introduction to new testament I reflect
Michele Murphy
Introduction to New Testament I
Dr. Lawson
Reflection Essay #3
The Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew was written to prove that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah from God, the King of all Earth and to make plain the Kingdom of God. Matthew uses the genealogy of Jesus that traces him back to Abraham, to further prove that it was yet another fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. Theologians consider this gospel the most Jewish, with a high regard and similar organization of the Torah; but the message was open to all believers, not just those of the Jewish faith. Matthew is the link between the Old and the New Testament, focusing upon the fulfillment of the prophecy (which he has mentioned that Jesus has fulfilled at least 15 times within the gospel). Although the Gospel of Matthew was not the first gospel written, it was generally placed first in the collection of writings in the New Testament; and contains a large number of sayings, Jesus’ teachings, including the Beatitudes and the concept of forgiveness, which are not found in any of the other gospels. It is chronicled into eight sections (including the genealogy and the five discourses) and arranged as the Christian Torah, each having narrative chapters and teaching chapters-not as if there was a definitive break between the Jewish Torah, but as a continuation of the fulfillment of the scriptures of the Old Testament. Because Matthew’s purpose is to present Jesus Christ as the King and Messiah of Israel, he quotes from the Old Testament more than any of the other three Gospel writers. Matthew quotes more than 60 times from prophetic passages of the Old Testament, demonstrating how Jesus fulfilled them. He begins his Gospel with the genealogy of Jesus, tracing Him back to Abraham, the progenitor of the Jews. From there, Matthew quotes extensively from the prophets, frequently using the phrase “as was spoken through the prophet(s)” (Matthew
Introduction to New Testament I
Dr. Lawson
Reflection Essay #3
The Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew was written to prove that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah from God, the King of all Earth and to make plain the Kingdom of God. Matthew uses the genealogy of Jesus that traces him back to Abraham, to further prove that it was yet another fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. Theologians consider this gospel the most Jewish, with a high regard and similar organization of the Torah; but the message was open to all believers, not just those of the Jewish faith. Matthew is the link between the Old and the New Testament, focusing upon the fulfillment of the prophecy (which he has mentioned that Jesus has fulfilled at least 15 times within the gospel). Although the Gospel of Matthew was not the first gospel written, it was generally placed first in the collection of writings in the New Testament; and contains a large number of sayings, Jesus’ teachings, including the Beatitudes and the concept of forgiveness, which are not found in any of the other gospels. It is chronicled into eight sections (including the genealogy and the five discourses) and arranged as the Christian Torah, each having narrative chapters and teaching chapters-not as if there was a definitive break between the Jewish Torah, but as a continuation of the fulfillment of the scriptures of the Old Testament. Because Matthew’s purpose is to present Jesus Christ as the King and Messiah of Israel, he quotes from the Old Testament more than any of the other three Gospel writers. Matthew quotes more than 60 times from prophetic passages of the Old Testament, demonstrating how Jesus fulfilled them. He begins his Gospel with the genealogy of Jesus, tracing Him back to Abraham, the progenitor of the Jews. From there, Matthew quotes extensively from the prophets, frequently using the phrase “as was spoken through the prophet(s)” (Matthew