The Gospel of Matthew is the focus of the Sunday Gospel readings. It can be helpful to have some context when we 
are reading the Word to help us better understand it. This Gospel was written sometime between 70 and 100 A.D., after the fall of the temple in Jerusalem. It was written for Jewish Christian and is considered to have a mission focus.
Who is Jesus
It begins with the genealogy of Jesus which ties him to the Old Testament, which reinforces him as the Messiah, the long-awaited hope of Israel. Matthew is very reverent toward Jesus, in his miracle stories Jesus is shown as very powerful and underscores what he has done. For example, in the feeding of the five thousand, he ends the story by adding, not including women and children to really bring home the point that many, many people were fed that day. In his healing stories, it is all the people were healed not only those who were near Jesus or asked. He healed all from physical, spiritual and psychological illnesses.
Matthew is the only Gospel writer to include the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, (Mt 18:21-35). In this parable, unforgiveness is in direct contrast to the Father who is limitless forgiveness.
Matthew Trivia
- Matthew has 1028 verses
- It was written after Mark, before Luke
- Matthew’s symbol is the winged man
- It was written in Greek
As you continue reading Matthew’s Gospel and see how Jesus calls all to mission, are you getting a sense of your own mission?
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