Matthew an Intro to the King

An Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, we emphasize its role in linking the Old and New Testaments. Highlighting Matthew's audience, predominantly Jewish, and his objective to show Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

Different distinct perspectives of the other Gospels: Mark emphasizes Jesus as the perfect servant for a Roman audience, Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man with historical detail, and John focuses on Jesus' divinity.

Matthew's detailed narrative is seen as a crucial link between Testaments. We look at the debate on the authorship of Matthew, citing early church fathers and historical sources supporting Matthew as the author. The structure and themes of the book are outlined, with special attention to prophecy fulfillment, Jesus as the Messiah, and key passages in Matthew. We conclude with a look at how Matthew's detailed accounts of Jesus' interactions and teachings affirm its authenticity and authorship by a tax collector familiar with detailed recording practices. Key themes include Jesus being the Messiah, his connection to David, a new authoritative figure similar but greater than Moses, and God with us (Emmanuel). The Gospel’s structure: emphasizes five to six major discussions rather than a chronological narrative and explaining Jesus's teachings and actions. The importance of prophecy fulfillment, Jesus's interactions with Jewish religious sects, and the distinction between Old and New Covenants are also explored.