Matthew : Christian Community Bible

Introduction to Matthew

This Gospel intends to assure Christians that they have no reason to be troubled even if their own people reject them. The very fact that the Jewish community did not recognize its Messiah resulted in the loss of its right to speak and to decide about God’s promises. Matthew refers to numerous texts in the Old Testament to prove that Christians are the true heirs of the people of the covenant.

In this perspective the whole history of Jesus is presented as a conflict, ending in a separation. The turning point corresponds with the end of chapter 13 where Jesus no longer speaks to the crowd, but to his disciples.

Matthew was impressed by the fact that Jesus during his years of ministry presented himself most often as a preacher. He therefore insists on the words of Jesus, which are more numerous in his Gospel than in the others.

It does not surprise us then that Matthew builds his gospel around five “discourses,” in which he has put together the words of Jesus spoken on different occasions. These discourses are:

• The New Law: 5–7.
• Instructions to Missionaries: 10.
• Parables of the Kingdom: 13.
• Admonitions for the Christian community: 18.
• The Future of the Church: 23–25.

NOTE: excerpted from the introductory material for this book.