Reading Matthew for the First Time

In this brief and yet insightful blueprint for reading and appreciating the Gospel of Matthew, noted Scripture scholar Wilfrid Harrington emphasizes two main points. First, he provides a road map through the Gospel by describing its structure. Second, he explains Matthew s focus on Jesus teaching as the Messiah, teaching that appears gathered in five major discourses. Reading Matthew for the First Time is an indispensable guide to the gospel, written for a general audience.

This gospel is, before all else, a proclamation of Jesus of Nazareth, risen Lord, present and active in the Christian community. Matthew acknowledged Jesus as Prophet and Healer. What, in our respect, marks him off from the other Synoptists is his emphasis on Jesus as Teacher or Sage. In the stressful days after the traumatic disaster of 70 AD, Matthew s community found itself in a state of cold war with official Judaism. Its stance is that Jesus is the Teacher who speaks more authoritatively than Moses. This is stressed by Matthew. In the five discourses, or sermons, the Teacher proclaims his message. We can gain an insight into the Gospel of Matthew by concentrating on them. It is not the evangelist s whole story. But it grants us entry into the heart of his proclamation.
-From the Introduction