The Testimony of Matthew
Matthew, the author of the gospel of Matthew, was also called “Levi.” (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27,29). He was a Jew who worked for the Roman government as a tax collector in Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee. That was his occupation until Jesus of Nazareth came to his office and said, “Follow me.” (Matthew 9:9). Matthew immediately became a disciple of Jesus and, soon afterwards, was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles (10:2-4). For three years, Matthew witnessed the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, then recorded a history of His life in the first book of the New Testament.
In his gospel, Matthew didn’t identify himself as the author, but the early Christians knew it came from him. Papias of Hierapolis (A.D. 70 - 140) wrote that “Matthew compiled the words in the Hebrew speech, and everyone translated them as best he could.” (Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 3:39:16). That Matthew’s original document was in Hebrew (or Aramaic, a form of Hebrew) and intended especially for a Jewish audience was also affirmed by Irenaeus (5:8:2) and Origen (6.25.4). The content of the gospel shows it: Special attention is given to the Jewish genealogy of Jesus from Abraham (Matthew 1:1-17), and Matthew quotes the Law and the Prophets over 35 times. Jewish customs are mentioned as though the reader is already familiar with them.
Early manuscripts of Matthew available to us are in the Greek language. As Papias implied, Matthew’s gospel was quickly translated into another language, which would have been Greek, the common language of the day. In analyzing the Greek documents, F.F. Bruce, a modern scholar, confirms that there is a Hebrew Aramaic substratum that underlies Matthew’s gospel. In other words, when the Greek words are translated back to Aramaic, “they are seen to be marked by regular poetical rhythm, and even at times, rhyme,” especially in the words of Jesus. (NT Documents, p.39).
It is not surprising that Matthew was chosen to compose one of the gospels. The amount of detail and scrutiny required of a first century tax collector in making precise records for the Roman government would have given Matthew the necessary skills to fulfill his task in accurately recording Jesus’ life.
Matthew’s emphasis is that Jesus of Nazareth is the obvious fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies, hence He is the Messiah. (The word “fulfilled” is used 16 times.) In addition, Jesus’ miracles, teaching, and resurrection from the dead, give additional proof that Deity came in the flesh to provide us salvation from our sins. Matthew ends with Christ’s Great Commission: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (28:18-20).
Matthew saw the Lord with his own eyes, and with other witnesses, gave us written historical evidence of the greatest Man that ever lived: Jesus, the Son of God.
by Tom Rainwater
