Why was
the Gospel of Matthew Written?
Have you ever seen the need of a person around you and without asking began to fulfill that person's need. It may have been taking a meal to them, cleaning, or one of many little things easily done for others. You were not asked, you just did it.
The writer of Matthew, saw a need for the Jewish community in Palestine. Jesus was not coming back as soon as previously thought. Matthew knew the Jews needed to know the Gospel, the "Good News of Jesus the Christ”.
Consider some of the thoughts and facts:
1. The writer of Matthew wrote as if he were Matthew and could have known him well. The Jewish apostle Matthew was a hated tax collector. Because, he abandoned his faith (being a Jew) and worked for Roman authorities, and made great money, he became an outcast.
2. It was difficult, confusing times in Palestine because of the growing number of Christians including the Jewish Christians. The Jews were tired of the hated Roman government, restless with the Jewish Temple leaders, and slowly creating revolution against the Romans. Rome did not like this. In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem.
3. The Jews needed Knowledge of the Gospel, in terms and language they could understand and knowledge of the Messiah. A book was needed to help them understand what happened in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Jews needed to know that all was changed by the one person, Jesus. Most of them knew nothing of Jesus when he was alive. Telling stories about Jesus was no longer good enough. It had to be written for the Word of God to spread.
4. Jews had been looking, anticipating, and longing for a Messiah for hundreds of years. It had been over 400 years since a Jewish writer had written anything about a Jewish leader. There had been predictions of the coming Messiah, it was time for someone to write the New Truth, the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ. They had to know to stop looking, start learning, and begin believing on their Risen Lord.
5. Matthew was a learned, smart, and knowing man. It can be easily thought that with his skills, after the Resurrection, besides teaching and preaching he wrote some stories of Jesus. Or, someone close to him, Jewish, could have written the stories of Matthew. By the time Matthew was written, the Gospel of Mark was being circulated to a wide area. Very likely, there were other manuscripts of Jesus stories being distributed. But, something special was need for the Jews.
6. Something special for the Jews was written, we call it the Gospel of Matthew. Someone, filled with the Holy Spirit, saw the need. As discussed in "The Gospel of Matthew Part 2, scholars cannot conclusively prove Matthew the apostle was the writer. But, very likely it was someone Jewish, had much knowledge of the person Matthew the apostle.
Evidence from the Gospel Matthew was written for the Jews:
1. It begins with a Jewish genealogy to prove Jesus was from the prophecy of being in the family line of King David. Also, it connects Jesus all the way to Abraham.
2. The genealogy is in three sections with fourteen generations in each section. The number '14' is 2 times 7. Seven is the perfect number with the Jews. Three is also an important number in Jewish history.
3. Matthew is concerned with teaching the fulfillment of the OT.
4. There are nine references to fulfillment of OT Scripture:
Matthew: 1:22-23; 2:15; 2:17-88; 2:23;
4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 13:35; 27:9-10.
5. Use of Jewish thought and terms. For example, Matthew always writes "Kingdom of Heaven" instead of "Kingdom of God". The word "God" was never spoken directly in Jewish society at the time. This tradition still prevails today in many Jewish communities.
6. There is in Matthew an emphasis on the term "Son of David". It was prophesied that the Messiah (Jesus) would be in the family line of King David.
7. Five teaching sections in Matthew. This is a parallel to the Old Testament, five books in the original Torah (the Pentateuch), the first OT Scriptures accepted by the Jewish faith. This gives the idea to the Jews that Jesus is the new Moses. Moses saved them once, a new Moses is coming had been the thought for about 2500 years. Jesus is the Messiah, and the writer of Matthew wanted to make sure the Jews understood that.
When we understand why something is written, we better understand the way it was written. Knowing about the life and times of Jesus and the Jews helps us to better understand God's word.
The Holy Spirit inspired the people of the times before Jesus, during His life, and absolutely after his death. Sometimes we fail to remember that the Holy Spirit stills inspires us to do things for other today. I have no reason to take the time to write these messages except for the fact I feel the Holy Spirit leads me in writing these messages. I receive from may of you encouragement to continue writing. That helps me as I hope you find encouragement is all the writing I have published.
I praise God for your friendship and encouragement.
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Coming: Part 4 - The order of Jesus' life as found in Matthew.
Now, you know that Matthew was for the 1st Century Jews and Jewish Christians. One then has to think of the order of events presented by Matthew.
Part 5
Why is Matthew called the "Teaching Gospel"?
God Bless you all,
Thank you for all your prayers.
In His Service,
lonnie
