1. THE MESSAGE OF MATTHEW

2. Key questions
When Matthew tells the gospel story, what does he communicate about Jesus’ identity, personality and character?
What does he tell us about the significance of Jesus within God’s purposes and plans for the world?

3. False assumptions + things to be aware of…
Though ‘Matthew’ is historical, it is first century history – we should not expect it to conform to modern Western conventions;
On the other hand, that is not to say that Matthew and the gospel writers are ‘primitive’ – far from it!
Though ‘Matthew’ is biographical, it does not intend to give an exhaustive account of Jesus’ life on earth cf. John 20: 30-31;
The way we read is also selective: each of us comes to a particular text with our own ‘baggage’, our own perspectives and viewpoints;
The fact that ‘Matthew’ is primarily theological means that the gospel is more concerned with theology than it is, for example, with providing a watertight lawyer-like precise chronology/geography of every moment and movement of Jesus’ life.

4. Basic assumptions + observations
Matthew was a follower of Jesus who had eye-witness experience of events. As a Jewish Christian, he is concerned to stress that as Messiah (Christ), Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s promises in the Old Testament
Matthew draws on Mark’s gospel as a source (c. 90% of Mark is repeated in ‘Matthew’), but brings in his own perspective to show that Jesus is the Son of God and the true teacher of Israel;
The Great Commandment and the Great Commission point to Matthew’s focus on discipleship and mission.

5. Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ
  Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ. “Book of genealogy/genesis of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham”

6. Meaning in Matthew’s method?
‘Bookending’ – Matthew 1:23 Jesus as Immanuel with Matthew 28:20;
Gematria – the way in which Matthew organises Jesus’ genealogy;
Five discourses – Torah? Psalms? Mid-point = chapter 13 (parables) accept or reject Jesus

7. PART TWO: FOUR UNLIKELY WOMEN, THREE WISE MEN AND ONE TRUE KING

8. four unlikely women in Jesus’ family tree
God brings unlikely people into his plans and purposes to play their part in his story.
Jesus is ‘son of Abraham’, through him all nations will be blessed.
Unlikely women + an ‘unlikely’ Messiah.
The four women stand in contrast with but in company of Mary.

9. (Davies and Allison, Matthew, p. 228)
The mysterious magi
“Most modern commentators see the undescribed and mysterious magi as representatives of the best wisdom of the Gentile world, its spiritual elite: and while the Jewish leaders reject their Messiah, the Gentiles from outside the Land of Israel are anxious to greet him”.
(Davies and Allison, Matthew, p. 228)

10. 3 [?]wise men
“The testimony of the Scriptures is supported by the testimony of nature”
Numbers 24:17 the literal star in the sky points to the prophecy about the metaphorical ‘star’
Evidence of strange celestial goings on around the time Jesus was born

11. What the visit of the magi means for Matthew
As ‘son of Abraham’, Jesus fulfils God’s promise of bringing salvation to the whole world and all nations.
‘The king of the jews’, title underlines Jesus as ‘son of David’. Gold – frankincense – myrrh recall Solomon.
Magi are coming to worship this King of the Jews, which points to Jesus as Immanuel – God with us, the Son of God – God in person.

13. The Adoration of the Magi
“Leonardo da Vinci’s Adoration of the Magi highlights an aspect of Matthew’s text that other artists – and some exegetes – have missed: Mt has not only a foreground but also a background. In da Vinci’s painting, behind the magi and Jesus and Mary there are buildings in ruin and horsemen at joust. The meaning is manifest. The world into which the Messiah comes is in chaos and decay; things need to be righted. This is also an element in Matthew’s story. When Jesus is born, Jerusalem, instead of being overjoyed, is troubled at the news. And there is upon Israel’s throne a wicked and illegitimate ruler. And innocent blood is about to be shed (cf ). In brief, the world is ill. Is it any wonder that the first word of Jesus’ public proclamation in ‘Repent!’ (4.17)?”
(Davies and Allison, Matthew, p. 228)

14. So, to conclude, four unlikely women and three wise men, all pointing to the true identity and true significance of the one true King of Israel, and Saviour of the world.