General
This first book of the New Testament belongs to what is called the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). ‘Synoptic’ means that these Gospels are written more or less from the same point of view. Many events during the ministry of the Lord Jesus are described in each of these Gospels. In that regard, the Gospel of John takes a more special place, describing especially the Divine side of the Savior. Yet these four gospels form a unity in their description of the Lord Jesus during His service on earth. Here He is shown from four different ‘view angles’. The Gospel of Matthew, along with the book of Acts, is one of the largest Bible books of the New Testament in terms of number of chapters.
Writer and origin
Matthew; his name means: Gift from the LORD.
Matthew was a tax collector before he was called by the Lord (Matt. 9:9). That was a tax collector on behalf of the Roman rulers. He was one of the twelve apostles (Matt. 10:2 and 3). The other texts where his name appears are: Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13.
The time of origin of this gospel is probably around the year 60 AD.
Purpose and destination
Throughout this gospel it is made clear that the Lord is emerging as the God-appointed King, the Messiah/Christ of the LORD. Psalm 2 says, “I have set my king over Zion, my holy mountain” (v. 6). Precisely because the kingship mainly relates to the people of Israel, the message of this gospel is especially intended for this people. To them the kingdom was preached and by them the King was rejected. One day, however, He will be received by the believing remnant of the people with the words, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!” (Matt. 23:39b).
The destination for the believing remnant is also apparent from, for example, chapter 16 and the end of this gospel, where we find the assignment to make disciples of the nations (Greek: ethnee, in the New Testament also translated as ‘gentiles’). The use of ‘gentiles’ immediately indicates the difference with regard to those who are to proclaim the message to the Gentiles (cf. also Matt. 10:5 and 6).
Structure
A. 1:1-2:23 What happened before the ministry of the Lord Jesus
B. 3:1-4 The forerunner (John the Baptist)
C. 3:5-17 Baptism with water
D. 4:1-11 The temptation in the wilderness
E. 4:12-7:29 The kingdom
F. 8:1-16:20 The King
F. 16:21-20:34 The King
E. 21:1-26:35 The kingdom
D. 26:36-46 The battle in the garden
C. 26:47-28:15 Baptism into death (cf. 20:22) (death, burial and resurrection)
B. 28:16-18 The Successors
A. 28:19 and 20 What happened after the ministry of the Lord Jesus
Content
The structure of the Gospel of Matthew shows that the central message of this gospel has to do with the kingdom (points E, F, F and E) that was to be established on the earth. Most of this gospel is taken up by it. In chapter 4:17 it says, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Then we read the account of the Sermon on the Mount (chap. 5-7), which Jacob Klein Haneveld called ‘a system of laws, ordained for the kingdom of heaven’.1{1 See the Morning Red brochure ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ by Jacob Klein Haneveld; p. 5 (ISBN 978-90-6694-166-3).}
In chapter 10, the Lord sends out the twelve apostles with the words, “Go and preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v. 7).
The well-known thirteenth chapter contains the eight parables by which the Lord taught His disciples the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (vv. 10 and 11). In Matthew 17 we find the transfiguration on the mountain, where the Lord shows His royal glory (cf. also 2 Peter 1:16-18).
Also at the end of the central part about the kingdom we find a Sermon on the Mount, in chapter 24, the Sermon of the Last Things, delivered by the Lord on the Mount of Olives (v. 3). ‘Mountains’ are symbolic of kingdoms in the Bible. The expression ‘mountain of the LORD’ in the Bible has everything to do with the kingdom of God.
The entire message of the kingdom, first proclaimed by the Lord, was strengthened by signs, wonders, and powers (Heb. 2:3 and 4).
Some core texts
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (chap. 3:2) and
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come” (ch. 24:14).
