The Gospel opens with the words, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” [Matthew 1:1]. Tradition ascribes the work to Matthew, also known as Levi, a Jewish tax collector whom Jesus called to discipleship [Matthew 9:9]. From despised tax collector to devoted apostle, Matthew’s own story embodies the grace and authority of the King he proclaims.

Early church testimony from Papias, Irenaeus, Origen, and Eusebius confirms Matthew’s authorship. His writing shows the meticulous eye of someone trained in record keeping, weaving Old Testament quotations and structures with precision.

Matthew the disciple, eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry, records for us the words and works of the Messiah with the heart of a pastor and the skill of a scribe. His aim was not simply to recount events but to persuade his fellow Jews that the promises of the Scriptures find their fulfillment in Jesus.

Matthew writes primarily with a Jewish audience in mind. His Gospel overflows with references to Israel’s Scriptures, quoting or alluding to the Old Testament more than sixty times, more than any other Gospel. He frequently introduces events with the phrase, “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet…” [Matthew 1:22].

Yet Matthew does not confine his message to Israel. From the opening genealogy, which includes Gentile women like Rahab and Ruth, to the closing commission that sends disciples to all nations [Matthew 28:19], Matthew’s Gospel makes it clear: Jesus is the Jewish Messiah whose kingdom embraces the world.

His original readers were Jewish Christians wrestling with how their faith in Jesus fit with their heritage, their Law, and their place under Roman rule. Matthew addresses their questions by showing that following Christ does not abandon Israel’s story but fulfills it. The Messiah has come, and He reigns not only over Israel but over every tribe and tongue.

The setting of Matthew’s Gospel is the tense world of Judea under Roman rule. Taxes are high, soldiers patrol the streets, and Jewish nationalism simmers beneath the surface. Religious leaders vie for influence—Pharisees stressing strict adherence to the Law, Sadducees tied to the temple establishment, Zealots stirring for revolt. Ordinary people live with longing for deliverance and the hope that God’s Messiah will appear.

It is within this context that Matthew presents Jesus as the true Son of David and the rightful King. He is greater than Herod, greater than Caesar, and greater than the religious leaders who oppose Him. The five great blocks of teaching in Matthew recall the five books of Moses, portraying Jesus as the new and greater Moses who delivers His people from slavery, not to Egypt, but to sin. His Sermon on the Mount outlines the life of the kingdom. His parables unveil their mysteries. His Olivet Discourse points to its consummation.

The historical moment is also crucial. Most scholars place the writing of Matthew’s Gospel in the decade before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. That looming event gives urgency to Matthew’s message. The temple may fall, the city may burn, but the kingdom of heaven will stand. Jesus’ resurrection guarantees that the true dwelling place of God is not in stone but in His risen Son, and that His authority extends over all nations until the end of the age.

Matthew’s Gospel is layered with meaning, drawing the reader ever deeper into the identity and mission of Jesus. The opening genealogy may seem tedious to modern readers, but to Matthew’s audience, it declared that Jesus is the Son of Abraham, heir to the covenant, and the Son of David, heir to the throne. His infancy narrative reveals Him as Emmanuel, “God with us,” the One who brings God’s presence to His people. His baptism shows Him as the beloved Son, His temptation in the wilderness reveals Him as the true Israel who obeys where the nation failed. His ministry in Galilee demonstrates His authority over sickness, demons, and creation itself.

The five great teaching discourses structure the Gospel and present the ethic of the kingdom. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares that true righteousness flows from the heart, not merely from external observance. In His mission discourse, He sends His disciples with authority to heal and proclaim. In the parables, He reveals that the kingdom grows mysteriously yet irresistibly, like a seed in soil. In His instructions for life in the community, He calls for forgiveness, humility, and reconciliation. And in the Olivet Discourse, He warns of coming judgment and promises His return in glory.

The Gospel reaches its climax in Jerusalem. The King is rejected, betrayed, and crucified. Yet even here, Matthew shows that this is not defeat but fulfillment. Jesus dies as the Passover Lamb, His blood sealing a new covenant. On the third day, He rises, vindicated as Lord of all. The final scene shows Him on a mountain, commissioning His disciples to go to all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all He commanded. The Gospel that began with the promise of “God with us” ends with His promise, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” [Matthew 28:20].

What kind of book is this?
Matthew is a Gospel, a story of Jesus’ life and teaching that proclaims Him as Israel’s promised Messiah and the King of heaven and earth.

Why is it written this way?
It shows how Jesus fulfills the Scriptures. Old Testament promises echo through every page so that readers see God’s plan completed in Christ.

How is it organized?
The Gospel alternates between stories of what Jesus did and blocks of what He taught. Five major teaching sections mirror the five books of Moses and lead to the cross and resurrection.

What should I look for?
Notice the constant theme of the kingdom of heaven and the repeated fulfillment of prophecy. Watch how Jesus is called Son of David, Son of Man, and Emmanuel.

How should I read it?
Read it as the story of the King who calls for your allegiance. Let it shape your heart as well as your mind and lead you to follow Him today.

The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of the King. It begins with His royal lineage, traces His miraculous birth, and follows His ministry of teaching and healing. It reveals the growing opposition of religious leaders, the betrayal of a disciple, and the cruelty of Roman crucifixion. Yet it culminates not in defeat but in victory, for the crucified King is raised to life and declared Lord of heaven and earth.

Matthew’s story unfolds in three movements. The first presents the King revealed through His genealogy, birth, baptism, and teaching. The second records the King resisted as His miracles were met with hostility, His parables misunderstood, and His authority challenged. The third proclaims the King vindicated in His death, fulfilling prophecy, His resurrection demonstrating His power, and His commission sending disciples to the nations.

At its heart, Matthew’s story is the story of God’s faithfulness. Every promise is kept, every prophecy fulfilled, every expectation surpassed. The King has come. The kingdom is at hand. The Gospel summons its readers, then and now, to worship the King and to walk in the ways of His kingdom.

Why has God preserved Matthew for us? Because it reveals Jesus as the promised King and summons us to follow Him as citizens of His kingdom. It bridges the story of Israel with the hope of the nations, declaring that all of God’s promises find their “Yes” in Christ.

Matthew is rich in its explanations and fulfillment. It teaches us about God:

• God is faithful to every promise, fulfilling the Law and the Prophets in His Son.
• Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us, present in our world and with His people to the end of the age.
• The mission of God is global, calling His people to make disciples of all nations.

It teaches us God’s Kingdom:

• The kingdom of heaven is at hand, breaking into earth through Christ’s words, works, and cross.
• True righteousness is not external rule-keeping but a heart transformed by the King.
• Discipleship means leaving all to follow Jesus, taking up the cross, and learning His way.
• The crucifixion is not defeat but enthronement, and the resurrection proclaims the King’s eternal reign.

The Gospel that begins with a baby in Bethlehem and ends with the risen Lord on a Galilean mountain is more than history. It is a divine summons. Matthew is not simply a Gospel to remember. It is a divine message to obey, a call to worship the King, to walk in His ways, and to proclaim His kingdom until He comes again.