David through His mother Mary.

Throughout Matthew's gospel the evidence is presented to identify Jesus as the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies, quoting numerous Old Testament Scriptures.  His miracles and teachings are also presented as further evidence.  The Sermon on the Mount, His various kingdom parables, and the Olivet Discourse all point to the kingdom of heaven - undoubtedly intended for the Jewish people to recognize Jesus as their King and Messiah.

-from Pastor Chuck Smith from The Word for Today Bible