Matthew

About the book of Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament and a bridge from the Old Testament to the New. It is traditionally credited to Matthew, also called Levi, the tax collector whom Jesus called to be one of the twelve apostles. He wrote with a Jewish audience in mind and opens with the family line of Jesus through Abraham and David.

Main themes

Matthew keeps pointing back to the Hebrew prophets. Again and again he shows that the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus fulfill what was promised long before, and he presents Jesus as the Messiah and the rightful King of heaven and earth.

He arranges the book around blocks of teaching, the best known being the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5 to 7, where Jesus describes the life of his kingdom. Matthew also records the parables of the kingdom and ends with the risen Lord sending his followers to every nation (Matthew 28:19). Throughout, the tone is of a King who is also a shepherd, humble and near to the weary.

Verses from Matthew on our apparel

Eight verses from Matthew are on our shirts, hoodies and crewnecks.

Matthew 1:21: the angel tells Joseph the child’s name and mission, “for he shall save his people from their sins.” Our Merry CHRISTmas design carries it.

Matthew 2:2: the wise men ask, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” and say they have come “to worship him.” That is our O Come, Let Us Adore Him design.

Matthew 2:10: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Their gladness is the heart of our Wise Men Still Seek Him design.

Matthew 4:19: Jesus calls two fishermen by the Sea of Galilee, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This is our Fishers of Men design.

Matthew 5:13: “Ye are the salt of the earth.” Jesus tells his followers who they already are, and our Stay Salty design wears that identity lightly.

Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Our Let Your Light Shine design puts the goal in the final words, that people would praise the Father.

Matthew 11:28: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” It is on our Spiritually Blessed, Physically Tired design, for the weary.

Matthew 18:12: “doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” The parable of the lost sheep is the story behind our He Left the Ninety-Nine design.

Frequently asked

Why does Matthew quote the Old Testament so often? Matthew wrote for Jewish readers and wanted to show that Jesus fulfills the promises made through the prophets. That focus makes the book a natural link between the two Testaments.

Does Matthew 5:16 conflict with Matthew 6:1? No. Matthew 6:1 warns against doing good deeds to be praised by people, while Matthew 5:16 asks believers to live in the open so that people praise God.

Verses from Matthew