THE BOOK OF MATTHEW

WHY THE FOUR GOSPELS?

"The Holy Spirit is not a reporter, but an editor!"  The Gospels were not attempts to give simple factual biographies of the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather written to emphasize four different aspects of His Person and work. 
1. MATTHEW, written especially for the Jews, presents Christ as King, the promised Messiah, with the
   emphasis on HIS ROYALTY.
2. MARK, written especially for the Romans, presents Christ as the suffering Servant of Jehovah who
    accomplished many mighty works, with the emphasis on HIS HUMILITY.
3. LUKE, written especially for the Greeks, presents Christ as the perfect Man, with the
    emphasis on HIS HUMANITY.
4. JOHN, written for all the world, presents Christ as the Son of God who gave His life to
    redeem mankind, with the emphasis on HIS DEITY.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MATTHEW'S GOSPEL

1. It stands as a swinging door between the two Testaments.  It swings back into the Old Testament
    by quoting over 60 references: showing the Jews that a great King was promised to
    Israel from David's line; that He would be rejected by Israel; but that one day He would
    return to reign with His repentant people.  It swings into the New Testament and tells of it's
    fulfillment and the establishment of a new creation "on this rock I will build my CHURCH."
2. It is the only Gospel that records the visit of the magi: "where is the one born king of the jews."
3. He is the only one who speaks of Jerusalem as "the city of the great king." 
4. John the Baptist was the first to use the expression, "the kingdom of heaven" which is only
    mentioned in Matthew ( 32 times).
5. He is given a kingly welcome into Jerusalem at His "triumphal entry."
6. When His rejection is apparent, He speaks of the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven."
7. Jesus tells Pilate He is "the king of the Jews" and is crucified under that title.
8. The word "Church" is only mentioned in Matthew and the future tense in 16:18 makes it
    very clear "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
9. Matthew closes his Gospel before His ascension as the risen King on earth possessing
    "all authority in heaven and on earth."