The Gospel According to St. Matthew. The Gospel According to St. Matthew Author: + The author is St. 1the Evangelist who was one of the twelve apostles

The Gospel According to St. Matthew


Author:

+ The author is St. 1the Evangelist who was one of the twelve apostles.

+ ‘Matthew’ is his Roman name and means ‘Gift of God,’ and was most jbably adopted as his new apostolic name. It is ‘Nathaniel’ in Hebrew and ‘Theodoros’ in Greek. His original name was ‘Levi,’ which in Hebrew means ‘Joined.’ He was the son of Alphaeus.

+ He was a Jewish from Galilee and was the chief tax collector at Capernaum, collecting taxes for Romans. Tax collectors were tough and dishonest and were greatly hated by the Jews, who considered them as traitors.

+ As our Lord Jesus passed by his office he called him, so he left…


everything and followed him:

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him: Follow Me. So he arose and followed Him”

(Matthew 9:9)

+ Then Levi made for Him a great feast in his house and invited his fellow tax collectors to get acquainted with Jesus. He did not mention the details of this big feast out of his humbleness. This banquet aroused the anger of the Jewish Leaders:

“Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them”

(Luke 5:29)


+ St. Matthew preached in Ethiopia, India and some other places and was martyred for the sake of the Lord Christ.

Date and Location of Writing:

The Gospel according to St. Matthew was found in two manuscripts:

1. The Aramaic Manuscript:

‘For St. Matthew who preached first to the Hebrews, wrote his gospel first in their native language as he was about to leave them to preach to other nations’

[St. Clement of Alexandria]

- The manuscript was written in A.D. (39-45) in Palestine and it was said that he finished it during his preaching in India. It was lost because of…


desolation of Jerusalem and dispersion of the Jews and also it was tempered by the Judaizers who sponsored one of the non canonical gospels, ‘the gospel of the Hebrews.’

2. The Greek Manuscript:

- This is the manuscript we have right now, which replaced the Aramaic one.

- After the desolation of Jerusalem, the Jews were dispersed everywhere and they gradually lost their native language to the Greek one which was prevailing at that time. St. Matthew, expecting this through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prepared for them his gospel in Greek while the Hebrew one disappeared gradually.

- The manuscript was written few years after the Gospel of St. Mark, in…


A.D. (60-65), mostly from Palestine.

- It is well accepted that this Greek manuscript was rewritten by St. Matthew himself and was not just a translated copy of the Hebrew one. Here are some proofs:

a) The Greek manuscript includes some translation of some Hebrew words:

“And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink”

(Matthew 27:33-34)

b) It also includes explanation of some Hebrew customs, which of course were well known for the Jewish people:


“Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished”

(Matthew 27:15)

To Whom was the Gospel Written?

+ St. Matthew wrote his gospel to the Jews in general, especially those who were recently converted to Christianity. There are many evidences to this:

1. Many of the early church fathers like: Irenaeus, Origen, Eusebius, Gregory of Nyssa and others bore witness to this fact.

2. The genealogy of the Lord Christ recorded in the first chapter of the gospel starts from Abraham the father of the Hebrews. In this genealogy, St. Matthew is proving that Christ is the Seed of Abraham, in Whom…


God gave the promises to the Hebrews through Abraham and that He is the legitimate heir of the Davidic Kingdom:

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham”

(Matthew 1:1)

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis

22:18)

“The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body”

(Psalm 132:11)

3. St. Matthew refers to the flight of Christ to Egypt as a continuation of the traditional history of the Israelites, with them having gone to and…


exited from Egypt under Moses’ leadership:

“And stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him”

(Matthew 2:13)

4. The gospel is written in a way that fits perfectly the needs of the Jews, by quoting, referring and alluding a lot from the Old Testament:

“When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:16-17)

5. Also talking about the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Jerusalem,…


Jewish Priesthood and Jewish Traditions, more than the other gospels:

“But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King”

(Matthew 5:34-35)

6. St. Matthew put emphasis on the situations that involved the traditions, rites, rituals of the Jews and Christ’s reaction to them, recording many incidents that get the attention of the Jews to whom he wrote his gospel. He is the only one who recorded:

a) The appearance of the star to the Magi, the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt and the slaughter of Bethlehem children by King Herod:

“And behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them,…


till it came and stood over where the young Child was” (Matthew 2:9)

b) The woes that Christ poured on the scribes and the Pharisees, the parable of the ten virgins which portrays the traditions of a Jewish wedding:

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in”

(Matthew 23:13)

c) The dream of Pilate’s wife and her warning to him in regards to Christ:

“While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things…


today in a dream because of Him” (Matthew 27:19)

d) The resurrection of some of the deceased holy men of God, when Christ commended his spirit, and their appearance to many after Christ’s Resurrection:

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many”

(Matthew 27:52-53)

e) The bribe given by the Jewish leaders to the keepers of Christ’s sepulcher so that they will lie and claim the that the disciples stole Christ’s body by night while they were asleep:


“When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying: Tell them: His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept”

(Matthew 28:12-13)

7. He described Jerusalem as ‘the holy city,’ while recording the temptation of Christ on the mountain:

“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple”

(Matthew 4:5)

8. He was keen to portray the New Testament as a fulfillment and completion of the Old Testament. He stands alone in mentioning the following saying of Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount, which is the antitype of the Sinai Law:


“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill”

(Matthew 5:17)

9. He is the only evangelist who recorded the statement made by Christ when He said to the Canaanite women:

“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24)

10. He mentioned the three cornerstones of the Jewish worship:

charitable deeds, prayer and fasting, in the discourse of the Sermon on the Mount.

11. He also noted how the Pharisees pay the tithes:


“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

(Matthew 23:23-24)

12. He frequently used numbers that were favorable to the Jews, especially 3,5 and 7:

a) 3 sets of generations of the genealogy of the Lord Christ:

“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations”

(Matthew 1:17)


b) The Lord Jesus took 3 disciples with in His Transfiguration:

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them” (Matthew 17:1-2)

c) The Lord asked the same 3 disciples to watch with Him in Gethsemane:

“And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed”

(Matthew 26:37)

d) He prayed 3 times in Gethsemane:

“So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words” (Matthew 26:44)


e) St. Peter denied the Lord 3 times:

“Jesus said to him: Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times”

(Matthew 26:34)

Canonicity of the Gospel:

1. External Evidences:

a) This gospel was well known to the author of the Didache (a book that contained the teachings of the twelve apostles), that was written between A.D. 80-100. The Book quoted much from the gospel especially from the Sermon on the Mount.

b) It is included in the ‘Muratorian Canon,’ an important document that…


was written in the middle of the 2nd century (A.D. 150-170). The document was named after Muratori, the archeological scientist who discovered it and published it in A.D. 1740, out of a manuscript found in St. Ambrose Library in Milan, which was originally kept in the great Irish Monastery in Bobbio. This document includes the canonical books of the New Testament.

c) The great majority of the early church fathers bore witness and accepted this gospel as a canonical book inspired the Holy Spirit, either in its Aramaic form or Greek one. Moreover, this Gospel was used in the quotes present in the writings of the early church more than the others.

2. Internal Evidences:

a) The Semitic style of the gospel testifies clearly that the author is a Christian convert of a Jewish background, for he always quotes in his…


narrative parts from the Hebrew manuscript not the Septuagint one.

b) While it is not stated in the gospel that St. Matthew is the author, however it could be easily concluded from the text itself. St. Matthew mentioned his name always related to his previous title ‘tax collector,’ admitting his past sinful life while the other Evangelists did not and they only mentioned his other name ‘Levi,’ when recording his calling while he was at his tax office:

“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother;… Thomas and Matthew the tax collector”

(Matthew 10:2-3)

3. Other Reasonable Evidences:


a) It makes sense that a very important gospel like this which comes the first among the New Testament books should be written by one of the twelve apostles and not by an anonymous figure.

b) It is an axiom that a publican usually keeps records of his documents and information to report to his superiors, that why St. Matthew kept a very meticulous account of Christ’s oracles.

Characteristics of the Gospel:

1. Doctrinal:

+ The substance of the gospel is composed on a doctrinal basis, where St. Matthew brought together Christ’s doctrines that deal with the same subject in one setting (objective way), regardless of the chronological order. In contrast, St. Luke for example records Christ’s doctrines…


dealing with the same doctrines separately while drafting his narration about Christ’s deeds.

+ That is why we find the narration in Mark and Luke continuous, while in Matthew it is interrupted by 5 main discourses:

a) Sermon on the Mount (Chs. 5-7), as a contrast between the righteousness of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament:

“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:”

(Matthew 5:1-2)

b) Instructions to the apostles (Ch. 10):


“And as you go, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand”

(Matthew 10:7)

c) Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven (Ch. 13):

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field”

(Matthew 13:44)

d) Various teachings (Ch. 18):

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”

(Matthew 18:3)


e) Eschatological discourses and prophetic teachings (Chs. 23-25):

“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be”

(Matthew 24:27)

- At the end of each big discourse we read a conclusion or an ending to His sayings:

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”

(Mathew 7:28-29)

+ It is obvious then that St. Matthew put special emphasis on Christ’s Teachings, formulating them in a thorough way.


2. Semitism:

+ This gospel has more Semitic features than that according to St. Mark, who has more of Latino features, and that according to St. Luke, tends more to be Hellenistic in its style.

+ That is will understood because St. Matthew mainly wrote to Jews and to Christians of Jewish backgrounds, whose main concern is the Messiah and His Kingdom.

+ He elaborated on the firm relationship between Christianity and the Old Testament, showing how much the early church was taken up with searching the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in Christ Jesus our Lord.

+ He alluded to about 60 prophecies from the Old Testament, urgently…


repeating the phrases ‘that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by…’ and ‘it is written’ giving the impression that St. Matthew sees history as a tool to fulfill the divine will and plan for saving mankind:

- “When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt I called My Son”

(Matthew 2:14-15)

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son” (Hosea 11:1)

- “So they said to him: In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will…


shepherd My people Israel” (Matthew 2:5-6)

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting”

(Micah 5:2)

+ Therefore, many scholars view this gospel as a Jewish Christian study revealing the person of Christ hidden in the Scriptures.

+ He introduces Christ as the anticipated Messiah, the king of Israel, and the sole savior of the human race, who was refused by the Jews who resisted Him, and crucified Him.

+ He also portrays Him as the King who will restore the fallen Davidic…


Kingdom, through many ways:

a) Genealogy of Christ, showing that He is the son of king David. The gospel mentioned Him 8 times as the ‘Son of David’:

“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying: What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He? They said to Him: The Son of David”

(Matthew 22:41-42)

b) The wise men call Him a king and seek to worship Him:

Behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying: Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him”

(Matthew 2:1-2)


c) Preaching the kingdom to the flock of Israel:

“But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6)

d) The throne of judgment:

“Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel”

(Matthew 19:28)

3. Confronting the Jews with their Mistakes and Shortcomings:

+ While leading them to believe in Christ, he did not neglect to show their faithlessness and shortcomings:


a) Commending the faith of the centurion in contrast with that of the Israelites:

“Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”

(Matthew 8:10-12)

b) The Lord predicting their betrayal and delivering Him to death:

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again”

(Matthew 20:18-19)


c) The Lord Christ reproaching them for their misunderstanding of keeping the Sabbath:

“But if you had known what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”

(Matthew 12:7-8)

d) The Lord condemning their care only about the formalities of worship, not about its spiritualities:

“Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward” (Matthew 6:2)


e) Also condemning them for pursuing some rites, which are actually against the commandments:

“Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?”

(Matthew 15:3)

f) The Lord Jesus pouring his woes against the scribes and the Pharisees and their hypocrisy:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also”

(Matthew 23:25-26)


g) The Lord predicting the destruction of the Temple:

“Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them: Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:1-2)

4. St. Matthew Did Not Forget to Consider the Gentiles and their Salvation:

a) He rewrote his gospel into the Greek language.

b) The Magi being directed to the place where Jesus was born, worshipping and presenting gifts to Him:

“And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:…


gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11)

c) The Lord Christ commending the Canaanite woman and healing her daughter:

“Then Jesus answered and said to her: O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire. And her daughter was healed from that very hour”

(Matthew 15:28)

d) St. Matthew explained some Jewish customs, words and terms:

“But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said: It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood. And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury…


strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day”

(Matthew 27:6-8)

e) He mentioned some of the beliefs that were known to the Jews:

“The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him”

(Matthew 22:23)

f) He also illustrated some geographical points:

“And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali”

(Matthew 4:13)


g) St. Matthew looked at the Old Testament law and commandments in more depth, spirituality and universality, declaring the manifestation of the ‘New Israel,’ who is not confined by the tight, closed minded Jewish perceptions of exclusiveness, prejudice and racism:

- He included some gentile women in Christ’s genealogy, Rahab the Canaanite, who was also a sinner, and Ruth the Moabite, to show that He came to save the Gentiles as well as the Jews and that He came for the sinners, to take away the sins of all:

“Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king”

(Matthew 1:5-6)

- He recorded the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, which symbolizes evil and slavery in the Old Testament, signaling the embracement of His…


Kingdom by the gentiles.

- He showed that the invitation for salvation is for all mankind:

“Then he said to his servants: The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding”

(Matthew 22:8-9)

- He talked about Christ handing His vineyard to other vinedressers:

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it”

(Matthew 21:43)

- He concluded his gospel by declaring Christ’s great call to all nations:


“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you”

(Matthew 28:19-20)

5. The title ‘the Son of Man’ is repeated 32 times in the Gospel according to St. Matthew and it means:

- Christ the Son of God became Son of Man, Who was incarnate in a unique way; from the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary and became man. He resembled us in everything, except for sin alone.

- The glory that has been given to Christ, as He sat at the right of His Father, has also become a gift and inheritance to those who believe in Him. He came and dwelt in us and will also take us to His heavenly glory. Therefore He is called ‘the Son of Man’ in the incidents in which His…


superior glory is manifested:

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”

(Matthew 24:30)

6. The Gospel according to St. Matthew stands alone in recording many incidents, miracles and parables:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it”

(Matthew 13:45-46)

7. St. Matthew looks at things in general:


He does not give much attention to the tiny details, in contrast with St. Mark.

8. Eschatological Aspect:

+ It is clear in the gospel that Christ was incarnate in His first coming to prepare His church for His second coming.

+ This Eschatological side is very obvious in:

a) Discussing the signs of the end ages as a message for the church to get ready to His second coming by taking heed, watching and praying (Ch. 24):

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and…


the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29)

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44)

b) The great parables about the Kingdom of Heaven and us being with Him forever (Ch. 25):

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them”

(Matthew 25:14)

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand: Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34)


9. Ecclesiastical Aspect:

a) Since Matthew is the gospel of the kingdom, it is also considered the gospel of the church, as the church is the mystery of His Kingdom on earth.

b) St. Matthew is the only evangelist who recorded to us direct and clear teachings about the church, said by the Lord Jesus, who used the word ‘Ecclesia’ twice in two strong statements:

- Talking to St. Peter about founding His church on the rock of faith:

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”

(Matthew 16:18)


- Talking about the authority of the church:

“And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:17-18)

c) Through out his gospel St. Matthew perceives and portrays the mystery of the church as being the dwelling of God amongst His people and in their hearts:

- He reported what the angel declared to Joseph about the Lord Jesus being called ‘Immanuel,’ which means ‘God with us’:

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall…


call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us”

(Matthew 1:23)

- He presents a simplified image to the church:

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them”

(Matthew 18:20)

- He explains how the church is represented in those servants who bear witness to the truth:

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me”

(Matthew 10:40)


- He portrays the presence of Christ with His people who are suffering or in need:

“For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me… Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me”

(Matthew 25:35-36,40)

- Tertullian, the Latin theologian, sees the presence of Christ in the boat that was hit and tortured by the tumultuous see, as a vivid picture of the church enjoying her peace through the presence of the Lord Christ in her midst, in spite of the wars and troubles made by Satan against her:

“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly...


a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep”

(Matthew 8:23-24)

- Lastly St. Matthew concludes his gospel by the ‘Great Commission,’ in which the Lord Christ instructed his disciples to make disciples of all the nations of the world, assuring his everlasting presence with them. Therefore the church in St. Matthew’s concept extends everywhere and throughout all ages, in which Christ ever dwells among His people, till His Second Coming, when we will also live with Him forever:

“And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew

28:20)

10. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, with Christ as the Heavenly King:


a) The theme of the gospel is ‘the Kingdom of Heaven,’ which is very clear in all the oracles, discourses, parables and miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

b) Though it is future kingdom, yet it starts now as a present fact in our day to day Life and prepares us for His eternal kingdom. It started already by the incarnation of the Lord Christ and His dwelling in our hearts and will be perfectly manifested in His latter coming:

“Not everyone who says to Me: Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven”

(Matthew 7:21)

c) The Master and the King of this kingdom is the Messiah, the Savior whose royal authority is obviously declared in this gospel. In Him was fulfilled all that was written in the scriptures, all the divine promises and…


all the desires of the nations.

d) He is the new Moses, in a very unique and superior level:

- Whereas Moses fasted and was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, our Lord fasted forty days and got tempted on the mountain to overcome the devil on our behalf, being served by angels.

- The Lord Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses, not receiving commandments written on stony tablets but speaking of His own authority:

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”

(Matthew 7:28-29)


- Being led by Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, the people of Israel received the manna from heaven. The Lord as well fed the multitudes in the wilderness, by blessing the five loaves and the two fish.

- The Lord transfigured before His disciples, summoning Moses and Elijah and talking with them:

“And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him”

(Matthew 17:3)

e) The slaughter of Bethlehem Children at the command of king Herod:

King Herod, who illegally took over David’s Kingdom supported by Romans, tried to kill the legitimate heir of the kingdom, the Lord Jesus Christ:


“Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men”

(Matthew 2:16)

f) St. Matthew introduced John the Baptist, as the forerunner:

- Preaching the upcoming kingdom:

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

(Matthew 3:1-2)

- Showing Christ as a Mighty King and Judge:


“His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire”

(Matthew 3:12)

g) St. Matthew put special emphasis on the worship temptation:

- He, against the chronological order, put it off to the third and last place, contrary to St. Luke who put it as the second temptation. The Lord Christ is the True King, while Satan, the prince of this world, is trying to take over, but Christ crushed him and defeated him:

“And he said to Him: All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him: Away with you, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve”

(Matthew 4:9-10)


h) He recorded in details Christ’s Sermon on the Mount (Chs. 5-7):

- It is the law of the kingdom of heaven, compared to and fulfilling the Law of Moses in the Old Testament:

“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled”

(Matthew 5:18)

i) St. Matthew recorded many parables about the kingdom of God, especially in (Ch. 13):

- (Ch. 13) includes seven parables, which are all about the kingdom:

‘The Sower,’ ‘the Wheat and the Tares,’ ‘the Mustard Seed,’ ‘the Leaven,’ ‘the Hidden Treasure,’ ‘the Pearl of Great Price’ and ‘the Dragnet’:


“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened”

(Matthew 13:33)

- All these parables start with the statement ‘(Again,) The kingdom of heaven is like,…’ with the exception of the first parable ‘the Sower,’ though Christ mentioned ‘the mysteries of the kingdom’ while explaining it to His disciples:

“Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: Behold, a sower went out to sow… Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:3,11)

j) He concluded his Gospel by a very peculiar statement about the Risen Christ and His absolute authority:


“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying: All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18)

- He is the One who has every authority in heaven and on earth. He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords.

The Purpose of Writing the Gospel:

1. Dogmatic Purpose:

Introducing Christ, the Son of David, to the addressees as the Anticipated Messiah foretold by the prophets to reign over David’s Kingdom and in Whom all the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament are fulfilled. He came to reign as a heavenly King, not according to their earthly and materialistic thoughts and expectations:


“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

(Matthew 4:17)

- This gospel could be as a last call for the Jews as to either accept Christ as the Anticipated Messiah, or be ready for His judgment and condemnation.

2. Apologetic Purpose:

Defending Christ and Christianity against the Jewish claims and plots, so he detailed Christ’s virginal birth from virgin Mary, how the angel defended her against her betrothed’s doubts, Christ’s triumphal Resurrection and the bribe given to the guards by the Jewish leaders to deny the Resurrection:


“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”

(Matthew 1:20)

-That is why this Gospel is considered to be ‘the Early Christian Apology.’

3. Liturgical Purpose:

Some scholars see that the gospel was written for a liturgical purpose, to be read during the early Christian Liturgical Worship, proving that by the clarity, concision, consistency and balanced style. Other scholars see it in a different way, believing that because of these characteristics the gospel was used for a liturgical purpose.


Contents

I. Birth of the King: (Chs. 1-2)

1. His Genealogy and Birth:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit”

(Matthew 1:18)

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”

(Matthew 1:21)

2. Wise Men Worship Him:


“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him”

(Matthew 2:11)

3. The Flight into Egypt:

“Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt”

(Matthew 2:13)

II. Crowning Ceremony: (Ch. 3)

1. The King’s Forerunner Preparing the Way:

“For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight”

(Matthew 3:3)


“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance”

(Matthew 3:8)

2. His Baptism and the Heavenly Testimony:

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”

(Matthew 3:16-17)

III. Declaration of His Kingdom: (Ch. 4)

1. The King’s Battle and Victory:


“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil”

(Matthew 4:1)

2. His Preaching and Declaring the Kingdom:

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people”

(Matthew 4:23)

3. Calling the Disciples:

“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them: Follow Me, and I will make you fishers…


of men. They immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Matthew

4:18-20)

IV. The King’s Constitution (The Sermon on the Mount): (Chs. 5-7)

1. The Beatitudes:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

(Matthew 5:3)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”

(Matthew 5:6)

2. Believers are Salt and Light:


“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men”

(Matthew 5:13)

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”

(Matthew 5:14-16)

3. The Lord Christ Fulfills the Law:

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but…


whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”

(Matthew 5:19)

“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell”

(Matthew 5:29-30)

“You have heard that it was said: You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;…


for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”

(Matthew 5:43-45)

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48)

4. The Cornerstones of Worship:

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly”

(Matthew 6:6)

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven...


Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”

(Matthew 6:9-13)

5. Lay Up Treasures in Heaven:

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”

(Matthew 6:20-21)

6. The Lamp of the Body:

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your…


whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

(Matthew 6:22-23)

7. You Cannot Serve God and Mammon:

“Therefore do not worry, saying: What shall we eat? or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things”

(Matthew 6:31-32)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”

(Matthew 6:33)


8. Do Not Judge:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you”

(Matthew 7:1-2)

9. Persistent Asking:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you”

(Matthew 7:7)

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets”

(Matthew 7:12)


10. The Narrow Gate:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it”

(Matthew 7:13-14)

11. Conclusion of the Sermon:

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

(Matthew 7:24-25)


VI. The King’s Service: (Chs. 8-11)

1. Cleansing the Leper:

“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying: Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying: I am willing; be cleansed. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matthew 8:2-3)

2. Healing a Centurion’s Servant:

“The centurion answered and said: Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed… Then Jesus said to the centurion: Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you. And his servant was healed that same hour” (Matthew 8:8,13)


3. Healing Peter’s Mother-in-Law:

“So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them”

(Matthew 8:15)

4. Rebuking the Winds and the Sea:

“But He said to them: Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:26)

5. Healing of the Two Demon-Possessed Men of the Gergesenes:

“So the demons begged Him, saying: If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine. And He said to them: Go. So when they had…


come out, they went into the herd of swine” (Matthew

8:31-32)

6. Healing the Paralytic:

“Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic: Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you”

(Matthew 9:2)

“Then He said to the paralytic: Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. And he arose and departed to his house”

(Matthew 9:6-7)

7. Calling of Matthew the Tax Collector:


“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick... For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance”

(Matthew 9:12-13)

8. Healing the Woman with Flow of Blood:

“For she said to herself: If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well. But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said: Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour”

(Matthew 9:21-22)

9. Raising the Daughter of a Ruler from the Dead:

“He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose” (Matthew 9:25)


10. Two Blind Men Healed:

“And Jesus said to them: Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him: Yes, Lord. Then He touched their eyes, saying: According to your faith let it be to you. And their eyes were opened”

(Matthew 9:28-30)

11. The Lord’s Compassion for the Multitudes:

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples: The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest”

(Matthew 9:36-38)


12. Sending Out the Twelve Apostles:

“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease”

(Matthew 10:1)

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give”

(Matthew 10:8)

“But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:19-20)


“But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22)

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”

(Matthew 10:28)

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows”

(Matthew 10:29-31)

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven”

(Matthew 10:32-33)


13. John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus:

“Jesus answered and said to them: Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me”

(Matthew 11:4-6)

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:15)

VII. Rejecting the King: (Chs. 11-12)

1. The Jews Reject Him:

“Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works…


had been done, because they did not repent” (Matthew 11:20)

2. The Simple People Accept Him:

“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes”

(Matthew 11:25)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30)


3. Argument about the Sabbath:

“Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Then He said to the man: Stretch out your hand. And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other”

(Matthew 12:12-13)

VIII. Establishing His Kingdom: (Chs. 12-20)

1. A House Divided Cannot Stand:

“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw”

(Matthew 12:22)


“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you”

(Matthew 12:28)

2. A Tree Known by its Fruit:

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit”

(Matthew 12:32-33)

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things”

(Matthew 12:34-35)

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give…


account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”

(Matthew 12:36-37)

3. Parables of the Kingdom:

“For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:12-13)

“But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear” (Matthew

13:16)

“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven…


is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches”

(Matthew 13:31-32)

“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father”

(Matthew 13:41-43)

4. Jesus Rejected at Nazareth:

“Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58)


5. Feeding the Five Thousand:

“But Jesus said to them: They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat”

(Matthew 14:16)

“And they said to Him: We have here only five loaves and two fish. He said: Bring them here to Me”

(Matthew 14:17-18)

6. Jesus Walks on the Sea:

“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27)

“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and…


beginning to sink he cried out, saying: Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him: O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

(Matthew 14:30-31)

“Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying: Truly You are the Son of God”

(Matthew 14:33)

7. Seeking to Touch the Hem of His Garment:

“And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well”

(Matthew 14:35-36)


8. Defilement Comes from Within:

“When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them: Hear and understand”

(Matthew 15:10)

“Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man”

(Matthew 15:11)

“Then Peter answered and said to Him: Explain this parable to us. So Jesus said: Are you also still without understanding?”

(Matthew 15:15-16)

9. Healing the Daughter of the Canaanite Woman:


“And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying: Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed”

(Matthew 15:22)

10. The Lord Heals Great Multitudes:

“Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them”

(Matthew 15:30)

11. Feeding the Four Thousand:

“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said: I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days…


and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way”

(Matthew 15:32)

12. Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ:

“He said to them: But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”

(Matthew 16:15-16)

“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19)

13. Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection:

“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go…


to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day”

(Matthew 16:21)

14. Take Up the Cross and Follow Him:

“Then Jesus said to His disciples: If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me”

(Matthew 16:24)

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

(Matthew 16:25-26)


“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works”

(Matthew 16:27)

15. Transfiguration:

“His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light”

(Matthew 17:2)

“Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him! And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said: Arise, and do not be afraid”

(Matthew 17:5-7)


“When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only”

(Matthew 17:8)

16. Healing the Epileptic Son:

“And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour”

(Matthew 17:17-18)

“For assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain: Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you”

(Matthew 17:20)

“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew

17:21)


17. Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”

(Matthew 18:3)

“Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”

(Matthew 18:4)

18. Jesus Warns of Offenses:

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea”

(Matthew 18:6)


19. The Parable of the Lost Sheep:

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?”

(Matthew 18:12)

“And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray”

(Matthew 18:13)

20. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant:

“Then his master, after he had called him, said to him: You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?”

(Matthew 18:32-33)


21. Marriage and Celibacy:

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate”

(Matthew 19:5-6)

22. The Rich Young Ruler:

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me”

(Matthew 19:21)

23. The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard:


“So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen”

(Matthew 20:16)

24. Greatness is Serving:

“But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”

(Matthew 20:26-28)

25. Two Blind Men Receive their Sight:

“And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying: Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son…


of David! Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying: Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

(Matthew 20:30-31)

“So Jesus stood still and called them, and said: What do you want Me to do for you? They said to Him: Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him”

(Matthew 20:32-34)

IX. Entering to the Capital: (Chs. 21-25)

1. The Triumphal Entry:

“And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut…


down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

(Matthew 21:8-9)

2.The Lord Jesus Cleanses the Temple:

“Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them: It is written: My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves”

(Matthew 21:12-13)

3. The Fig Tree Withered:


“Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it: Let no fruit grow on you ever again. Immediately the fig tree withered away”

(Matthew 21:18-19)

“Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain: Be removed and be cast into the sea, it will be done”

(Matthew 21:21)

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew

21:22)

4. The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers:


“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? They said to Him: He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons”

(Matthew 21:40-41)

“And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder”

(Matthew 21:44)

5. The Parable of the Wedding Feast:

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him: Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants: Bind him hand and foot,…


take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen”

(Matthew 22:11-14)

6. The Pharisees Question Jesus about Taxes:

“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”

(Matthew 22:21)

7. The Sadducees’ Question Concerning the Resurrection:

“Jesus answered and said to them, You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven”

(Matthew 22:29-30)


8. A Lawyer’s Inquiry about the First Commandment of All:

“Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets”

(Matthew 22:37-40)

9. The Lord Asks the Pharisees about Himself:

“If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son? And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore”

(Matthew 22:45-46)


10. The Lord Pours the Woes against the Scribes and the Pharisees:

“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted”

(Matthew 23:12)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness”

(Matthew 23:27-28)

11. The Lord Laments over Jerusalem and predicts the destruction of the Temple:


“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate”

(Matthew 23:37-38)

12. The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age:

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come”

(Matthew 24:14)

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be”

(Matthew 24:21)


“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”

(Matthew 24:31)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away”

(Matthew 24:35)

“Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left”

(Matthew 24:40-41)

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42)


13. The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant:

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods”

(Matthew 24:45-47)

14. The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins:

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish”

(Matthew 25:1-2)

“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were…


ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut” (Matthew 25:10)

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us! But he answered and said: Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you” (Matthew 25:11-12)

15. The Parable of the Talents:

“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey” (Matthew 25:15)

“After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them”

(Matthew 25:19)


“His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord”

(Matthew 25:21)

16. The Son of Man will Judge the Nations:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left”

(Matthew 25:31-33)

“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life”

(Matthew 25:46)


X. Death of the King and His Resurrection: (Chs. 26-28)

1. The Plot to Kill Jesus:

“You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified”

(Matthew 26:2)

“Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him”

(Matthew 26:3-4)

2. The Anointing at Bethany:

“And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a...


woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table”

(Matthew 26:7-8)

3. Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus:

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said: What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you? And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him”

(Matthew 26:14-16)

4. Institution of the Lord’s Supper:

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and…


gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My body. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins”

(Matthew 26:26-28)

5. The Prayer in Gethsemane and His Arrest:

“Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter: What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”

(Matthew 26:40-41)

“And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and…


elders of the people” (Matthew 26:47)

6. His Trial in front of Caiaphas and the Jewish Council:

“But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him: I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God! Jesus said to him: It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven”

(Matthew 26:63-64)

“They answered and said: He is deserving of death. Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying: Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?” (Matthew 26:65-68)


7. Peter Denies Jesus:

“Then he began to curse and swear, saying: I do not know the Man! Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him: Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. So he went out and wept bitterly”

(Matthew 26:74-75)

8. Judas Hangs Himself:

“Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself”

(Matthew 27:5)

9. The Lord’s Trial in front of Pontius Pilate the Governor:


“Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying: Are You the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: It is as you say” (Matthew 27:11)

“Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified”

(Matthew 27:26)

10. The Soldiers Mock Jesus:

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him”

(Matthew 27:27-28)

“When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and...


a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head”

(Matthew 27:29-30)

11. The King Reigns and Dies on the Cross:

“Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots”

(Matthew 27:35)

“And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS”

(Matthew 27:37)


“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit” (Matthew 27:50)

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split”

(Matthew 27:51)

“So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying: Truly this was the Son of God!”

(Matthew 27:54)

12. The Burial of Jesus the King:

“When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock;…


and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed” (Matthew 27:59-60)

“So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard”

(Matthew 27:66)

13. The King is Risen:

“And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men”

(Matthew 28:2-4)


“But the angel answered and said to the women: Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay”

(Matthew 28:5-6)

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted”

(Matthew 28:16-17)

Documents

The Gospel According to St. Matthew. The Gospel According to St. Matthew Author: + The author is St. 1the Evangelist who was one of the twelve apostles