Today’s Quiz

1. Today’s Quiz What are the Characteristics of St Matthew's Gospel? What are Central Aspects of St Matthew's Gospel? Who is Christ as per St Matthew's Gospel?

2. Lecture 5 Conclusion; the first 2 Characteristic of St Matthew’s Gospel • Doctrinal: Christians' Constitution (doctrines) on 5 main discourses (dialogues): • Sermon on the Mountain (Ch:5-7), as a contrast between the righteousness of the OT & that of the NT • Instructions to the apostles (Ch:10) • Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven (Ch:13) • The required qualifications to be a disciple (follower) of Christ (Ch:18). • Eschatological discourses and prophetic teachings about the Latter Day, end of the world & the desolation of Jerusalem (Ch: 23-25) • Semitism: Introducing and confirming the Messiah (Christ) as Heavenly King and a Semitic (Jewish) savoir

3. The Characteristics of St Matthew’s Gospel • Regarding the contents: • St Matthew looks at things from a general point of view not giving much attention to the tiny details (like what St Mark or Luke did). • St. Matthew also stands alone in recording many miracles, incidents & parables (will be discussed later on; Christ in this Gospel is the Heavenly King: • “ Kingdom of God.” Is repeated about 46 times in this gospel, which makes many scholars to view this gospel as a Jewish-Christian study revealing the person of Christ who was hidden in the Scriptures (OT). • The repetition of statements like: “Thus it was written” “that it might be fulfilled”, “which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying.” • St Matthew sees history as a tool to fulfill the divine will and plan for saving mankind.

4. The Characteristics of St Matthew’s Gospel • Confrontingthe Jews of their mistakes and short comings (relying on Semitism: Shem-Abraham children): • Ch: 8:10,11; “Assuredly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel, and I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness.” Stressing the faith of the gentile centurion compared to that of the Israelites. • Ch:20:18; “…The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes and they will condemn Him to death.” • Ch: 12:1-13; Christ reproaching them for their misunderstanding of keeping the law • Ch: 21:43; “The Kingdom of God will be taken from you & given to a nation bearing its fruits” • Ch :6:2, 5 &16; Christ condemning their care only about codes (by letter) of worship, not its spiritualities (what is spiritual prayer/worship). • Ch: 5:3-9; also condemning them for pursuing some rites (like Temple Tax) which are against the commandments. • Ch: 23; Christ is pouring His woes against the Scribes & Pharisees, while commanding people to heed to the commandments they are teachings.

5. The Characteristics of St Matthew’s Gospel • Concerning the Gentiles' salvation (no Semitism after the birth of Christ): • Translated (rewrote) his gospel in Greek language. • Stated in Ch:8:10; the Centurion faith. • The Magi recognising Jesus & worshiping Him (Ch: 2:1-13). • Christ commending the great faith of the Canaanite woman and healing her daughter (Ch:15:28). • In Ch: 21:34; the vineyard owner and the new vinedressers. • In CH; 22:1-14; The parable of the wedding of (the king’s son). • He looked at the OT law & commandments in a deeper and more spiritual & universal way, declaring the manifestation of the “New Israel” who is not confined by the tight, closed & minded Jewish perceptions of exclusiveness and racism. New Israel =Christians.

6. What are the Central Aspects of St Matthew’s Gospel? • The Gospel of the kingdom of God: • The theme of the gospel is the Kingdom of Heaven as repeated in Ch:25:34, 7:21, 8:11, & 16:28, 12:28, 4:17, 5:3, & 11:3). + Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven (Ch:13). • The kingdom of heaven has already started by the incarnation of Christ , His dwelling in our hearts, and will be perfectly manifested in His second coming. • The Master and King of Kings is the Messiah; our Savior whose royal authority is obviously declared in this gospel, in Him was fulfilled all scriptures of the OT. • Ecclesiastical Aspect: • This gospel is the gospel of church as church is the mystery of His Kingdom on earth. He is the only evangelist who recorded to us Christ teachings about the church, using the word “Ecclesia.” Twice in two very strong statements:

7. The Central Aspects of St Matthew’s Gospel • Ecclesiastical Aspect: • Talking to St. Peter about founding His church on the rock of faith He said: “On this rock I will build my church & the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Ch.16:18. 2). He also talks about the authority of the church: “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen or a tax collector. Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, & whatever you loose on earth will loosed in heaven. (Ch.18:17,18). • Through out his gospel St Matthew perceives and portrays the mystery of the church as being the dwelling of God amongst His people. In ch:1; the angel declared Jesus being named “Emanuel= God is with (in) us”. • St Matthew gives us a very simple idea about the church in Ch: 8:20; “For where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them!

8. The Central Aspects of St Matthew’s Gospel • Ecclesiastical Aspect: • Explains how the church is represented in those servants who bear witness to the truth when he says “He who receives you receive Me (Ch: 10:40), and “Whoever receives one of these little children like this in my name receives Me” (Ch. 18:5). • Also, portrays the presence of Christ with His suffering people on the Latter Day, “Assuredly I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Ch.25:40). • Revealed the church enjoying her peace through the presence of Christ the King of peace (transfigured Christ (Ch 17: 1-13), in spite of Satan's wars & troubles against her (Ch.8:23-34). • Lastly, concludes his gospel by the very comforting assurance that Christ gave to His disciples: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Ch.28:20). This is why the church extends to everywhere “Make disciples of all the nations” (Ch.28:19), and throughout all ages until the second coming of Christ when we will be with Him forever!

9. The Central Aspects of St Matthew’s Gospel • Eschatological Aspect: • It is obvious in St Matthew's gospel that Christ was incarnate (1st coming) to prepare His church for His 2nd coming! • This Eschatological part is very obvious in Ch: 24; the signs of the end ages as a message for the church to get ready to His 2nd coming by watching and praying. In Ch: 25; gives us 2 great parables (Wise & Foolish Virgins, and the Talents), then the second coming of the Son of Man to Judge the Nations (divides his sheep from the goats) and His coming with all Saints and angel

10. Christ in St Matthew’s Gospel is the Heavenly King • Christ is the Heavenly King. The word king (& its derivatives) are repeated more than 50x in the gospel of St Matthew (compared to 5x only according to St John), making it very obvious that it the gospel of Christ the King. • He wrote his gospel to the Jews who were very familiar with the scriptures, about whom St Paul said (in Roman 9:4, 5) “To whom were given the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, & the promises, of whom are the fathers & from whom, according the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” • Proving that all the promises of God in the scriptures are fulfilled in Christ; Christ is the Anticipated Messiah as a son of Abraham, the patriarch of the Hebrews & the Son of “David the king” (Ch:1:6), something that was very crucial to the Jews who knew from the prophecies that Christ should be the Son of David & the King of Israel, but they failed to recognise Him because they perceive it wrongly in very literal & materialistic way.

11. Christ is the Heavenly King • He stands alone in recording the visit of the Magi to the born Christ asking “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East & have come to worship Him.” (Ch.1:2).They worshiped Him because He is God & presented to Him gold because He is the King. • He is the only evangelist to record the Slaughter of Bethlehem Children by King Herod who illegally took over David’s Kingdom supported by Romans (Ch 2) and tried to kill the legitimate heir of this kingdom (Christ). • He introduces John the Baptist, the forerunner, preaching the upcoming Kingdom saying: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Ch.3:2). • Practice: Reading Ch 13

12. Christ is the Heavenly King • Regarding the transfiguration: St Matthew stands alone in adding some explanations like: “His face shone kike the sun” & “in whom I am well pleased.” (Ch:17:2 & 5). • In his version of Christ’s resurrection: It was only St Matthew who mentioned the great earthquake, the angel whose countenance was like lightning and His clothing as white as snow, and the guards shook form the fear of Him (Ch.28:2-4). • St. Matthew concluded his gospel by a very unusual statement about the Risen Christ saying to His disciples: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth, go therefore & make disciples of all the nations (Mat.28:18, 19). • Christ is truly the only God who has every authority in heaven and on earth. He is the King of kings and the Lord lords; the only true and revealed existing God.