Matthew

Matthew is a Gospel that tells the life, teaching, actions, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ while strongly connecting them to the story of Israel. The book presents Jesus not merely as a teacher or miracle worker, but as the awaited Messiah within the framework of God's promises. The Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the call to discipleship, the debates with religious leaders, and the passion-resurrection narrative form Matthew's main texture. The theme of the “Kingdom of Heaven” especially ties many parts of the book together. For that reason, Matthew is a foundational text for readers who want to see both what Jesus taught and how the earliest Christian community understood him. Its narrative structure is clear, its teaching density is high, and it is especially fruitful for grasping the unity of Scripture.

Author and context

The Gospel of Matthew has traditionally been attributed to Matthew, the disciple of Jesus who had been a tax collector. At the same time, the text does not explicitly name its author, and modern scholars discuss whether its final form took shape in the second half of the first century and whether the writer drew on earlier traditions such as Mark. The book reflects the setting of a community deeply engaged with the Jewish Scriptures and concerned to explain the identity of Jesus within that background. For that reason, Matthew is often read as a narrative that builds bridges both historically and theologically.

Reading tip

When reading Matthew, it helps to see it both as a narrative and as a carefully arranged teaching text. Pay special attention to Jesus' long discourses, the Old Testament references, and the shifting relationships among crowds, disciples, and religious leaders at major transitions. Read this way, the book offers not merely a sequence of events, but a coherent portrait of Jesus' identity and the meaning of discipleship.

Chapters

• Matthew 1
• Matthew 2
• Matthew 3
• Matthew 4
• Matthew 5
• Matthew 6
• Matthew 7
• Matthew 8
• Matthew 9
• Matthew 10
• Matthew 11
• Matthew 12
• Matthew 13
• Matthew 14
• Matthew 15
• Matthew 16
• Matthew 17
• Matthew 18
• Matthew 19
• Matthew 20
• Matthew 21
• Matthew 22
• Matthew 23
• Matthew 24
• Matthew 25
• Matthew 26
• Matthew 27
• Matthew 28

Who wrote the book of Matthew?

The book of Matthew has traditionally been attributed to the apostle Matthew. However, the text does not explicitly identify its author, so while the traditional attribution remains influential, scholarly discussion continues about the book's composition and sources.

What is the book of Matthew about?

Matthew presents Jesus Christ as the Messiah connected to God's promises by narrating his life, teaching, death, and resurrection. The Kingdom of Heaven, discipleship, righteousness, and the authority of Jesus are among the book's main themes.