An Introduction to Matthew

A Summary of our Sunday Adult formation Discussion on November 9th

Introduction to Matthew

I. Scholarly Context and Sources

We discussed the Four-Source Hypothesis as a potential explanation for the literary relationship between the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), known as the Synoptic Problem. This hypothesis represents the dominant academic consensus.

• Four-Source Hypothesis: Matthew is a compilation built from three hypothetical sources:

  • Markan Priority: Mark was the earliest Gospel and served as a primary narrative source.

  • Q Source: A hypothetical source of Jesus' sayings (ethical and wisdom teachings) shared by Matthew and Luke, suggesting an early focus on Jesus as a sage.

  • M Source: Material unique to Matthew. Luke has his own set of unique material, which is the fourth source.

• Context: Current scholarship places the writing of the Gospel for a Jewish-Christian community in Syria (possibly Antioch) sometime after 70 CE, following the destruction of the Temple. Matthew was almost certainly composed in Koine Greek. While early tradition (notably Papias) suggests the Apostle Matthew compiled an initial work of Jesus' sayings in Aramaic, current scholarship overwhelmingly favors Greek for the final Gospel text. This is due to several key factors, including the frequent word-for-word reproduction of Mark's Greek text, the presence of Greek-specific wordplay (e.g., Petros/petra), and the Gospel's substantial reliance on the Greek Septuagint (LXX) for Old Testament quotations.

II. Key Unique Theological Themes

We also discussed the comparative reading of Matthew with other Gospels that highlights the tension between its deep Jewish roots and its ultimate universal scope, with a strong emphasis on ethical action and justice. Matthew’s unique emphasis is highlighted below.

1. Jesus as the New Moses/Fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17): Jesus is presented as the definitive Law-Giver, whose teaching (especially the Sermon on the Mount) fulfills the Torah by emphasizing internalization, love, and intent over ritual (e.g., the Antitheses).

2. Righteousness δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosune): Ethical Living (Matthew 6:33): Righteousness is defined as active, social, and ethical living—doing justice and mercy—not merely religious status. This theme elevates the Gospel's social demands (e.g., Parable of the Sheep and Goats).

3. Ecclesiology (The Church) (ἐκκλησία): Matthew is the only Gospel to explicitly use the word for "church" (Matthew 16:18), providing guidance on communal structure and discipline for a defined post-Temple community.

4. Universal Mission (The Great Commission) (Matthew 28:19-20): The Gospel culminates in the command to make disciples of all nations. The mission is focused on discipleship (observing Jesus' ethical commands) rather than mere conversion.