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The Kingly Messiah: Why Study the Gospel of Matthew? Part 01
Purpose of the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew’s apparent purpose is to persuade a primarily Jewish audience the case that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited ‘Son of David’ and ‘Messiah of Israel.’ He does so by highlighting the following:
1.
1. Fulfilled Old Testament prophecy,
2. Christ’s supernatural conception,
3. The flight to Egypt,
4. The use of parables,
5. His genealogy via Abraham and David,
6. The testimony of God the Father and the Holy Spirit at His Jordan River baptism,
7. The witness of John the Baptist,
8. Sermons,
9. Discourses and,
10. Emphasis on His many miracles.
Introduction to the New Testament
The Gospel of Matthew is the beginning of what we call the ‘New Testament’ or ΗE ΚΑΙΝΗ ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ (He Kaine Diatheke), which is ‘The New Covenant.’ The word ‘covenant’ comes from the Hebrew ברית berith, a binding agreement between two parties which is ratified by a sacrifice and the subsequent shed blood. It is the last will and testament of the testator, namely Jesus Christ, Whose blood initiates the new covenant, first promised Jeremiah 31:31-34.
The New Testament is an anthology of books, written in Koine Greek, the international common language of the 1st Century AD. It teaches the gospel of Jesus Christ, practical Christian living, and highlights ‘things to come.’ The New Testament does not replace the Old; it in fact is the sequel. Without the Old, we could not understand the New.
For our purposes, the ‘new covenant’ can be described as God’s work of atonement and reconciliation between Himself and humanity through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. He is called the ‘Mediator’ of the new covenant (Hebrews 9:15).
‘Gospel’ is known as evangelion Ευαγγελιον , from ευ good, and αγγελια a message, or ‘good news,’ ‘glad tidings.’ This news is so great that it brings joy. This good news is that through God’s unilateral initiative to bring reconciliation between Himself and humanity through Jesus Christ, Lord of all, who tasted death for every man. His death was for our offences and His resurrection for our justification (Romans 4:25). Those who believe this good news will receive the new birth, forgiveness of sins, mercy from God the Righteous One, and the gift of eternal life. This priceless gospel is known as the ‘free gift’ (Romans 5:15,16,18).
Other New Testament phrases for the gospel include:
• The Gospel of God concerning his Son. Romans 1:1 , 3 .
• The Gospel of the Son of God. Romans 1:9 .
• The Gospel of the kingdom of God. Matthew 4:23 ; 9:35 ; 24:14 ; Mark 1:14 .
• The Gospel. Mark 13:10 ; Mark 16:15 .
• The word or doctrine (λογος) of the Gospel. Acts 15:7 .
• The Gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15 .
• The Gospel of glory 1 Timothy 1:11 .
• The Gospel of salvation
The gospel of eternal salvation in Christ is told through ‘four gospel narratives,’ Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. There has been debate of whether Matthew’s Gospel was originally written in Greek or in Hebrew (or Aramaic) and then translated into Greek. Why the latter? Because the extensive use of Hebrew idioms led scholars to believe the original gospel was in Hebrew, since the Greek translation of these idioms can be a little awkward. The current Greek text was published very early in church history.
Summary: In the Gospel of Matthew, the case is built that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited kingly Messiah, for Israel and the world. In our estimation, Matthew through the Holy Spirit did an outstanding job.
GREEK NAME OF MATTHEW
From the Greek Kata Matthaion, according to Matthew.
AUTHOR OF THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
The general consensus is that the author of the Gospel of Matthew is Matthew Levi, according to the early church fathers. Eusebius, the ancient church historian, quotes Papias who said that Matthew wrote in Aramaic before the gospel was written in Greek.
Matthew Levi, son of Alphaeus, one of the twelve original apostles of Jesus. Originally a despised tax collector for Rome in Capernaum, who got up and left everything in order to follow Jesus. He is the one that gave a great reception in his home in honour of Jesus.
Some question Matthew’s authorship because, if he were one of the Twelve Apostles, why does he heavily rely on Mark’s gospel, who was not one of the Twelve? Why isn’t he more ‘personal,’ like John’s Gospel? These issues are not so serious; after all, there can be stylistic issues, including being more formal and less personal in such an important document.
From Meltdown to Mountaintop: Making a Dynamic Ascent from the Lowest Valley Part 01
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God — 1 Samuel 30:6
Meltdown (noun): A disastrous event, like the fall of share prices; an accident at a nuclear reactor, a nervous breakdown, an emotional outburst.
It happened to Job: He had gone from plenty and blessing to trial and tribulation, losing assets and family members all in one day. His was possibly the most extreme example of compound intense suffering in history
Yet it also happened to the ‘man after God’s own heart,’ King David. When he and his 600 men returned to their city of Ziklag, it had been burned with fire and their wives, children, and possessions were missing. The only consolation is that nobody was slain but they were hostages in the custody of the carnal Amalekites.
Here in 1 Samuel 30:6, we learn that David and the mighty men were reduced to tears and continued to weep until they ran out of strength. The mood went from grey to black. Now the spirit of mourning for sons and daughters turned into the spirit of murder: the mighty men spoke openly of stoning their leader David. The man who they followed and adored for years now was in the line of fire.
Please note: Persistent worry, fear, fretting, and despair, can and does lead to rebellion and sin. It must have been the darkest moment of David’s life. The men of David had been loyal to him throughout many challenges, starting from their gathering at the Cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-2). However, their grief was leading them to a tipping point.
After all, David was the leader. It was his responsibility to ensure the safety of all his people at Ziklag, including the women and children. Why did he take all the men and not leave a sufficient number behind to guard Ziklag? The answer was unknown and puzzling. Did he think the place was untouchable? That he had eliminated enough potential opposition? We just don’t know what David was thinking.
In summary, the grief and fear led to potential rebellion. If David was in a low mood, his men were even lower. They were not in a good frame of mind or spiritual condition. He was not yet king and if he failed to take wise and quick action, all would be lost.
Fortunately, David, had a track record of walking with God. At the end of this key verse was a note of hope: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
WORD WISE: The Hebrew word for ‘encouraged’ is hazaq, used 290 times in the Old Testament. Hazaqis translated ‘strong’ 43 times; ‘strengthened’ 28 times; ’strengthen’ 14 times; ‘encourage’ 9 times; and ‘courage’ 8 times.[1]
Encouragement brings strength and strength begets courage.
David knew the location of the spout where the blessings flow out. He was experienced at finding the secret place, the hiding place, the Cave of Adullam, to retreat and be recharged in the presence of the Lord. This was the wisest course of action he could have taken and it led to a stunning reversal, from misfortune to massive blessing, from valley bottom to mountaintop.
How did he do it? And how do we encourage and strengthen ourselves in the Lord?
• Focus on God’s personhood: With the Bible as your guide, mediate on God – His holiness, nearness, care as a good shepherd, faithfulness, and more.
• Focus on God’s promises: There are many wonderful promises of God and they are all ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
• Focus on past victories: Reflecting on the faithfulness of God for past victories brings encouragement that the Lord, who never changes, will do it again for you, today and in the future.
• Focus on praise and thanksgiving: This under-utilised practice can get awesome results (2 Chronicles 20:20-22).
• Know ‘who you are ‘ and ‘where you stand:’ This cannot be emphasised enough. Ignorance is the darkness that stokes the fires of fear. Knowing the facts, your legal rights, and how things work, can be helpful. Knowing your position in Christ is transformational. If we are on solid ground – and we know it – then we can handle the situation far better.
Next time: We will see how David responded and how you can respond today.
TO BE CONTINUED
[1] “H2388 – ḥāzaq – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 8 May, 2021. https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2388&t=KJV
Ep 196: Can we trust the Bible? | What about miracles? What about other religions? | Why is Jesus so important?
Confronting four of life’s biggest questions
Christ is Risen! So What? | Episode 1
Hedonism/Nihilism
Ep 195: What can war teach us?
Should we mention the war?
Justice at Any Price
One man’s stand in the face of tyranny
Where are you in your work and personal journey?
Becoming the person you are designed to be
Ep 194: Is God real? | What about suffering? | Hasn’t science disproved God?
Confronting three of life’s biggest questions
Consort For Life: A Tribute to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle,” …“Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”
Just two months shy of his 100th birthday, HRH Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the Country of London. Knights of the Garter, quietly passed away at Windsor CastleThough his death was hardly a surprise, yet it still came as a shock for the Royal Family, the nation, and the commonwealth. After all, this was the man who had been a constant in the life of the Queen and for all her realms for over seven decades. He was so strong, robust, and consistent, it was as if he would be here forever. When his mortality finally took hold, the shock and sorrow followed quickly thereafter.
Prince Philip’s Life
By any measure, Prince Philip was a remarkable man. Though he married royalty, he was also royal by birth himself. He was part of the Greek and Danish royal families, though exiled from his native Greece at the age of 18 months. He did not live a stable two-parent family. Philip went to school in the UK, Germany, and France. At the age of 17, he joined the Royal Navy in 1939 and had a distinguished career.
He served on a variety of ships, either protecting Australian convoys in the Indian Ocean, or serving on the Mediterranean fleet. He fought in the battles of Crete and Cape Matapan. For his efforts he received the Greek War Cross. Appointed to the HMS Wallace, he was involved in the Allied invasion of Sicily. As the second-in-command, he saved this ship from a night bomber attack. Philip moved to the HMS Whelp and the British Pacific fleet. To top off his war-time military career, he was present at Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered in September 1945.
Philip Mountbatten first met Princess Elizabeth when she was eight years old in 1934. Their correspondence began five years later. The dashing naval officer asked her father, King George VI, for her hand in marriage, which occurred on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. The wedding service was broadcast by radio worldwide as 200 million people listened in. Philip and Elizabeth had four children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Philip had hoped to pursue a naval career well until his middle age. His goal may have been to follow his uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten and become First Sea Lord. However, his chain-smoking father-in-law died at the age of 56 and his 25 year old wife became Queen. Thus, at the age of 30, Philip Mountbatten had to immediately resign from the Navy and became the ‘consort-for-life.’ Though no longer in the military, he was given honorary roles like Marshall of the Royal Air Force, Field Marshal, andAdmiral of the Fleet.
For over 70 years Prince Philip dedicated his life to public service. In 1956, he opened the Melbourne Olympics – the friendly games – and also established the Duke of Edinburgh Award, seeking to help young people to foster a sense of responsibility to self and community. He was a founder of the World Wildlife Fund. Patron to 800 organisations, president to many others, and chancellor of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Salford and Wales university, Prince Philip plunged himself into a life of extensive and exemplary public service. Solo engagements over the decades totalled 22,219 – an extraordinary record.
The duke was a talented man in his own right who could command a ship, fly a plane, play sport, paint with excellence, and engage in deep thinking. Science was one of his great loves.
In 2011, at his 90th birthday, Prince Philip announced that he would scale back his royal duties since he had already ‘done his bit.’ At the age of 96 in 2017, he fully retired from royal work.
Regarding death, HRH got two of his wishes. He did not want ‘any fuss’ with his funeral arrangements; thanks to Covid restrictions, his televised funeral will be small. Nor did he want to live to be 100 – he had ‘no desire whatsoever’ to cross that milestone and quipped that, ‘bits of me are falling off already.’
Of course, like everyone, the prince had his faults: at times impatient, abrupt, and could be gaffe-prone. Yet, in his own way, he knew people often were intimidated by meeting a royal and wanted to help them relax by being jocular and natural. There was talk about how he, in his younger days as a handsome man, was in the company of beautiful younger women. Historian A.N. Nelson said: ’Not once in his life did any woman claim to have slept with him. There was never any scandal.’ Nelson concludes that either the Prince remained totally faithful to the Queen or if there was an affair, it was discreet enough to cause no harm to family life or the monarchy.[1]
Prince Philip’s Legacy
While the nation, commonwealth, and world will miss seeing him as the ever-present companion at the side of the Queen, there is more. Prince Philip connected the Victorian era with our time. A living link to history, here is a man who knew Churchill, Eisenhower, Menzies, and dozens of world leaders throughout the decades. He embodied cherished values which are in serious decline today. These include courtesy, devotion to duty, good manners, self-sacrifice, unpretentiousness, charm, and kindness. Endued with rock solid fortitude, Prince Philip maintained unswerving dedication to Queen, family, and country. His longevity and resilience, in life, marriage, family, duty, and service, will be sorely missed. Part of our sorrow and is this: Will we ever see the likes of the Duke of Edinburgh again?
• Though a sailor and fighter, he also knew how to submit and flow with royal life;
• A leader in his own right, Prince Philip became a model servant in a supporting role.
• By being the ‘strength and stay’ of his wife, the Queen, this alpha male inadvertently became a great, ‘unintended feminist’ – in the best sense of the word.
• Though squeezed into regimented royal protocol, he never lost his robust sense of life and adventure.
• The father of four became the unofficial father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of the nation and commonwealth.
• A highly gifted man, Philip, in partnership with the Queen, accomplished far more together than either of them could have done alone.
The ‘Consort-for-life’ lived a grand life and left a grander legacy.
Photo courtesy of Allan Warren, GFDL, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons