The Gospel of Matthew
Part Three

Last week I presented two ways of reading the Gospel of Matthew, one that focused on the five sermons Jesus gives in the Gospel of Matthew and the other that pays attention to the story of Matthew’s Gospel. In this week’s column I will highlight five themes that occur in the Gospel of Matthew.

Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God: One of Matthew’s central themes has to do with the identity of Jesus. Who is he? How should we confess him? Matthew’s answer is quite simple and direct: Jesus is the promised savior of his people; he is the Messiah of Israel. However, Matthew is also clear that Jesus is not the kind of Messiah people expected. He is not a military or political figure who saves God’s people by power and might. He is the Son of God who saves his people by giving his life for their sins. He is the gentle Messiah, the Son of God who heals the infirmities of his people.

Jesus fulfills the promises of God: Throughout his Gospel, Matthew insists that Jesus fulfills the promises God made to Israel. As you read through the Gospel, you will note there are several places where Matthew says that such and such an event happened in order to fulfill what the prophet had said. For example, when Matthew narrates the birth of Jesus he writes, “All of this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel” (Matt 1:22-23). Matthew does this about twelve times to assure us that Jesus’ ministry was the fulfillment of the promises God made to his people.

Jesus proclaims the kingdom of heaven: Jesus’ central message can be found at the beginning of the Gospel: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matt 4:14). By the kingdom of heaven, Jesus means God’s rule over our lives. Jesus inaugurates the kingdom of heaven by his ministry, and everything he says and does is about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ mighty works (miracles) show that the kingdom is making its appearance in his ministry. Jesus’ teaching shows us how to live in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus seeks out those who have sinned and gone astray because the kingdom is near. If we hope to enter into the kingdom of heaven, we must change and reform our lives

Jesus requires his disciples to live lives of perfect righteousness: How should disciples live if they hope to enter the realm of God’s kingdom. Jesus’ answers is given in his great Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5—7), which I will discuss next week. The answer Jesus gives is that his disciples must live lives of perfect righteousness; that is, they must “do” God’s will. They must be completely devoted to God. As you read through this Gospel you will note that it is not enough to hear and admire what Jesus says; one must do the words that he speaks.

Jesus warns people of God’s coming judgment: The theme of “judgment” occurs frequently in Matthew’s Gospel. For example, in chapter 25 Matthew provides us with a description of the Last Judgment. Judgment is not a popular theme, but it plays a central role in this Gospel and in Jesus’ teaching. Judgment reminds us that what we do is important and has consequences. God takes our behavior seriously, and so should we. And so there will be a moment of judgment when we will be fairly and finally judged by God, the only just judge. God will have the last word, the only word that matters. Father Matera