Encountering the New Testament, 4th Edition

A Historical and Theological Survey

series: Encountering Biblical Studies

Chapter

4. The Gospel of Matthew

Chapter Intro Video


Chapter Objectives

  • List the pros and cons regarding the authorship of Matthew
  • Discuss the dating of Matthew
  • Outline the content of Matthew
  • Use Scripture references to support the idea that God was involved in the events related to Jesus’s life
  • Enumerate the areas over which Jesus had supreme authority
  • Illustrate with Scripture that Jesus was a teacher
  • Describe the ways Jesus was both a preacher and a healer

Chapter Summary

  1. Matthew arranged his Gospel to emphasize how Jesus provided Israel and the world with a savior.

  2. Until recent times Matthew was the only author suggested for the Gospel bearing his name.

  3. The traditional dating for Matthew places it sometime prior to AD 70.

  4. Although the Jewish flavor of the Gospel of Matthew suggests that it might have been written in Palestine, most scholars favor Antioch of Syria.

  5. Matthew’s basic purpose in writing his Gospel was to preserve what he knew about Jesus’s life and words.

  6. Matthew demonstrates that Jesus’s coming is the supreme event of history and that every circumstance of his birth, life, teaching, death, and resurrection is a fulfillment of prophecy.

  7. Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the final Word of God to his people.

  8. Matthew focuses on the inherent power and supreme authority of Jesus.

  9. Matthew highlights the fact that Jesus was primarily a teacher but was also a healer and a preacher.

  10. Matthew is the only Gospel that mentions the church by name.


Study Questions

  1. What was Matthew’s basic purpose in writing his Gospel?

  2. In what ways did Jesus fulfill God’s intention?

  3. How does Matthew emphasize that Jesus is Savior of both Jews and gentiles?

  4. In what ways was Jesus the supreme authority?

  5. How does Matthew depict Jesus as the Teacher?