Reference: Matthew, Gospel According to
Easton
The author of this book was beyond a doubt the Matthew, an apostle of our Lord, whose name it bears. He wrote the Gospel of Christ according to his own plans and aims, and from his own point of view, as did also the other "evangelists."
As to the time of its composition, there is little in the Gospel itself to indicate. It was evidently written before the destruction of Jerusalem (MT 24), and some time after the events it records. The probability is that it was written between the years A.D. 60 and 65.
The cast of thought and the forms of expression employed by the writer show that this Gospel was written for Jewish Christians of Palestine. His great object is to prove that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah, and that in him the ancient prophecies had their fulfilment. The Gospel is full of allusions to those passages of the Old Testament in which Christ is predicted and foreshadowed. The one aim prevading the whole book is to show that Jesus is he "of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write." This Gospel contains no fewer than sixty-five references to the Old Testament, forty-three of these being direct verbal citations, thus greatly outnumbering those found in the other Gospels. The main feature of this Gospel may be expressed in the motto, "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
As to the language in which this Gospel was written there is much controversy. Many hold, in accordance with old tradition, that it was originally written in Hebrew (i.e., the Aramaic or Syro-Chaldee dialect, then the vernacular of the inhabitants of Palestine), and afterwards translated into Greek, either by Matthew himself or by some person unknown. This theory, though earnestly maintained by able critics, we cannot see any ground for adopting. From the first this Gospel in Greek was received as of authority in the Church. There is nothing in it to show that it is a translation. Though Matthew wrote mainly for the Jews, yet they were everywhere familiar with the Greek language. The same reasons which would have suggested the necessity of a translation into Greek would have led the evangelist to write in Greek at first. It is confessed that this Gospel has never been found in any other form than that in which we now possess it.
The leading characteristic of this Gospel is that it sets forth the kingly glory of Christ, and shows him to be the true heir to David's throne. It is the Gospel of the kingdom. Matthew uses the expression "kingdom of heaven" (thirty-two times), while Luke uses the expression "kingdom of God" (thirty-three times). Some Latinized forms occur in this Gospel, as kodrantes (Mt 5:26), for the Latin quadrans, and phragello (Mt 27:26), for the Latin flagello. It must be remembered that Matthew was a tax-gatherer for the Roman government, and hence in contact with those using the Latin language.
As to the relation of the Gospels to each other, we must maintain that each writer of the synoptics (the first three) wrote independently of the other two, Matthew being probably first in point of time.
Out of a total of 1071 verses, Matthew has 387 in common with Mark and Luke, 130 with Mark, 184 with Luke; only 387 being peculiar to itself. (See Mark; Luke; Gospels.)
The book is fitly divided into these four parts: (1.) Containing the genealogy, the birth, and the infancy of Jesus (1; 2).
(2.) The discourses and actions of John the Baptist preparatory to Christ's public ministry (3; 4:11).
(3.) The discourses and actions of Christ in Galilee (4:12-20:16).
(4.) The sufferings, death and resurrection of our Lord (20:17-28).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Verily I say to thee, Thou shouldst not come out thence, even till, thou shouldst give back the last fourth.
Then he loosed to them Barabbas: and having scourged Jesus, delivered him up, that, he might be crucified.
Hastings
MATTHEW, GOSPEL ACCORDING TO.
1. The First Gospel in the Early Church.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Moses will go and speak these words to all Israel
And they will give my food poison, and for my thirst they will give me vinegar to drink.
When Israel was a child, and I loved him, and I called for my son out of Egypt
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; make a loud noise, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king shall come to thee: just, and saving; he is humble and riding upon an ass, and upon an ass's colt the son of asses.
And the whole of this has been that it might be completed having been spoken by the prophet, saying,
And was there till the death of Herod: that it might be completed having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
And was there till the death of Herod: that it might be completed having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Then was completed that spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
And having come, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be completed spoken by the prophets, That he shall be called a Nazarite.
And Jesus having heard that John was delivered up, went back into Galilee.
That it might be completed having been spoken through Esaias the prophet, saying,
Think not that I have come to abolish the law, or the prophets: for I have come not abolish, but to complete.
And it was when Jesus finished these words, the crowds were struck with amazement at his teaching:
And Jesus having entered into Capernaum, a captain of a hundred came to him, and beseeching him,
And I say to you, That many shall come from the sunrising and the descents, and shall recline with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of the heavens.
So that that spoken by Esaias the prophet was completed, saying. He took our weakness, and lifted up diseases.
And Jesus passing from thence, two blind ones followed him, crying out and saying, Commiserate us, O son of David.
And they having gone, behold they brought to him a man dumb, possessed with an evil spirit.
And it was when Jesus finished ordering his twelve disciples, he went away from thence to teach and proclaim in all their cities.
In that time Jesus went in the sabbaths through the standing corn and his disciples were hungry, and begen to pluck the ears, end eat.
So that that spoken by the prophet Esaias might be completed, saying,
Then he possessed with a demon, blind, and dumb, was brought to him; and he cured him, so that the blind and dumb spake and saw also.
And he having answered, said to them, An evil generation and an adulteress seeks a sign; and no sign shall be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
So that that spoken by the prophet might be filled up; saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will declare things having been hid from the foundation of the world.
And he did not many powers there, because of their unbelief.
And Peter having answered him, said, Lord, if thou art, encourage me to come upon the waters.
Then he enjoined his disciples that they say to none that he is Jesus Christ. From then Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must depart to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised in the third day.
And after six days Jesus takes Peter, James, and John his brother, and brings them up into a high mountain apart. And he was transformed before them: and his face shone as the sun, and his garments were white as the light. read more. And, behold, Moses and Elias were seen to them, conversing with him. And Peter, having answered, said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: let us make here three tents; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. He yet speaking, behold, a shining cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my dearly beloved Son, in whom I was contented; hear ye him. And the disciples, having heard, fell upon their face, and were greatly afraid. And Jesus, having come, touched them, and said, Be raised, and be not afraid. And having lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus alone.
And they having come to Capernaum, they taking double drachmas came to Peter and said, Does not your teacher pay double drachmas?
And it was when Jesus finished these words he removed from Galilee, and came from the bounds of Judea beyond Jordan;
For the kingdom of the heavens is like to a man, master of a house, who went out as soon as morning to hire workmen for his vineyard.
And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying to them,
And the whole of this was, that that spoken by the prophet be completed; saying,
Hear another parable: A certain man was master of a house, who planted a vineyard, and put a hedge around it, and digged in it a winepress, and let it out to farmers, and went abroad:
For this I say to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to a nation doing its fruits.
And Jesus, having answered, spake to them in parables, saying,
And Jesus having gone out, went out of the temple: and his disciples came near to shew him the buildings of the temple.
And sitting upon the mount of Olives, his disciples came to him apart, saying, Say to us when these shall be, and what the sign of thy arrival, and the termination of the time.
Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be likened to ten virgins, who having taken their lanterns, went forth to the meeting of the bridegroom.
For as a man going abroad, called his own servants, and delivered them his possessions:
And it was when Jesus finished all the words, he said to his disciples
Then was completed that having been spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty silver coins, the price of him prized, whom they from the sons of Israel prized;
And he sitting upon the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Nothing to thee and that just one: for I have suffered this day many things in a dream, on his account.
And Pilate, seeing that it profits nothing, but there is rather an uproar, having taken water, he washed his hands before the crowd, saying, I am guiltless of the blood of this just one: ye shall see yourselves.
They gave him vinegar to drink. (mingled with bile: and having tasted, he would not drink.
Therefore, having gone, disciple all nations; immersing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
And the disciples of John, and of the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John, and of the Pharisees fast, and the disciples to thee fast not?
And the Pharisees said to him, Behold, why do they in the sabbaths what is not lawful
And the scribes, they having come down from Jerusalem, said, That he has Beelzeboul, and that by the ruler of demons he casts out demons.
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Wherefore do not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?
And he going out of the temple, one of his disciples says to him, Teacher, see of what country the stones, and of what country the buildings! And Jesus having answered, said to him, Seest thou these great buildings? stone upon stone shall not be left which shall not be loosed.
Say to us, when shall be these things? and what the sign when all these be about to be finished? And Jesus having answered began to say to them, See ye lest any should lead you astray: read more. For many shall come in my name, saying, That I am; and they shall lead many astray. And when ye hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not terrified: for it must be; but the end is not yet. For nation shall be raised against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in places, and there shall be famines, and commotions: these the beginnings of anguish. And see ye to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues shall ye be stripped: and shall be set before rulers and kings for my sake, for testimony to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when delivering up, they bring you, take no care beforehand what ye speak, neither bestow attention: but whatever should be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for not ye are speaking, but the Holy Spirit. And brother shall deliver brother to death, and father child; and children shall rise up against parents, and kill them. And ye shall be hated by all for my name's sake: and he having remained to the end, the same shall be saved. And when ye see the abomination of desolation, that spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him reading understand,) then let them in Judea flee to the mountains: And he upon the house, let him not come down into the house, nor let him come in, to take any thing away out of his house: And he being in the field, let him not turn back to take up his garment. And woe to them having in the womb, and to them giving suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not of winter. For those days shall be pressure, such as there has not been from beginning of creation which God created till now, and should not be. And except the Lord shortened the days, no flesh should be saved: but for the chosen whom he chose, he shortened the days. And if any say to you, Behold, here Christ; or, behold, there; believe ye not: For false Christs and false prophets shall be raised up, and shall give signs and wonders, to deceive, if possible, also the chosen. But see ye; behold, I have foretold you all things. But in those days, after that pressure, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall be falling out, and the powers which in the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with much power and glory. And then shall he send his messengers, and gather together his chosen from the four winds, from extremity of earth to extremity of heaven. And from the fig tree learn ye a parable; When its young shoot be tender, and cause the leaves to grow, ye know that summer is near. So also ye, when ye see these things done, ye know that it is near at the door. Truly I say to you, that this generation should not pass away, till all these things should be. Heaven and earth shall pass away, and my words shall not pass away. And concerning that day and hour none knows, nor the messengers in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. See, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. As a man travelling, having left his house, and having given power to his servants, and to each his work, and he commanded the guard of the door that he should watch. Watch therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house comes, at eve, or midnight, or cock-crowing, or morning. Lest having come suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all, Watch ye.
And he being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leprous, he reclining at table, a woman came having an alabaster box of perfumed oil of persuasive, costly, spikenard;. and having broken the alabaster box, she poured upon his head.
And they gave him wine to drink, prepared with myrrh: and he took not.
And having seen their faith, he said to him, Man, thy sins are remitted to thee.
And having seen their faith, he said to him, Man, thy sins are remitted to thee.
And he having lifted up his eyes upon his disciples, said, Happy the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God Happy the hungering now: for ye shall be satisfied. Happy the weeping now: for ye shall laugh. read more. Happy are ye, when men hate you, and when they separate you, and reproach, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice in that day, and skip: for, behold, your reward much in heaven: for according to these did their fathers to the prophets. But woe to you rich for ye take away your consolation. Woe to you having been filled for ye shall hunger. Woe to you laughing now! for ye shall grieve and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you! for according to these did their fathers to the false prophets. But I say to you hearing, Love your enemies; do good to those hating you, Praise those cursing you, and pray for those threatening you. To him striking thee upon the cheek hold also near the other; and from him taking away thy garments, and thou shouldest not retrench thy coat. And to every one asking thee, do thou give; and from him taking away thy things, re-demand not. And as ye wish that men would do to you, and do you to them likewise. And if ye love them loving you, what grace is to you? for also the sinful would love those loving them. And if ye do good to those doing good to you, what grace is to you? for also the sinful do the same. And if ye lend of whom ye hope to receive back, what grace is to you? for also the sinful lend to the sinful, that they might receive back the like things.
And he said to them, When ye pray, say, Our Father he in the heavens, Holy be thy name. Let thy kingdom come. Let thy will be, as in heaven, also upon the earth. Give us our bread sufficient for sustenance by the day. read more. And remit to us our sins; for we onrselves also remit to every one indebted to us. 'And bring us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil.
And crowds being collected, he began to say, This is an evil generation: it seeks a sign; and no sign shall be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Have no anxiety for your soul, what ye eat; nor for the body what ye put on.
For when thou retirest with thine adversary to the ruler, in the way give labor to be released from him; lest he drag thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the avenger, and the avenger cast thee into prison.
And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these be and what the sign when these should be about to be
And the Word was flesh, and dwelt with us, (and we beheld his glory, as the glory of the only born of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And he having seen has testified, and his testimony is true: and he knows that he says true, that ye might believe.
Truly, truly, I say to thee, when thou west younger, thou didst gird thyself and walk where thou wouldest;and when thou shalt grow old, thou shalt stretch out thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and bring thee where thou wilt not.
Much according to every manner: for truly first were they trusted with the oracles of God.
Then was he seen by James; then by all the sent.