New Testament Study Journal

03-09-2021

Matthew 1; Matthew as an Editor

The book of Matthew was written for a Jewish audience. In his book, he often shows the division between "their synagogue" and "the church".

Theoretically, Matthew has two main sources from which he likely drew:

1. The Gospel of Mark - the chronology of Matthew reflects the chronology of Mark. Matthew contains more-easily understood wording for some phrases in Mark. Probably used by Luke.
2. Q - a hypothetical document that contains the sayings of Christ. This was likely used by Luke as well.

However, it is important to recognize that Jewish culture in the first century was very much orally based.

Matthew as Editor

Matthew used a couple techniques in his Gospel to emphasize what he likely saw as important for his audience, the Jews.

Matthew's five discourses of Jesus

In his attempt to portray Jesus as the new Moses, he outlined five major discourses by Jesus:

1. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
2. The Apostolic Commission (Matthew 10)
3. The Kingdom of God Discourse (Matthew 13)
4. The Church Administration Discourse (Matthew 18)
5. The Eschatological Discourse (Matthew 24-25)

He ends each of these with "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these" sayings, teachings, or parables, except the last one, where he says "And it came to pass, when Jeus had finished all these sayings."

In using these five discourses, Matthew's intent may have been to create a Christian Penteteuch to emphasize Jesus as the new Moses.