COMMENTARY

"SYNOPTIC PROBLEM" Because Matthew, Mark, Luke give the same general view of Christ's life with their recording being much of the same.

The possible connections with a common original, their authorship, and mutual relations are called the Synoptic Problem.

Many thought that Mark was the earliest of the Gospels with Matthew enlarging on Mark and that Luke used both. Others believe that Matthew was written first and then Mark made a abridged edition or Matthew's gospel. It is commonly believed that no one used the other ones. Jesus' life events and His sayings were repeated orally for years by the Apostles and others, and were in common circulation among Christians.

Jesus' sayings and his life were the substance of the daily preaching of the Apostles. From the beginning many of these were written down in mere fragmentary and others in complete form. Matthew was an eye witness to many of these stories. All three chose what they wanted and what suited them from the written and oral knowledge in general circulation among the Christians and put this in written

Matthew: means “gift of Jehovah or God": Matthew is commonly called the Gospel of the Kingdom and it's material is grouped by subject. Matthew is believed to be written especially for the Jews around 50 A.D. to prove that Jesus was the predicted "Messiah or Christ the Anointed One" The author made no attempt to translate or explain the Jewish Words that he used. Also, He quoted from the Old Testament more times than any of the other gospel's writers.

Matthew to the Jews, Mark to the Romans; Luke to the Greeks, John made it clear and unmistakable that Jesus was GOD in Human form to all man kind.

There are a few that believes someone else is the author of the Gospel of Matthew not Matthew because of the gospel is not naming Matthew as the author. Matthew was a Publican: "KJV word for tax collector" A Tax collector who became one of twelve of Jesus’ Apostles. Matthew was also called Leui. He is listed in the four list of Twelve, (Matthew 10:3 Mark 3:18 Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13) and where it is called to follow Jesus. (Matthew 9:9-13 Mark 2:14-17 Luke 5:27-32 ) Matthews appears seventh in Mark 3:18. Luke 6:15 and eighth in Matt 10:3 and Acts 1:13. Some say that the reason why Matthew's name has been linked with the Gospel of Matthew is because of the sayings of Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis, quoted in Eusebius:

The argument for some one else writing the Gospel of Matthew is that Matthew would of wrote the Gospel of Matthew in Aramaic not Greek. No Aramaic original of the Gospel of Matthew has ever been found. Also the Greek Gospel of Matthew that we have can not be translated back into Aramaic. It is generally agreed upon that Mark is the earliest of the four gospels and that whoever the author is of the Gospel of Matthew substantially used the Gospel of Mark. Six hundred and one of Mark’s six hundred and seventy eight verses appear in Matthew. We are sure that the author was a compiler of the Gospel, evidently a Jew who lived outside Palestine. The author would be well versed in the Hebrew Scriptures, and was impressed by the incidents in the life of Christ and the O.T. Beginning with Papias, the Early church Fathers accepted Matthew as the author as we do today.

The Human Author of this book is Matthew, called Levi, the publican tax collector Jesus chose as an apostle. He presents Jesus from the standpoint of a King and the word kingdom appears fifty times. The kingdom of heaven appears thirty times, the only place it appears in the NT. Matthew tends to bring together miracles and parables into groups without reference to their place in history, while Mark is more chronological.

Matthew, Mark, and John, Matthew being in a list called the "Gospel" All four covers the life and death of Jesus and formed a uniques kink of written document, but different view threw the eyes of each human writer.

There have been about 400 years of prophetic silence since Malachi, but during this time Greece became the third world power prophesied by Daniel.

One of their leaders, Antiochus Epiphanies desecrated the temple and provoked the revolt of the Maccabees which gave some freedom to the Jews for a few years. Finally the land was taken by Rome, the fourth world power, which was cruel and killed many Jews. External religion and many traditions developed in this time, and obedience was transferred from the law to the traditions.

The majority of the religious leaders were Sadducees, but the Pharisees were popular with the people and wielded influence out of proportion to their number.

More information on “Pharisees, Essences, Sadducees, and Zealot” go to www.christisalive.net/Zealot This was the situation when Christ was born.

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Mt 1:22-23" That He would be born of a Virgin Isa 7:14" Matthew preached in Palestine for some years and then traveled to foreign countries as tradition goes. He wrote his gospel originally in Hebrew and around A.D. 60 wrote a more complete edition in Greek.

Now according to our current calendar which is off, it has Jesus being born around the end of the reign of Herod's either between 6 and 4 BC or 3 to 2 BC.

THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST.....: Called Magi probably astrologers from Persia (2:2) This would explain the interest in an extraordinary "star" . The number of wise men is unknown, many puts it at three because of the three gifts. One thing I am sure of is that the wise men were men of wealth. The three gifts would of cost greatly and with them traveling to follow the star they would of had slaves to take care of their needs and care for the animals used for traveling. It is stated in Matthew that the Magi was the first to recognize the Kingship of Jesus.

The magics being astrologers knew about the OT prophecy in Num 24:17.

Baloam had predicted a star shall come forth out of Jacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. Herod was greatly troubled (Mt 2:3) Knowing that this was a great disaster for his family (Num 24:18) Also, it would of take the wise men days, months, or years to make the travel. It is why Herod the Great ordered the death of children from birth to the age of two.

Different in the four Gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke tells about both suppers. Luke mentions two cups 22:17-20 John mentions only passover.

Fourteen centuries the passover pointed to the coming of the Paschal Lamb. Jesus ate His Passover Supper and then became the Paschal Lamb. Jesus was slain on the cross the same day that Paschal Lambs were slain in the Temple.

The Passover had served its purpose but it was now time for the new memorial supper which is to be kept until Jesus comes again. 1st Corinthians 11:26

PASSOVER= Deliverance out of Egypt and toward His coming, New memorial Supper points back to His death and forward to His coming in Glory.

The order of the Lord's supper is some what confusing: Matthew and Mark place the Lord's supper after Judas went out. Luke seems to say he was there. John gives the contamination first with Luke after the supper.

MOST PLACE THE SUPPER IN THIS ORDER.

( 1.) Jesus washes their feet.
( 2. ) The betrayal is announced by Jesus and they all reply "IS IT I ?"
( 3. ) Judas is given soup and and says "IS IT I ? "
( 4. ) Jesus gives the Lord's supper instructions.
( 5. ) The "NEW COMMANDMENT" is given and the tender words of John 14.
1. The ancestry and infancy of Jesus ( 1:1-2:23)
A. Genealogy of Jesus ( 1:1-17)
B. Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem ( 1:18-25)
C. Visit of Visit of the Wise Men ( 2:1-12
D. Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt (2:13-15)
E. Slaughter of the Holy Innocents ( 2:19-23)
F. Return of the Holy Family to Nazareth. ( 2:19-23)
2. The Early Ministry of Jesus and John the Baptist ( 3:1-7:29)
A. Ministry of John and Jesus ( Chap 3-4) B. sermon on the Mount ( Chap 5-7)
3. Jesus' Miracles and the Commission of the Twelve ( 8:1-10:42)
A. Miracles Stories of Jesus ( Chap 8-9)
B. Missionary Sermon for the Apostles ( CHAP 10)
4. Growing Controversy and the New Kingdom ( 11:1-13:58)
A. Jesus Confronts an Evil Generation (Chap 11-12 )
B. Parables of the Kingdom ( Chap 13 )
5. Jesus Instructs Peter and the Twelve ( 14:1-18:35)
A. Jesus' Various Travels and Miracles ( Chap 14-17)
B. Life in the Church Sermon ( Chap 18)
6. Jesus travels to Judea and Enters Jerusalem ( 19:1-25:46
A. Jesus' teaching in the Temple and Events in Judea. . ( Chap 19-23)
B. Judgment on Jerusalem ( Chap 24-25)
7. The Resurrection and suffering of Jesus ( 26: 1-28:20)
A. Anointing at Bethany ( 26:1-16)
B. The Last Supper ( 26:17-19
C. Jesus' Betrayal and Trials ( 26:30-27:26)
D. Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus (27:27-66)
E. Resurrection of Jesus ( 28: 1-15)
F. The Great Commission (28:16-20)

Verses 1-17 the Genealogy of Jesus, also given in Luke 3:23-38

MATTHEW 1 HEAVEN'S ANGELS ANNOUNCED HIS BIRTH:

Herod the great father of the Herodians. He is remembered as the lavish rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and of builders of Cities. His suspicion and Jealousy led to the murder of his wife and several of his children. Herod the Great was only party Jewish. His royal title was not genive and was granted by Rome. Becasue his only loyalty was to him self and Herod was always worried about loosing his title. He reigned from 37 to 04 BC.

MATTHEW, who name means "GIFT OF JEHOVAH"

UPDATED 4 April 2023

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