Matthew Introduction

A.    Biblical History

The New Testament book of Matthew opens a new period in the life of God’s people. Now Rome is the new world power and rules God’s people in the Promised Land. Before Roman’s rule, God’s people had witnessed the rise and fall of many foreign rulers in the land, including the construction of a new Temple, often called the “Second Temple Judaism.”  The time between the Old Testament and the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel is often called the intertestamental period (approximately 433 BC to 5 BC). This intertestamental period covers approximately 400 years from the time of Nehemiah and Malachi to the birth of Jesus Christ.  Some scholars call the intertestamental period the “silent” years.  For four hundred years, nothing new was added to the Holy Bible, and the prophets fell silent.  However, these years were anything but silent and without God’s omnipresence.

During this time, Middle Eastern empires rose and fell, and the tiny nation of Israel suffered under the domination of greater powers like Persian, Greece, and Rome. In approximately 586 BC, the dominant world power was the Babylonians. The true and living God raised up the Babylonians to punish His people for their continual unfaithfulness, wickedness, and disobedience towards the LORD God.  The majority of the Jewish people were scattered throughout the world during this period. This scattering is often called the Diaspora or “Dispersion.” Eventually, God raised up the Persians, and the Persians defeated the Babylonians.  The Persians became the dominant power at the end of the Old Testament history. In approximately 330 BC, the Greeks under Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) conquered the ancient world and supplanted the Persians.  Following Alexander’s death from about 320 to 198 BC, the Egyptian Ptolemaic Empire controlled the Jewish people and their land.  In approximately 198 BC, the Seleucid (Syrian) Empire to the north of Palestine gained control over the Jewish land from the Ptolemaic Empire.  

Then, God raised up Mattathias, an aged priest, along with his five sons – Judas, Jonathan, Simon, John, and Eleazar.  Mattathias and his sons led a revolt against the Seleucids. This triggered the Maccabean revolt that resulted in the independence of God’s people. From 164 BC to 63 BC, the Maccabean controlled the Jewish people.  Sadly, some of these Maccabean rulers became progressively dictatorial, corrupt, immoral, and even pagan.  Internal strife led Jewish leadership to ask the Roman General Pompey to come and restore order. Pompey did so, but he also brought the Roman rule in the Jewish territory that began in 63 BC. The Romans ruled in the Jewish territory until the fourth century.  Many Jews, like Simeon and the Prophetess Anna, yearned to be free from Roman rule, and they were patiently “waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” 
 
The Judaism of Jesus’ day was the result of changes that occurred during the intertestamental period.  During the Babylonian exile, many of the Jewish people were cut-off from the Temple and dispersed around the world. The Jewish people developed synagogues during the intertestamental period to maintain their close fellowship with God and study the Torah. Also, during this period arose numerous Jewish parties, denominations, or sects. The best known are the Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, and Essenes.  When Jesus began to proclaim the Gospel, Sadducees, Essenes, and Pharisees were also laying claim to Israel’s heritage. 
 
God, not earthly rulers, had the ultimate authority and control over all world governments.  Although the ancient world may not have realized, the earth's most powerful kingdoms have always been under God's sovereign control and rise and fall based upon their obedience to God’s will and humbleness.  History is not just “one thing after another” because the genuine and living God gives the world a sense of direction. 
 
Around 5 B.C., God did something momentous – a Baby Boy was born. By introducing the Baby who grew into the man Jesus, the Gospel of Matthew opens a completely new section of the Bible – the New Testament.  Matthew’s Gospel connects Jesus’ arrival with the Old Testament storyline.  Jesus was a Jew – the Son of Abraham and the Son of David.  Matthew sets out to prove an audacious claim: this Jesus of Nazareth is the King and Messiah (Christ is a Greek translation of the word Messiah or “Anointed One”) promised back in the Old Testament.  From the very beginning of Matthew’s Gospel, Matthew states that Jesus is God’s Anointed One, the One promised in the ancient days to be God’s Savior for His people.

B.    Matthew’s Authorship and Date
 
The original author of the first Gospel remains anonymous.  Nowhere does the first Gospel name its author in the original manuscript.  In fact, none of the four Gospels includes the names of their authors in the original transcripts.  However, historical documents from the early church history fathers provide significant insight into the Gospels authorship.  Although the first Gospel is anonymous, the early church fathers were unanimous in holding that Matthew was the first Gospel’s author. 
 
According to the sources available, the early church fathers were in unanimous agreement that the Apostle Matthew was the first to write a Gospel and that Matthew originally did so in Hebrew (or Aramaic) for those Jews who believed in Jesus.  There is a distinctively Jewish quality to this book, for one of Matthew’s chief themes is to show that the Old Testament promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Later, Matthew wrote a Greek edition of his Gospel, which became widely known and gained extensive circulation.  The earliest and most important of these traditions comes from the second century in the writings of Papias, bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor (A.D. 135), and Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons in Gaul (A.D. 175).  The first Gospel was not quoted as Matthew's Gospel until Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, did so around A.D. 180.  Irenaeus is explicit that Matthew produced a Gospel in written form among the Jews in their language at the time when Peter and Paul were preaching the Gospel and founding the church in Rome.  Tertullian affirms that among the Gospel writers two, John and Matthew, were apostles; the others were apostolic men.  Origen’s commentaries on Matthew contained a brief account of the origins of all four Gospels, and he believes Matthew published to those who had become Christians from Judaism, and it was composed of Hebrew letters.
 
Matthew is not one of the better known of Jesus’ first followers.  In fact, all that is known about Matthew from the New Testament is that he was Jewish, and he collected taxes for the Roman government in Capernaum, that he was also called Levi.  Matthew left his lucrative work as a tax collector to follow Jesus and become one of His faithful Twelve Apostles.  In Mark and Luke’s Gospel accounts, Matthew is also called by his other name, Levi, the son of Alphaeus.  The reason for the name variations has elicited much scholarly debate. Some scholars have argued that “Matthew” is his name and “Levi” his tribe – “Matthew the Levite.”  After the account of the banquet,  Matthew gave for his fellow tax collectors so they too could meet Jesus, he is not mentioned again except in the list of the Twelve.  The first Gospel also contains clear evidence that the author was literate, reasonably educated, and possessed a strong command of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages, something that would be a prerequisite for most tax collectors. 
 
However, modern scholarship denies Matthew authorship, in particular on the view that the author of Matthew borrowed much of his materials from Mark’s Gospel.  Some modern scholars believe that Matthew depended on Mark for a substantial part of his Gospel.  Thus, some modern Biblical scholars have abandoned Matthew as the first Gospel.  Instead, many modern scholars believe that Mark’s Gospel was the first Gospel written, and Matthew relied upon Mark’s Gospel to complete his writings of Jesus’ account.  However, Mark was not an apostle during Jesus’ public ministry; therefore, some scholars believe that Matthew would not have borrowed or relied upon Mark’s material for his Gospel.  Nonetheless, evidence from the early church suggests that Mark himself relied extensively on the testimony of Peter, one of the faithful Twelve Apostles of Jesus.  One of the most marked features of Matthew’s Gospel as compared to Mark’s Gospel is Matthew’s tendency to condense the stories of Mark’s Gospel (e.g., see Matthew 8:28-34 and Mark 5:1-17; Matthew 9:20-22 and Mark 5:25-34).  

The precise date of the writing of Matthew’ Gospel is unknown.  Some scholars argue for a date later than the destruction of the Jerusalem in AD 70 since Jesus alludes to this momentous event in Matthew 24:1-28.  However, such later dating is warranted only if one denies Jesus’ ability to predict the future.  Some Biblical scholars had argued by Matthew Gospel’s Jewish characteristics that Matthew's Gospel was written in the early church period, possibly the early part of A.D. 50, when the church was mostly Jewish, and the Gospel of Jesus was preached to Jews only.  However, those who have concluded that both Matthew and Luke drew extensively from Mark’s Gospel date Matthew’s Gospel later after the Gospel of Mark had been in circulation for a period.  Accordingly, some scholars feel that Matthew wrote his Gospel in the late A.D. 50s or the 60s.  However, others who assume that Mark was written between 65 and 70, place Matthew’ Gospel in the A.D. 70s or even later. However, there is insufficient evidence to be dogmatic about either view. The Jewish nature of Matthew's Gospel may suggest that Matthew wrote his Gospel in the Holy Land of Palestine, though many think it may have originated in Syrian Antioch.  In the early years of the church, Antioch was a leading center of Christianity where the people commonly spoke Aramaic and Greek languages within the church.  The Palestine origin of Matthew’s Gospel would fit the Jewish character of the much of the contents, particularly its concern with the teaching of the Pharisees, its inclusion of Aramaic words and Jewish customs without explanation.  The Gospel of Matthew also has an “anti-Jewish” content with remarkable hostility to the Jewish establishment, particularly in the onslaught of the “scribes and Pharisees” in Matthew 23 and the coming destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in Matthew 24.

C.    Audience

Matthew’s initial audience appears to be Jewish Christians to persuade them to recognize Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.  Many elements point to Jewish readership.  Matthew's Gospel was concerned with the fulfillment of the Old Testament.  A cursory reading of Matthew’s Gospel reveals more quotations from and allusions to the Old Testament than any other New Testament writings.  Many different strands of Old Testament texts drive home Matthew’s basic theme: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah.  Matthew wrote his Gospel to demonstrate Jesus’ identity as Messiah, His inheritance of the Davidic kingship over Israel, and His fulfillment of God’s promises made to Abraham to be a blessing to all the nations at Genesis 12:1-3. 

Matthew’s Gospel forms the connecting link between the Old and New Testaments.  Matthew is filled with Messianic language with many references to Jesus as the “Son of David” and numerous Old Testament references (53 quotes and 76 other references).  The history and religion of God’s people have reached their fulfillment in Jesus.  Furthermore, Matthew’s Gospel lacks any explanation of Jewish customs (especially in contrast to Mark’s Gospel. Also, Matthew’s Gospel uses Jewish terminology such as the “kingdom of heaven” where “heaven” reveals the Jewish reverential reluctance to use the Name of God. Finally, Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ role as the “Son of David” as God’s eternal King of Israel.  Son of David is a title for Jesus frequently found in Matthew’s Gospel.  

At the same time, Matthew clearly reveals to his Gentile (non-Jewish) readers that salvation through Jesus the Messiah is available to all nations and all people.  Only Matthew records the Magi from the East (non-Jews) coming first to worship the infant Jesus, the new “King of the Jews” as well as Jesus’ statement that the “field is the world.”  Also, Matthew records the infant Jesus’ escape to Egypt.  Moreover, Jesus’ public ministry mainly spreads outside the Jewish territory to Syria, and the Decapolis and the chosen location of His ministry are “Galilee of the Gentiles.”  

Furthermore, Matthew’s Gospel is characterized by the inclusion of Gentiles to prove God has sent Jesus to save all people – Jews and Gentiles – who call upon His Name.  Unlike Luke’s genealogy of Jesus’ ancestors,  Matthew includes into Jesus’ genealogy four surprising Gentile women – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah the Hittite). Tamar was a Gentile woman who tricked and seduced her father-in-law, Judah and then bore him illegitimate twins.  Rahab was a Gentile from Canaan, who once worked as a prostitute.  Ruth grew up a pagan Gentile from Moab.  Finally, Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, committed adultery with King David.  Finally, the closing verses of Matthew’s Gospel record Jesus’ Great Commission to take the Good News into all nations – Jews and Gentiles  and only Matthew’s Gospel includes the word “church” appear in the Gospels.  Matthew’s Gospel establishes the unity of all God’s people through His church regardless of racial, class, and religious barriers.  These passages show that, although Matthew's Gospel is Jewish, it has a universal outlook to include equally all nations – Jews and Gentiles. 

D.    Purpose and Theme

Each of the four Gospels, though broadly compatible with the others, emphasizes different aspects of the life and ministry of Jesus.  Matthew’s main purpose is to confirm to his Jewish Christian readers that Jesus of Nazareth is their long-anticipated Messiah (Christ or the “Anointed One”), and King predicted in the Old Testament.  The Jewish people had been waiting for a Leader the prophets promised centuries earlier,  and they believed that the Messiah would rescue them from Roman oppression and establish a new Kingdom.  However, many Jews overlooked Old Testament prophecies that also spoke of this Leader as a Suffering Servant, who would be rejected and killed.  It is no wonder, then, that few recognized Jesus as the Messiah.  

Also, Matthew wanted to prove that Jesus brought the Kingdom of Heaven (God) to earth and is the prophesied fulfillment of God’s promise of real peace and deliverance for both Jew and Gentile alike.  Although all the Gospel writers quote the Old Testament, Matthew’s Gospel includes many proof texts from the Old Testament to drive home his basic theme: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah and Davidic royal lineage as the Son of David.  Matthew even finds the history of God’s people in the Old Testament summarized in some aspects Jesus’ life (e.g., see Hosea 11:1). As one reads his Gospel, Matthew’s clear message is that Jesus is the designated as the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, and the Messiah (Christ).  In Abraham, Jesus blesses “all the families of the earth”  and as the Son of David, Jesus is the long-awaited, eternal King of kings and Lord of lords forever from David’s royal line.  Early in Matthew’s Gospel, Matthew wants his readers to know that Jesus is real King and Ruler of the world.  Matthew does not write his Gospel to give a chronological account of Jesus’ life but to present the clear evidence that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, King, and Savior.  Matthew invites everyone – Jews and Gentiles alike – to celebrate and honor Jesus’ victory over evil and death, and Jesus the respected Lord and King of our lives. 

E.    Structure 
 
Matthew structures his Gospel with an artistic touch.  The whole Gospel is woven around five lengthy discourses of teaching from Jesus: (1) Matthew chapters 5 – 7 with the Sermon on the Mount; (2) Matthew 10 with Jesus equipping His leaders; (3) Matthew chapter 13 with the parables of the Kingdom; (4) Matthew 18 discussing Kingdom life; and (5) Matthew chapters 24 and 25 with the Olivet discourse concerning future events. That this structure is deliberate is clear from the refrain that concludes each discourse: “When Jesus had finished saying these things,” or similar words.  Matthew’s narrative sections appropriately lead up to Jesus’ discourses. The Gospel has a fitting prologue with chapters 1 and 2 and a challenging epilogue at Matthew 28:16-20. 

Matthew Gospel’s five-fold division may suggest that Matthew has modeled his book on the structure of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament).  Also, Matthew may be presenting his Gospel as a new Torah and Jesus as a new and greater Moses.  Jesus’ long teaching discourses become a new law for the Church, a confession of Jesus as the Son of God in divine, and an extension of Kingdom promises from the Jews to the Gentile nations in fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham.

F.    Overview of Matthew’s Gospel
 
All people of the world, especially the Jews, had been eagerly awaiting the Messiah’s arrival.  The Gospel of Matthew starts with a genealogy to establish Jesus’ roots to prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited Messiah. Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage to the father of the Jewish race, Abraham – who first received the promise of the Messiah – then to the great Jewish king David.  

After recording Jesus’ bloodline, Matthew’s Gospel begins with Jesus’ earthly story in the small town of Bethlehem in the Roman province of Judea.  A threat to kill the infant King led Joseph and His mother Mary to take Jesus and escape to Egypt.  When Jesus and His family returned, God led them to settle in Nazareth in Galilee.  At about age 30, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist and was tempted by Satan in the Judean desert.  After His temptation, Jesus set up His base of operations in Capernaum and from Capernaum ministered throughout Israel, telling parables, teaching about the Kingdom, and healing the sick.  As He set out to Jerusalem, Jesus told His disciples about His coming suffering, arrest, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem.  Jesus spent some time in Jericho and then stayed in Bethany at night as He went back and forth into Jerusalem during His final week on earth.  In Jerusalem, Jesus was crucified, but He rose from complete death and conquered all evil.  

Matthew narrates the story of Jesus’ life relying heavily on the Old Testament, quoting the Old Testament more frequently than any other New Testament writer.  Thus, Matthew’s Gospel stands as the Gospel that pulls things together, the link between the old and the new.

G.    Four Gospels and Book of Acts
 
The New Testament opens with the Gospel of Matthew followed by three other Gospels, Mark, Luke, and John and then the Book of Acts.  The four Gospels and Acts were designed to be read as a full narrative as each author seeks to tell about Jesus and the early church.  The main obstacle in the Gospels continues into the Book of Acts as some Jewish people; particularly the Jewish establishment rejected Jesus as the promised Messiah and Savior. Each of the four Gospels is not biographies of Jesus, but they all present a varying theological portrait of Jesus. Even though the Gospels each offer to vary theological portraits about the life of Jesus, each Gospel, and the Acts share the view that Jesus is the promised Messiah, King of Israel, Son of God, and Savior of the world. 
 
Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels because they follow a common synopsis or outline of Jesus’ public ministry on earth.  The Synoptic Gospels share the same pattern and order of Jesus’ ministry exclusively in Galilee and the north up to the time of the one and only recorded visit of Jesus to Jerusalem – to die on the Cross! 
 
Mark’s Gospel starts with John Baptist, while Matthew and Luke start with Jesus’ unique narrative birth.  The Gospel of Mark is the shortest and probably the oldest of the Gospels.  Early church tradition says the Mark’s Gospel was written in Rome by John Mark and contains the memories of Apostle Peter.  Mark is more a Gospel of Jesus’ action than of teaching.  Things happen immediately in Mark’s Gospel, one of Mark's favorite expressions. Miracles abound. Mark has 20 miracle accounts. Mark reveals Jesus as One, who teaches with authority.  Jesus’ authority underscores that He is the Messiah Christ and the Son of God.  Nearly one-half of Mark’s Gospel focuses on Jesus’ last week on earth with Jesus’ arrest, suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection.  For Mark, the events of Jesus’ final week are central to the story.  Mark highlights Jesus as the Suffering Servant that has come and give His life as a ransom for many. 
 
The Gospel of Matthew begins by placing Jesus within the whole story of salvation.  Like the other Gospels, Matthew provides a collection of words and deeds of Jesus.  However, Matthew presents Jesus as the Son of Abraham and Son of David in fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises to God’s people than any other Gospel.  The very first words of Matthew’s Gospel in its original Greek text, Biblos geneseo (literally, "book of genesis") is reminiscent of the beginning of God’s salvation with the Book of Genesis.  Matthew’s Gospel builds on the pattern and substance of the Old Testament.  The teaching material in Matthew is organized around five great sections, the best known of which is the Sermon on the Mount.  Many have said that Matthew portrays Jesus as a second Moses, giving a new Torah to God’s people.  Even more, readers will see in Matthew’s Gospel the grand unity of the whole Bible.  The portrait of Jesus Matthew records provide readers abundant proof that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah, the promised Son of David, and Seed of Abraham from the Old Testament, in whom all the promises of God find fulfillment, Yes and Amen.
 
Luke’s Gospel is the longest Gospel and has a special interest for the oppressed and the outcasts of society, especially women and the poor.  His Gospel begins with the birth of John the Baptist and then Jesus. The Gospel of Luke has the only story of Jesus between birth and His public ministry, the episode in the Jerusalem Temple at the age of twelve.  Some of the best-loved parables – the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Rich Man and Lazarus – are found only in Luke’s Gospel.  Even more, Luke gives a mix miracles and parables. Luke gives more parables than any other Gospel. Whereas Matthew presents teaching in discourse blocks, Luke scatters his teaching throughout his Gospel, usually in smaller units. 
 
The Gospel of John is entirely different from the other three Gospels and does not follow the same outline of the Synoptic Gospels.  John’s Gospel tells the story about Jesus beginning with eternity, starting with the pre-incarnate Word becoming flesh, and has a three-year public ministry instead of one year like the Synoptic Gospels.  The Gospel of John has no parables of Jesus but contains a series of extended reflections on Jesus as divine Son of God and Messiah.  The fourth Gospel contains a series of Jesus’ miracles as signs pointing to Jesus, and the “I AM” sayings, which express what Jesus means in a series of striking metaphors.  

Acts chronicle the expansion of Jesus' newly formed community (the church) from Jerusalem into Rome and presents the realization of God's promise to reconcile all people groups to Himself and one another through Jesus.  


References
The Apologetics Study Bible: Understanding Why You Believe (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).
Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).
The Holy Bible NIV 2011 (Grand Rapids, MI: Biblica, 2011).
The ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).
New Student Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).
Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Chicago, IL: Moody, 1995).
Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).
The Amplified Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987).
The Holy Bible NIV 2011 (Grand Rapids, MI: Biblica, 2011).
The Holy Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982).
France, R.T. Matthew: Evangelist and Teacher (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2004).
Ross, Mark E. Let’s Study Matthew (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2009).
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).

The Bridge: Old Testament and the New Testament

²⁷ Then starting with what Moses and all the Prophets had said about Him, Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about Himself in the Scriptures. . . . ⁴⁴ He (Jesus) said to them, “Remember when I was with you before? I said that everything written about Me must happen — everything in the Law of Moses, the books of the Prophets, and the Psalms.” ⁴⁵ Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He said to them, “It is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day ⁴⁷ and that a change of hearts and lives and forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all nations, starting at Jerusalem. Luke 24:27, 44-47 (NCV)

Readers of the Holy Scriptures cannot separate the message of the New Testament from the message of the Old Testament. The Old Testament contains many promises from the true and living God that Jesus Christ fulfilled in the New Testament (e.g., see Matthew 5:17-20; Matthew 3:15; Luke 24:25-27, 44-45; John 1:45). God is faithful to keep all His promises (e.g., see Joshua 21:45; Joshua 23:14-16; Psalm 145:13). Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the writings of the Old Testament and the thread woven through all the Holy Scriptures. 

The Old Testament promised that God would save His people through the Seed of the woman that would defeat the seed of evil (Genesis 3:15; see also, e.g., Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Galatians 4:4-5). Then, God promised through His covenant with Abraham to bless all the families on earth through his Seed (Offspring) (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; see also, e.g., Acts 3:25-26; Galatians 3:8, 16). Through His covenant with Moses (the Mosaic covenant), the LORD God promised His continual blessing and grace on His people, if they faithfully loved and obeyed Him and followed all His ways (Exodus chapters 19 through 24). Then, God made a covenant with Israel to bring a King through the Davidic line to fulfill His promises originally given to Abraham to bless the world (e.g., see 2 Samuel 7:12-16; see also Psalm 89:3-4, 28, 34-37; Psalm 132:11-12, 17-18; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 2:22-36). Through His faithful prophets, God promised to bring a His people a new covenant that would graciously give His Holy Spirit to His faithful people and write His laws and statutes on their hearts, so that they lovingly would obey His will and teachings (e.g., see Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4, 17-21).

Then, the New Testament opens with predicted messenger announcing the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah (Christ) with John the Baptist (e.g., see Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:2-17; John 1:19, 23) and then the arrival of Jesus the Christ (see Mark 1:9). The arrival of John the Baptist and the launching of Jesus’ public ministry occurred in the year approximately AD 28-29. Jesus was the long-awaited Son of David and Son of Abraham that fulfilled the Old Testament promises of God of a King and Seed that would bless the entire world and defeat evil (e.g., see Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 9:9; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 1:1, 17, Mark 1:1; Romans 16:20; Galatians 4:4-5). At the time of John the Baptist and Jesus’ arrival, the Roman government ruled the land and sin ran rampant among the people. Therefore, John the Baptist summoned the people to repent and to receive baptism for the forgiveness of their sins, so that they would be prepared for the coming Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) promised in the Old Testament (e.g., see Matthew 3:2, 6, 11; Mark 1:4). For Jesus one the One coming who would pour out the Spirit of God and judge the world (see Matthew 3:11-12; Mark 1:7-8).

The Lord Jesus the Christ represented the fulfillment of Old Testament and the arrival of God’s Kingdom to earth (see Mark 1:14-15). The arrival of God’s Kingdom came not with fame and fanfare but with the arrival of a Jewish Baby Boy in a humble stable in Bethlehem around 5 BC (see Matthew 2:1-6; Luke 2:1-7). The Old Testament predicted Jesus Christ’s great star and birth in Bethlehem (e.g., see Numbers 24:17; Jeremiah 23:5; Micah 5:2, 4) and people from other parts of the world was awaiting His arrival (e.g. see Matthew 2:1-2). Jesus' humble birth in Bethlehem was life changing because He was the Savior of the world (see Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:10-12; John 3:16-18; John 4:42). The arrival of God’s Kingdom with Jesus’ birth began with a small mustard seed, and yet God’s Kingdom would grow into a great tree that would tower over the entire universe (see Matthew 13:31-33; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-21).

The first century Jews had predicted that when God’s Kingdom arrives, God would immediately defeat the Jews’ enemies and a new creation would dawn (Isaiah 65:17; see also Revelation 21:1). However, the Jew ignored the Old Testament prophets and Psalms’ predictions of the Messiah’s suffering and sacrifice to bring God’s salvation to His people (e.g., see Psalm 22:1; Psalm 69:4, 8-9, 20-21; Isaiah 50:16; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Zechariah 6:12; Zechariah 13:7). On Jesus’ first arrival to earth, Jesus took on the role of a Suffering Servant where He graciously took upon Himself the sins of the world and God’s wrath for our forgiveness and healing (e.g., see Isaiah 52:13-53:12). On Jesus’ second arrival to come, God’s judgment and wrath will come (see Isaiah 61:2) where Jesus will return and sit on His glorious throne and judge between the good and evil (e.g., see Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus’ second return to earth will culminate God’s Kingdom on earth (e.g., see Revelation 21-22).

The New Testament highlights the fulfillment of God's promises through His Son, Jesus the Christ (Messiah) (e.g., see Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus is the new and better Moses, declaring God’s infallible word as the sovereign interpreter of the Mosaic Law (e.g., see Matthew 5:17-48; Hebrews 3:1-6). The Old Testament Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms point to Jesus and find their fulfillment in Him (e.g., see Matthew 5:17-20; Matthew 3:15; Luke 24:25-27, 44-45; John 1:45). Moreover, Jesus is the new Joshua, who gives God’s faithful people rest and peace (see Hebrews 3:7-4:13). Furthermore, Jesus is the true wisdom of God and has become our righteousness, holiness, and redemption through faith in Him (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 2:1-3). During Jesus’ public ministry on earth, the people often called Jesus a Prophet (e.g., see Mark 6:14–15; Luke 7:16; Luke 9:7-8; Luke 13:33; Luke 24:19). Truly, Jesus is God’s Prophet Moses wrote about and predicted (e.g., see Deuteronomy 18:15-18; John 5:46; Acts 3:22-23; Acts 7:37). Jesus' miracles, healings, and authority over all evil forces indicate that He brings the God’s Kingdom to earth (e.g., Matthew 12:28). Jesus is fully God and King (e.g., see Psalm 110:1; John 1:1-5, 14, 18, 49; John 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1); and Creator-Lord who can walk on water and calm the raging sea (e.g., Psalm 107:29; Matthew 8:23-27). Even more, Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God (e.g., see Mark 1:1; John 20:31). One day, Jesus will return in the clouds of glory as the glorious Son of Man who will receive the eternal Kingdom from the Ancient of Days (e.g., see Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:61-62; Revelation 1:7). Jesus is Lord and Christ (see John 13:13; Acts 2:21, 36; Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:10-11; Hebrews 1:10-12).

Thus, the New Testament is Jesus centered, God-focused, and the Holy Spirit empowered to bring salvation to the world through wholehearted faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection (e.g., see Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:7-8; Romans 1:16-17). The Holy Spirit was given to bring glory to Jesus the Christ (John 16: 14) so that Jesus would be magnified as our Savior and Redeemer. Through our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers God’s people to live in a way that is pleasing God. True transformation into Christlikeness is the Holy Spirit’s work (e.g., see Romans 8:2, 4, 13-14; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5: 16, 18).

All people stand in need of Jesus’ gracious salvation because of sin and the Great Fall of humanity (see Genesis 3; Romans 3:23). Sin – selfishness, rebellion, and disobedience to God’s will and lordship – has existed since the beginning of time (Genesis 3; see also 1 John 3:4). The Holy Scriptures reflect the power of sin throughout its storyline, beginning with Genesis 3 and continuing throughout the entire Old and New Testament. Even Israel as God’s chosen people lived under the dominion of sin, showing that written Law of God given to Moses by its power cannot deliver humanity from the bondage to sin.

However, God has given a solution to the sin problem by sending His Son, Jesus the Christ (Messiah) to save sinners, thereby highlighting the mercy and grace of God (John 3:16-18; Romans 3:23-25). The New Testament’s Gospels and Acts open with a call to faith and repentance to receive God’s gracious salvation found in Jesus (see, e.g., Mark 1:14-15; Acts 2:38). The call to faith and repentance in Jesus Christ is evident throughout the New Testament (e.g., see (e.g., Acts 3:18-19; Acts 20:21; Acts 26:18, 20). Those who desire to be part of Jesus’ new community (the church) and part of God’s Kingdom of God (God's rule in people's hearts and lives) must turn from sin (e.g., selfishness, rebellion, and disobedience) and turn to Jesus with humble obedience as Lord, Master, and Savior. The call to repentance is nothing less than a summons to the abandonment of sin and personal faith in God’s saving work in the Lord Jesus the Christ. Instead of selfish, self-salvation, and self-worship, the New Testament calls all people everywhere to look to Jesus Christ for deliverance from God's wrath and reception of His gracious salvation. Indeed, readers can understand the entire New Testament as a call to repentance and faith in God and His Son, Jesus the Christ, and a continual faith and repentance as long as life lasts (cf. Hebrews 11). The New Testament writers constantly encourage their readers to persevere in faith until the end and warn of the dangers of rejecting Jesus as Lord and Master at any stage. True believers testify that God’s salvation is of the Lord Jesus the Christ and that Jesus is the only One, who can save all from God’s coming wrath.

God’s true church is composed of united believers in Jesus the Christ - both Jews and Gentiles (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-29; Ephesians 3:6; Colossians 3:11). The Old Testament laws that separated Jews from Gentiles (e.g., circumcision, purity laws, and special festivals and holidays) are no longer in force (e.g., see Ephesians 2:14-22). The church is God's new Temple, indwelt by His Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God calls His church to live out the beauty of the Gospel by showing the supreme mark of Jesus Christ's disciples: love for one another (e.g., see Matthew 22:34-40; John 13:34-35; John 15:12). However, the church exists in an interim state as she eagerly awaits the return of' Jesus the Christ to earth and the consummation of all of God's purposes. Until Jesus’ final return, the church is to live out her life in holiness, righteousness, and godliness as the radiant bride of Christ (see Ephesians 5:26-27; Revelation 19:7-8; Revelation 21:2). Even more, the church is to proclaim faithfully the Good News of God’s salvation found in Jesus Christ so that others who live in the sin and darkness can be transferred from darkness to the light of Jesus the Christ (Matthew 28:16-18; Acts 1:8).

References

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

The Holy Bible NIV 2011 (Grand Rapids, MI: Biblica, 2011).

The ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Intertestamental Period: What Happened Between Malachi and Jesus

The New Testament book of Matthew opens a new period in the life of God’s people. Now Rome is the new world power and rules God’s people in the Promised Land. Before Roman’s rule, God’s people had witnessed the rise and fall of many foreign rulers, including the construction of a new Temple, often called the “Second Temple Judaism.” Between the period of the Second Temple (516 BC) and the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 introduced periods of political and religious changes and structures in the lives of God’s people.

The time between the Old Testament and the New Testament is often called the intertestamental period (approximately 433 BC to 5 BC). This intertestamental period covers approximately 400 years from the time of Nehemiah and Malachi to the birth of Jesus Christ. Some scholars call the intertestamental period the “silent” years. However, these years were anything but silent.

Intertestamental Books: During the intertestamental years, the Jewish writers wrote many books including the Apocrypha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Septuagint. These books are a collection of Jewish writings from the period of the Second Temple Judaism – when the Jews returned from Babylonian captivity and built a new Temple. Most of the writings of the Apocrypha are included in the canon the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions as well as Eastern Christianity. Also, a group of Jews called the Essenes wrote documents often called the “Dead Sea Scrolls.” An Arab shepherd discovered these Jewish sacred writings in 1947 by chance in the hills overlooking the southwestern shore of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain parts of all the Old Testament books, except Esther as well as some parts of apocryphal and pseudepigraphical writings. Moreover, during this period, a Greek translation of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Holy Bible) was made in Egypt around 250 BC, and the rest of the Old Testament was translated in approximately 130 BC. The Greek translation of the Old Testament is called the Septuagint. The Septuagint quickly became the Bible of the Jews outside the Holy Land. Even more, the Septuagint became the Bible of the early church, frequently quoted by the New Testament writers.

Rise and Fall of Empires: In approximately 586 BC, the dominant world power was the Babylonians. God raised up the Babylonians to punish His people for their lack of faithfulness to Him and their continual wickedness (e.g., see 2 Kings 24:2; Habakkuk 1:6). King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army marched against Jerusalem in 586 BC and destroyed the first Temple, originally built by King Solomon (2 Kings 25:8-12; see also Jeremiah 52:12-16). In 586 BC, the Jews lost their land, the monarchy, the city of Jerusalem, and their Temple due to Babylonian invasion. The Jewish people lived under the direct control of foreign rulers, without a national identity. The majority of the Jewish people were scattered throughout the world. This scattering is often called the Diaspora or “Dispersion.” Around 538 BC, some faithful Jews returned to Jerusalem and began to rebuild the Temple – the Second Temple (see Ezra 2:1-2). The Second Temple was completed approximately 516 BC under the leadership of Zechariah, Haggai, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

Eventually, God raised up the Persians and the Persians defeated the Babylonians (see Daniel 5:30-31). The Persians became the dominant power at the end of the Old Testament history. In approximately 330 BC, the Greeks under Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) conquered the ancient world and supplanted the Persians. With this rule, the Greeks left a lasting intellectual and cultural mark on the world. In addition to military and political control, Alexander the Great wanted to spread the Greek (Hellenistic) culture and philosophy, including the Greek language around the world. Aristotle trained Alexander, and Alexander wanted to spread the Greek culture to all his conquered states, including the Holy Land. Alexander was committed to the creation of a world united by Greek language and culture. Most of the Holy Land countryside outside of Jerusalem adopted the Greek culture.

Alexander’s short life ended in 323 BC. Following Alexander’s death, his empire was divided among four of his generals. Alexander the Great died in 323 BC without legitimate heirs. From approximately 320 to 198 BC, the Egyptian Ptolemaic Empire controlled the Jewish people and their land. The Ptolemaic Empire was considerate to the Jewish religion. However in approximately 198 BC, the Seleucid (Syrian) Empire to the north of Palestine gained control over the Jewish land from the Ptolemaic Empire. Sadly, the Seleucid attempted to spread the Greek culture through the empire, and the Seleucid disallowed the Jewish people from practicing their traditional way of life, including their religion. The Seleucid’s King Antiochus IV Epiphanes turned the Jerusalem Temple into a pagan shrine, and Jewish persecution was widespread.

Then, God raised up Mattathias, an aged priest, along with his five sons – Judas, Jonathan, Simon, John, and Eleazar. Mattathias and his sons led a revolt against the Seleucids. This triggered the Maccabean revolt that resulted in the independence of God’s people. After Mattathias’ death, the leadership of the Jewish people fell to one of his sons, Judas (call “Maccabeus”). Judas and his successors eventually won independence. In 164 BC, the Jerusalem Temple cleansed, and the daily burnt offerings and other religious ceremonies resumed. This event is still celebrated by the Jews each December as Hanukkah, the “Feast of Lights.”

From 164 BC to 63 BC, the Maccabean controlled the Jewish people. Sadly, some of these Maccabean rulers became progressively dictatorial, corrupt, immoral, and even pagan. Internal strife led Jewish leadership to ask the Roman General Pompey to come and restore order. Pompey did so, but he also brought the Roman rule in the Jewish territory that began in 63 BC. When Pompey of Rome took control of Jerusalem, he entered the Jerusalem Temple and even the Most Holy Place. To the Jewish people, Pompey’s action was the ultimate insult and sacrilege. Hence, deep suspicion and ill will began growing between Rome and the Jewish people that lasted over a century even during the ministry of Jesus. The Romans ruled in the Jewish territory until the fourth century.

In 37 BC, Rome appointed Herod the Great to be “king” of all Palestine. Herod the Great was king when Jesus was born in approximately 5 BC. It was Herod the Great appointed by Rome that killed the Jewish boy babies in Bethlehem (see Matthew 2). Nevertheless, Herod the Great carried out great building projects including enlarging and reconstructing the Second Temple in Jerusalem. After Herod’s death in approximately 4 BC, Rome divided his kingdom amongst his three surviving sons – Herod Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Herod Phillip II.

The Romans built on the Greeks’ intellectual and cultural marks this through political achievements. Paul and other travelers made good use of the vast system of Roman roads. “Roman Peace” (Pax Romana) brought a measure of security and stability to the empire. However, the Romans’ morals were wicked. The Roman religion included a pantheon of gods and goddess, such as Jupiter, Venus, and Mars (or their Greek counterparts Zeus, Aphrodite, and Ares) (e.g., see Acts 14:11-18; Acts 19:23-27). The ancient cities of Rome were filled with temples dedicated to these gods and goddess (e.g., see Acts 17:16-32). Even more, some Roman cities had household gods they worshiped. Furthermore, the Greek and Roman citizens elevated great conquerors such as Alexander the Great to the status of a god. Some Roman leaders such as Gaius, Caligula, Nero, and Domitian) were known to encourage their worship. Even worse, magic played a central role in the Roman daily life (e.g., see Acts 13:6; Acts 16:16-18; Acts 19:13-20).

Many people including the Jews were restless and yearned to be free from Roman rule. Many, like the prophetess Anna, were patiently “Waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Many people, including the Jews, suffered under such wicked Roman leaders as Claudius (AD 41-54) and Nero (AD 54-68). This tension continued until the Jews rebelled against Rome. Eventually, the Jewish people revolted against the Romans AD 66. The Romans lead by Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple in AD 70 as predicted by Jesus (e.g. see Matthew 24:1-2; Mark 13:1-4). After the Second Temple’s destruction, the only Jewish section that survived was Rabbinic Judaism. From the second century forward, Jerusalem was a Gentile city and Christianity became mainly a Gentile movement.

Although most people in ancient Rome worshiped multiple gods and goddess (syncretism), some were attracted to Judaism and Christianity because of their beliefs in the one true and living God. Through God’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Christianity grew increasingly popular in ancient Rome. Eventually, Christianity was accepted and declared a legitimate religion under Constantine in the fourth century and grew to become the dominant faith of people throughout the Roman Empire.

Religious Environment: By the mid-300s BC, the Hebrews had been back in their land and rebuilt the Jerusalem Temple – the Second Temple. Before the Babylonian exile in 586 BC, the Jewish religion had been largely Temple-centered and ceremonial. By the completion of the Second Temple around 516 BC, some Jews had decided their religion could survive without the Temple. From the last prophetic voices of Zechariah and Malachi of the Old Testament until the arrival of the angel announcing the births of Jesus and His relatively, John the Baptist, God’s prophets had been silent. The major religious leader was no longer only the priest but also the teacher-rabbi. This resulted in new and different forms of interpretation and the birth of traditions or additional laws, which supposedly expanded and clarified the written Torah. During the New Testament period, these extra rules were taught and passed on both orally and in writing, note the frequent mention of “scribes” in the New Testament (e.g., see Mark 7:1-23).

The Judaism of Jesus’ day was the result of changes that occurred during the intertestamental period. During the Babylonian exile, many of the Jewish people were cut-off from the Temple and dispersed around the world. Many Jewish people developed synagogues during the intertestamental period to maintain their close fellowship with God and study the Torah. Also, during this period arose numerous Jewish parties, denominations, or sects. The best known are the Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, and Essenes. The Pharisees were the most influential to the everyday people, and they operated most of the Jewish synagogues. The Sadducees came from aristocratic priestly families, including the high priest Caiaphas. The Sadducees were primarily wealthy, and they controlled the financial interests of the Temple. When Jesus disrupted the Sadducees’ financial interests in the Temple, the Sadducees arrested and condemned Jesus to death (e.g., see Mark 11:15-19; Mark 14:53-65).

When Jesus began to proclaim the Gospel, Sadducees, Essenes, and Pharisees were also laying claim to Israel’s heritage. The Essenes eventually dropped out of public life and became a network of close-knit communities and also authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. For this reason, the New Testament never discusses the Essenes. The Sadducees and Pharisees continued to compete for control of the Second Temple, and these two groups are the most dominate in the New Testament (e.g., see Acts 5:17; Acts 15:5). However, the Pharisees continued to survive and eventually became the dominant group of the Jewish people and founders of Rabbinic Judaism. The Pharisees also had considerable influence over the local scribes, who would preach in the synagogue according to their interpretations (e.g., see John 9:22; John 12:42).

Final thoughts: God, not earthly rulers, had the ultimate authority over world politics and cultures. Although the ancient world may not have realized, the earth's most powerful kingdoms have always been under God's sovereign control (Proverbs 21:1; see also, e.g., Isaiah 10:5-8).

References:

The ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

The Holy Bible NIV 2011 (Grand Rapids, MI: Biblica, 2011).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament (Due West Campus: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2013).

Jesus Is the Perfect Way!

¹ Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. ² And now in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son He created the universe. ³ The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. ⁴ This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the Name God gave Him is greater than their names. Hebrews 1:1-4 (NLT)

Are religions very different? Is not the most important thing is to be sincere? Why choose Christianity? Many people in the early church ask these very questions. These early believers in Jesus were Jews and Gentiles and they had converted to the Way – Christianity (e.g., see Acts 9:2; Acts 11:19-21, 26; see also John 14:6). These early Christians risked their lives to follow the Way. In the first century, Christianity did not enjoy Rome’s official protection as the Jewish religion (Judaism). These new Christians suffered greatly under the Roman government. Many of these new Christians were beaten, thrown out of the Jewish temples, and even tortured for their belief in Jesus (e.g. see 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15; Hebrews 10:32-34). Despite the persecution, God’s gracious hand was with these early believers and they continued to grow and spread the Good News about Jesus Christ (e.g., see Acts 2:41, 47; Acts 11:21, 24; Acts 16:5).

The New Testament book of Hebrews gave these early Christians reason to press on and decisively accept the Way and follow Jesus. Point by point, Hebrews shows why Jesus Christ is the only way and better than all other forms of religion (e.g., see Hebrews 10:19-20). Faith in Jesus was worth the risk for these new believers. For the sake of Jewish readers, the unknown author of Hebrews painstakingly cities Old Testament passages more than 80 times to develop the case for Jesus and insists there are decisive reasons to choose Jesus. In fact, the book of Hebrews is actually a commentary on the Old Testament and examines many Old Testament passages to prove that Jesus is better than to the angels (Hebrews 1:5-14), to Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6), and to the priests Aaron and Melchizedek (Hebrews 4:14-7:28).

Jesus brought in “a better hope,” (Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 7:19) and established “better promises” (Hebrews 8:6) because He radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of the true and living God (Hebrews 1:3; see also John 1:14; John 14:9). Jesus is the Son of the true and living God (Hebrews 1:2, 5; see also Matthew 3:17; Matthew 16:16) and the “author of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). The only God of the universe made the gracious decision to send His Son, Jesus to earth and become fully human (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is not some kind of alien but the Son of God sent to save humanity from their sins (John 3:16-17; see also Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). Through His death, Jesus “obtained eternal redemption” and peace to all who wholeheartedly believe Him and obey His teachings (see Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:6, 11; Hebrews 9:12; see also John 14:15; John 15:9-14, 17). Jesus graciously shares with believers “the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). Jesus’ throne is forever (Hebrews 1:8) and He is our Great High Priest forever (Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:17, 21). So let everyone remain totally committed to Jesus Christ (e.g., see Acts 11:23; Acts 14:22). Jesus is the perfect way (Hebrews 7:22)!

¹⁴ So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. ¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testing we do, yet He did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

References

The New Student Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).

The Holy Bible NIV 2011 (Grand Rapids, MI: Biblica, 2011).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).