Matthew Fact File Flashcards
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Matthew Fact File
🔹 Title & Placement
Full Title: The Gospel According to Matthew
Canonical Position: First book of the New Testament and one of the four canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
Genre: Gospel narrative — historical biography with theological emphasis, focused on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
🔹 Authorship
Traditional Author: Matthew (also called Levi), a former tax collector and one of Jesus’ twelve apostles (see Matthew 9:9).
Internal Evidence: The Gospel itself does not name its author explicitly, but early church tradition (from Papias, Irenaeus, and Origen) unanimously attributes it to Matthew.
Unique Insight: As a tax collector, Matthew was likely literate and numerically skilled, which supports the Gospel’s organized structure, interest in teaching, and detailed recordings of Jesus’ sayings.
🔹 Date of Composition
Estimated Date: Between A.D. 60–85
Context: Likely written after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple (A.D. 70), but possibly before depending on interpretation. This time frame aligns with growing tension between Jewish believers in Jesus and mainstream Judaism.
🔹 Audience
Primary Audience: Jewish Christians, and Jews considering faith in Jesus as Messiah.
Evidence:
Frequent references to the Old Testament (over 60 direct quotations and 100+ allusions).
Use of Jewish terminology (e.g., “Kingdom of Heaven” rather than “Kingdom of God” to avoid saying the name of God).
Emphasis on Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy.
🔹 Purpose
To prove that Jesus is the promised Messiah from the line of David.
To teach the ethical and spiritual principles of the Kingdom of God.
To establish Jesus’ authority as the Son of God and King over all.
To instruct believers on discipleship and evangelism.
To encourage faith and obedience among persecuted Jewish believers.
🔹 Key Themes & Theological Insights
📌 1. Jesus as the Fulfillment of Prophecy
Matthew portrays Jesus as the direct fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophecy.
Formula: “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet…” appears multiple times (e.g., Matt. 1:22, 2:15).
Implication: Jesus is the continuation and climax of Israel’s story.
📌 2. Jesus as the New Moses
Matthew parallels Jesus’ life with Moses:
Both were threatened as infants by kings (Herod and Pharaoh).
Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount, just as Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai.
Implication: Jesus is the giver of a new covenant law—not abolishing the old, but fulfilling and expanding it (Matt. 5:17).
📌 3. The Kingdom of Heaven
Unique phrase to Matthew, used 32 times.
Not just future, but a present spiritual reality breaking into the world through Jesus.
Described through parables (e.g., wheat and tares, mustard seed, pearl of great price).
Evangelistic Insight: The Gospel calls people to respond now to the kingdom that Jesus has brought.
📌 4. Discipleship and Obedience
Emphasis on living faith through action (see Matthew 7:21–27; Matthew 25:31–46).
The Great Commission (Matt. 28:18–20) shows that Christianity is not passive—it’s a call to make disciples, not just converts.
📌 5. Judgment and Hope
Strong teachings on judgment (Matt. 7, 23, 25).
Warns against religious hypocrisy, especially among religious leaders (the “woes” of chapter 23).
Balances warnings with assurance of Christ’s presence, authority, and return.
🔹 Structure of the Book
Chapters 1–2: Jesus’ Birth and Genealogy
Establishes Jesus as son of Abraham and David
Fulfillment of prophecy begins
Chapters 3–4: Preparation for Ministry
John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, temptation
Jesus as the obedient Son of God
Chapters 5–7: The Sermon on the Mount
Foundational Christian teaching
Emphasis on internal righteousness and Kingdom ethics
Chapters 8–10: Miracles and the Mission
Demonstrates Jesus’ power and authority
Sending out of the disciples
Chapters 11–13: Growing Opposition and Parables
Jesus teaches in parables about the Kingdom
Rejection by many increases
Chapters 14–20: Identity and Discipleship
Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah
Jesus begins predicting His death
Chapters 21–25: Passion Week and Final Teachings
Entry into Jerusalem
Judgment parables and prophecies
Chapters 26–28: Death and Resurrection
The crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
Ends with the Great Commission
🔹 Evangelistic Value
Shows Jesus as the Messiah—perfect for Jewish or religious-background audiences.
Proves Jesus’ authority over death, demons, sin, and nature, making a strong apologetic for skeptics.
Offers clear teachings on sin, repentance, salvation, and final judgment.
The Great Commission is a manual for evangelism—it affirms that Christ sends believers with authority and with His presence to share the Gospel.
The ethical teachings (e.g., Sermon on the Mount) show the difference between mere religion and true transformation, which is compelling for those disillusioned with empty tradition.
🔹 Key Verses to Know
Matthew 1:1 – “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Matthew 5:14–16 – “You are the light of the world…”
Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…”
Matthew 16:15–16 – “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 22:37–40 – The Greatest Commandment.
Matthew 24:30 – Jesus’ Second Coming.
Matthew 28:18–20 – The Great Commission.
🔹 Conclusion for the Believer and Witness
Matthew gives a detailed, theologically rich, and prophetically grounded account of who Jesus is. For the believer, it’s a manual for faithful living, full of instruction, encouragement, and sober warnings. For evangelism, it is one of the most accessible and compelling testimonies to the truth of Christ—especially when showing that Jesus is the long-awaited fulfillment of history, prophecy, and salvation.
The Gospel of Matthew equips you to not only know Christ more deeply but also share Him more effectively—with both conviction and compassion.
