AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF MATTHEW

Although this account does not say that Matthew (Levi) was the author, it was known from a very early time that Matthew did write this Gospel. The name Matthew means "gift of Yah(weh)" in Hebrew (HSN4993). Matthew was an eye-witness of Jesus' entire ministry. He was one of the original twelve apostles (see Matt.10v3). Jesus called him to leave his occupation of gathering taxes for the Romans (see Matt.9v9-13). Lk.5v27-32 mentions that Matthew gave a banquet for Jesus and that he forsook everything to follow the Lord, but Matthew's own account modestly omits this. He was present on the day of Pentecost (Ac.1v12-2v47).

No one knows precisely when Matthew wrote this book, but it is clear that he aimed it at a Jewish audience; there are many quotations from the Old Testament. He stressed the passages which show that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ). For the most part, the narrative is chronological, but some of the material is grouped according to subject matter (e.g. the Sermon on the Mount in Matt.5-7 and the parables in Matt.13). The central theme of Matthew's presentation of the life of Jesus is: Jesus is Savior and King of the long-awaited kingdom of God.

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