Reference: Matthew, The Gospel According To
Fausets
(See GOSPELS for its aspect of Christ compared with the other evangelists.)
Time of writing. As our Lord's words divide Acts (Ac 1:8) into its three parts, "ye shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth":
(1) the period in which the church was Jewish, Acts 1-11;
(2) the period when it was Gentile with strong Jewish admixture;
(3) the period when the Gentiles preponderated, Matthew's Gospel answers to the first or Jewish period, ending about A.D. 41, and was written probably in and for Jerusalem and Judea.
The expression (Mt 27:7-8; 28:15) "unto this day" implies some interval after Christ's crucifixion. Language. Ancient testimony is unanimous that Matthew wrote in Hebrew Papias, a disciple of John (the Presbyter) and companion of Polycarp (Eusebius, H. E. 3:3), says, "Matthew wrote his oracles (logia) in Hebrew, and each interpreted them in Greek as he could." Perhaps the Greek for "oracles," logia, expresses that the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew was a collection of discourses (as logoi means) rather than a full narrative. Matthew's Gospel is the one of the four which gives most fully the discourses of our Lord. Papias' use of the past tense (aorist) implies that "each interpreting" Matthew's Hebrew was in Papias' time a thing of the past, so that as early as the end of the first century or the beginning of the second the need for each to translate the Hebrew had ceased, for an authoritative Greek translation existed.
The Hellenists (Greek-speaking) Jews would from the first need a Greek version, and Matthew and the church would hardly leave this want unsupplied in his lifetime. Origen, Pantaenus, Eusebius (H. E. 6:25; 5:10; 5:8), and Irenaeus (adv. Haer. 3:1) state the same. Jerome (de Vir. Illustr. 3) adds, "who translated the Hebrew into Greek is uncertain." He identifies Matthew's Hebrew Gospel with "the Gospel of the Nazarenes," which he saw in Pamphilus' library at Caesarea. Epiphanius (Haer. 29, sec. 9) mentions this Nazarene Gospel as written in Hebrew. (Hebruikois grammasin) Probably this Nazarene was the original Hebrew Gospel of Matthew interpolated and modified, yet not so much so as the Ebionite Gospel. This view will account for the strange fact that nothing of the Hebrew Matthew has been preserved. Our Greek Gospel superseded the Hebrew, and was designed by the Holy Spirit (as its early acceptance, universal use, and sole preservation prove) to be the more universal canonical Gospel.
The Judaizing Nazarenes still clung to the Hebrew one; but their heresies and their corruptions of the text brought it into disrepute with the orthodox. Origen (on Prayer, 161:150) argues that epiousion, the Greek word for "daily" in the Lord's prayer, was formed by Matthew himself; Luke adopts the word. Eusebius (Lardher, Cred. 8 note p. 180) remarks that Matthew in quotations of the Old Testament does not follow the Septuagint, but makes his own translation. Quotations in his own narrative (1) pointing out the fulfillment of prophecy Matthew translates from the Hebrew. Quotations (2) of persons introduced, as Christ, are from the Greek Septuagint, even where differing from the Hebrew, e.g. Mt 3:3; 13:14. A mere translator would not have done so. An independent writer would do just what Matthew does, namely, in speeches of persons introduced would conform to the apostolic tradition which used the Septuagint, but in his own narrative would translate the Hebrew as he judged best under the Spirit.
These are arguments for Matthew's authorship of the Greek Gospel. Mark apparently alters or explains many passages found in our Matthew, for greater clearness, as if he had the Greek of Matthew before him (Mt 18:9; 19:1 with Mr 10:1; 9:47); and if the Greek existed so early it must have come from Matthew himself, not a transistor. The Latinisms (fragellosas, Mt 27:26; kodranteen, Mt 5:26) are unlike a translation from Hebrew into Greek, for why not use the Greek terms as Luke (Lu 12:59) does, rather than Graecised Latinisms? The Latinisms are natural to Matthew, as a portitor or gatherer of port dues, familiar with the Roman coin quadrans, and likely to quote the Latin for "scourging" (fragellosas from flagellum) used by the Roman governor in sentencing Jesus. Josephus' writing his history both in Greek and Hebrew (B. J. Preface 1) is parallel.
The great proof of Matthew's authorship of the Greek is that the Hebrew has left no trace of it except that which may exist in the Nazarene Gospel, whereas our Greek Matthew is quoted as authentic by the apostolic fathers (Polycarp, Ep. ii. 7; Ignatius, ad Smyr. 6; Clemens Romans i. 46; Barnabas, Ep. 4) and earliest Christians. Paul in writing to the Hebrew, Peter to the Jews of the dispersion, and James to the twelve tribes, write in Greek not Hebrew. How unlikely that Matthew's name should be substituted for the lost name of the unknown translator, and this in apostolic times; for John lived to see the completion of the canon; he never would have sanctioned as the authentic Gospel of Matthew a fragmentary compilation "in arrangement and selection of events not such as would have proceeded from an apostle and eye witness" (Alford). The Hebraisms accord with the Jewish character of Matthew's Gospel, and suit the earliest period of the church. At a later date it would have been less applicable to the existing state.
Early Christian writers quote the Greek, not the Hebrew, with implicit confidence in its authority as Matthew's work. The original Hebrew of which Papias, etc., speak none of them ever saw. If it had not been so, heretics would have gladly used such a handle against it, which they do not. The Syriac version of the second century is demonstrably made, not from its kindred tongue the Hebrew, but from the Greek Matthew; this to too in the country next Judea where Matthew wrote, and with which there was the freest communication. The Hebrew Matthew having served its local and temporary use was laid aside, just as Paul's temporary epistles (Col 4:16; 1Co 5:9) have not been transmitted to us, the Holy Spirit designing them to serve but for a time. Our Greek Matthew has few, if any, traces of being a translation; it has the general marks of being an independent work.
A translator would not have presumed to alter Matthew's original so as to have the air of originality which it has; if he had, his compilation would never have been accepted as the authentic Gospel of the inspired apostle Matthew by the churches which had within them men possessing the gift of "discerning spirits" (1Co 12:10). As Mark's name designates his Gospel, not that of Peter his apostolic guide, and Luke's name his Gospel not Paul's name, so if a translator had modified Matthew's Hebrew, his name not Matthew's would have designated it. All is clear if we suppose that, after inaccurate translations of his Hebrew by others such as Papias (above) notices, Matthew himself at a later date wrote, or dictated, in Greek for Greek speaking Jews the Gospel in fuller form than the Hebrew. His omission of the ascension (as included in the resurrection of which it is the complement) was just what we should expect if he wrote while the event was fresh in men's memory and the witnesses still at Jerusalem. If he had written at a later date he would have surely recorded it.
AIM. There is a lack in it of the vivid details found in the others, his aim being to give prominence to the Lord's discourses. Jesus' human aspect as the ROYAL. Son of David is mainly dwelt, on; but His divine aspect as Lord of David is also presented in Mt 22:45; 16:16; proving that Matthew's view accords with that of John, who makes prominent Jesus' divine claims. From the beginning Matthew introduces Jesus as "Son of David," but Mr 1:1 as "the Son of God," Luke as "the Son of Adam, the son of God" (Lu 3:38), John as "the Word" who "was God" (Joh 1:4). In the earlier part, down to the Baptist's death, he groups facts and discourses according to the subjects, not according to the times, whereas Mark arranges according to the times, in the places where they differ. Papias' description of the Hebrew Matthew as a studied arrangement (su
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now all this took place, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel;" that is, when interpreted, Godis withus.
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel;" that is, when interpreted, Godis withus.
"And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art by no means least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come a ruler, who shall feed my people Israel."
"And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art by no means least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come a ruler, who shall feed my people Israel."
and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "I called my son out of Egypt."
and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "I called my son out of Egypt."
"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they were no more."
For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!"
For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!"
For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!"
But he answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." Then the Devil taketh him into the holy city, and setteth him on the pinnacle of the temple; read more. and saith to him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, "He will give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they will bear thee up, that thou mayst not dash thy foot against a stone." Jesus said to him, Again it is written, "Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God."
Then saith Jesus to him, Be gone, Satan! for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the lake beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
"The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the lake beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people that sat in darkness, saw a great light; and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light arose."
the people that sat in darkness, saw a great light; and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light arose."
Blessed are the meek; for they will inherit the earth.
Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, "Thou shalt not kill; and whoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the Judges."
Truly do I say to thee, Thou wilt not come out thence, till thou hast paid the last farthing. Ye have heard that it was said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
And it was said, "Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement."
Again ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, "Thou shalt not swear falsely, but shalt perform to the Lord thine oaths."
Ye have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth."
Ye have heard that it was said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy."
And Jesus saith to him, See thou tell no one; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
When Jesus heard this, he marveled, and said to those who followed, Truly do I say to you, Not even in Israel have I found such faith. And I say to you, that many will come from the east and the west, and recline at table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. read more. But the sons of the kingdom will go out into the outer darkness; there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, "He himself took our infirmities, and bore our diseases."
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, "He himself took our infirmities, and bore our diseases."
But go ye and learn what this meaneth: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." For I came not to call righteous men, but sinners.
For I came to set a man at variance with his father, and a daughter with her mother, and a bride with her motherinlaw; and they of a mans own household will be his foes.
The blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and to the poor good tidings are brought;
For this is he of whom it is written: "Lo! I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee."
And if ye are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did, when he and those who were with him were hungry?
Or have ye not read in the Law, that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
But if ye had known what this meaneth, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice," ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
"Behold my servant, whom I chose; my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will declare judgment to the nations. He will not strive, nor cry aloud, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets. read more. A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name will nations hope."
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and lo! something more than Solomon is here.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, "Ye will hear indeed, and not understand; and ye will see indeed, and not perceive.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, "Ye will hear indeed, and not understand; and ye will see indeed, and not perceive.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, "Ye will hear indeed, and not understand; and ye will see indeed, and not perceive. For this peoples heart hath become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn from their ways, and I should heal them."
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet Isaiah, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation [of the world]."
Then come to Jesus Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
"This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
And Jesus saith to them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes.
And Simon Peter answering said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone as the sun; and his garments became white as the light.
And if thine eye is causing thee to fall, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hellfire.
Moreover, if thy brother sin, go and reprove him between thee and him alone. If he listen to thee, thou hast gained thy brother;
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had ended these sayings, he removed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judaea, beyond the Jordan.
And he answering said, Have ye not read, that he who made them at the beginning, made them male and female? And He said: "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh."
They say to him, Why then did Moses ordain that a man may give his wife a writing of divorcement, and put her away?
Which? saith he. And Jesus said, These: "Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness;
"Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh to thee, meek, and riding on an ass, and on a colt the foal of a beast of burden."
And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, were crying out, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heavens!
and said to them, It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye make it a den of robbers."
and said to him, Dost thou hear what these say? But Jesus saith to them, Yea; did ye never read, "From the mouth of babes and sucklings thou didst prepare praise"?
Jesus saith to them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, "The stone which the builders rejected, the same hath become the cornerstone; from the Lord did this come, and it is marvelous in our eyes?"
(...)
saying, Teacher, Moses said, "If a man die having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed to his brother."
"I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is not a God of the dead, but of the living.
And he said to him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
There is a second like it: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
that on you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom ye slew, between the temple and the altar.
Lo! your house is left to you desolate. For I say to you, Ye will not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
When, therefore, ye see the abomination of desolation, spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (let him that readeth understand,)
And immediately after the distress of those days will the sun be darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
But as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man.
Then Jesus saith to them, This night will all of you fall away from me; for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered."
Then Jesus saith to him, Put back thy sword into its place; for all they that take the sword will perish by the sword.
Jesus saith to him, I am. Moreover I say to you, Henceforth ye will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
And they consulted together, and bought with them the potters field, for a burialplace for strangers. Wherefore that field hath been called, The Field of Blood, unto this day.
Wherefore that field hath been called, The Field of Blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom they of the sons of Israel priced,
Then he released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him up to be crucified.
And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them, casting lots.
He trusteth in God; let him now deliver him, if he desireth him; for he said, I am the Son of God.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection went into the holy city and appeared to many.
And on the next day, that following the day of the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate,
So they took the money, and did as they were taught. And this story hath been commonly reported among the Jews to this day.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ;
And there come together to him the Pharisees, and some of the scribes, who came from Jerusalem; and seeing some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed hands, read more. (for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, do not eat, holding fast the tradition of the elders; and on coming from the marketplace, unless they bathe, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they have received to hold, the dipping of cups, and pitchers, and brazen vessels;)
And if thine eye is causing thee to fall away, pluck it out; it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell,
And departing thence, he cometh into the borders of Judaea, and to the other side of the Jordan; and multitudes again come together to him; and, as he was wont, he again taught them.
But when ye see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not,let him that readeth understand,then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains;
And evening having now come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.
I tell thee, Thou wilt not come out thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looking upon him said, Thou art Simon, the son of John; thou shalt be called Cephas; (which signifieth Peter, that is, Rock.)
Now it was the preparation of the passover. It was about the sixth hour. And he saith to the Jews, Behold your king!
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath, for that sabbath was a great day, besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
There then, on account of the Jews preparationday, they laid Jesus; for the tomb was at hand.
But ye will receive power when the Holy Spirit hath come upon you; and ye will be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
And when the letter hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that ye likewise read the letter from Laodicea.
For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just retribution,
for then must he have suffered many times since the foundation of the world; but now once in the end of the world he hath appeared, to put away sin by means of his sacrifice.
Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various temptations;
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and remains there, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in his deed.
But above all things, my brethren, swear not; neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under condemnation.