The Gospel of Matthew appears as the first book in the New Testament canon. However, that does not mean it was the first piece to be written chronologically. The compilation of the books in the Bible are chronologically organized, but rather thematically, or according to genre. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John comprise the genre known as Gospels. No other bodies of literature fall into that genre, even though people refer to some gnostic texts as the “Gospel of Judas” or the “Gospel of Mary Magdalene.” These works simply do not fit the criteria for the genre known as Gospel.
Matthew was likely written later than Mark and possibly Luke. The average time frame in which Matthew was originally penned is between AD80-90. It is believed that Mark was the first Gospel to be written. When Matthew was comprising his Gospel, he used Mark’s work as one of his source materials. We know this because some of the material in both are fairly exact in content and wording.
Main Focus of Matthew
The main focus of Matthew is to unpack the historical events of Jesus that reveal him to be of a Divine nature. Events like the virgin birth, John the Baptist leaping in his mother’s womb when Mary came to visit. This is further continued when John the Baptist declares he is not worthy to tie Jesus’ sandals.
Jesus overcoming the temptations in the wilderness is expressly initiated by the phrase “He was let by the Spirit into the wilderness.” Everything points to Jesus as a divine being. From the wilderness, Jesus calls his disciples and begins a 3 year ministry where he performs various miracles and declaring himself the Son of God.
Jesus’ Miracles
Jesus performed many miracles during his 3 year ministry. He raised at least 3 people from the dead (not counting himself: Tabitha, Lazarus, and the Widow’s son in Nain). He cast out evil spirits like the epileptic boy and the Gadarene Demoniac. He multiplied bread and fish on at least 2 occasions. He healed the woman with the issue of blood, calmed the storm, walked on water, underwent a transfiguration with Peter, James, and John present, and many more. No one before or since has walked in such supernatural power as Jesus.
Jesus’ Prophecies
Jesus taught a lot about living rightly and living wisely. Many of his sermons had an immense amount of practicality in them. However, Jesus did also prophecy significant things. In his woes to the unrepentant cities, he talks about the coming consequences for un-repentance. Matthew 24-25 are the most commonly identified prophecies of Jesus. In them he talks about “This generation” and the sun and moon darkening. He mentions the coming of false Christs, Christians will be persecuted, many will fall away, the Gospel will be preached to the whole world. Jesus’ prophecies set the stage for future prophecies in the New Testament and have been a major point of discussion.
Jesus’ Passion
Today, we tend to misunderstand the phrase “Passion of the Christ.” Our modern consideration of the word passion is mingled with sensual/romantic desire and/or an obsessive pursuit. So when we think of Jesus’ passion, it tends to be the later. However, “passion” is rooted in the Latin “Passeo” which means “to suffer.” So the “Passion of the Christ” and the “Passion Narrative” mean the “Suffering of the Christ” and the “Suffering narrative.” Doesn’t that make much more sense when you read Matthew 27-28? The last 2 days of Jesus mortal life were nothing but court trials, physical punishment, and crucifixion. Jesus died in suffering.
For Our Benefit
Jesus suffered for our benefit. This was even predicted centuries ago by Isaiah, when he wrote about the suffering servant. Everything Jesus did while He was on earth was done for our benefit. He came to be the sacrificial offering to cover and forgive our sins. He came to pay for our trespasses and re-establish a relationship between God and us. He came to give us new life, new nature, a place in the kingdom of heaven. He came to make a new way of living possible in the power of the Holy Spirit, the love of the Father, and excelling in the holiness of the law. Jesus’ mission is all about making everything new, starting with humanity.