'THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW'. COMPILED AT AN UNCERTAIN DATE LATER THAN 60 A.D. THIS gospel, in common with the 'The Gospel according to St. Luke,' incorporates the greater part of the record of the ministry of Jesus given in 'The Gospel according to St. Mark.' It is probable that the compiler was able to make use of the same sources as St. Mark had at his disposal, and perhaps even of St. Mark's gospel itself. Beyond this, he was able to add to that record a very important collection of the Sayings of Jesus from some source of which the compiler of The Gospel according to St. Luke' was also able to avail himself. The gospel, in its present form, begins with a preface giving an account of the birth of Jesus, and concludes with an appendix giving an account of his resurrection. These are evidently from sources other than those from which the body of the work was derived. The standpoint of the compiler of this gospel is clearly that of a Jew writing primarily for converts from Judaism, one marked feature being the prominence given to the fulfilment of Jewish prophecy. ACCORDING TO MATTHEW. I. THE BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND INFANCY. A Genealogy of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David and The Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Ancestors of Isaac of Jacob, Jesus. Jacob of Judah and his brothers, Judah of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez of Hezron, I 1 2 3 Ammon of Josiah, Josiah of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time II of the Exile to Babylon. After the Exile to Babylon Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel of Abiud, 12 13 Abiud of Eliakim, Eliakim of Azor, Matthan of Jacob, 14 15 Jacob of Joseph, the husband of Mary, who 16 So the whole number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen; from David to the Exile to Babylon fourteen; and from the Exile to Babylon to the Christ fourteen. 17 The The birth of Jesus Christ took place as follows:Birth of His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but, Jesus. before the marriage took place, she found herself to be with child by the power of the Holy Spirit. Her husband, Joseph, was a religious man and, being unwilling to expose her to contempt, resolved to put an end to their betrothal privately. He had been dwelling upon this, when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary for your wife, for her child has been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. She shall give birth to a son; and you shall give him the name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins." All this happened in fulfilment of these words of the Lord in the Prophet, where he says- 'Behold! the virgin shall be with child and shall give birth to a son, And they will give him the name Immanuel' -a word which means 'God is with us.' 18 19 20 21 22 23 When Joseph 24 awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had 23 Isa. 7. 14. directed him. He made Mary his wife, but did not live with 25 her as her husband until after the birth of her son; and to this son he gave the name Jesus. The Visit of the 2 After the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in Judaea, I 2 in the reign of King Herod, some Astrologers Astrologers. from the East arrived in Jerusalem, asking: "Where is the new-born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and have come to do homage to him." When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so, too, was all Jerusalem. He called together all the Chief + Priests and Teachers of the Law in the nation, and questioned them as to where the Christ was to be born. "At Bethlehem in Judaea," was their answer; in the Prophet-- 'And thou, Bethlehem in Judah's land, 3 for it is said 5 Art in no way least among the chief cities of Judah; One who will shepherd my people Israel."" 6 Then Herod secretly sent for the Astrologers, and ascertained 7 from them the date of the appearance of the star; and, sending 8 them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and make careful inquiries about the child, and, as soon as you have found him, bring me word, that I, too, may go and do homage to him." 10 The Astrologers heard what the King had to say, and then 9 continued their journey. And the star which they had seen in the east led them on, until it reached, and stood over, the place where the child was. At the sight of the star they were filled with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and fell at his feet and did homage to him. Then they unpacked their treasures, and offered to the child presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But 12 afterwards, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road. The Flight After they had left, an angel of the Lord 13 into Egypt. appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said: 'Awake, take the child and his mother, and seek refuge in Egypt; and stay there until I bid you return, for Herod is about to search for the child, to put him to death." Joseph awoke, and, taking the child and his mother by 14 night, went into Egypt, and there he stayed until Herod's 15 death; in fulfilment of these words of the Lord in the Prophet, where he says 'Out of Egypt I called my Son.' When Herod found that he had been trifled with by the 16 Astrologers, he was very angry. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and the whole of that neighbourhood, filled these words spoken in the Prophet Jeremiah, where he says 'A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and much lamentation; Rachel, weeping for her children, 17 18 But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said : 19 "Awake, take the child and his mother, and go into the Land of Israel, for those who sought to take the child's life are dead." And he awoke, and, taking the child and his mother, went into the Land of Israel. But, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as King of Judaea, he was afraid to go back there; and, having been warned in a dream, he went into the part of the country called Galilee. And there he settled in the town of Nazareth, in fulfilment of these words in the Prophets'He will be called a Nazarene.' 20 21 22 23 The Baptist and his Message. hand." II. THE PREPARATION. About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the Wilderness of Judaea: Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at This is he who was spoken of in the Prophet Isaiah, where he says 'The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight." 999 I 2 3 56 John wore clothing made of camels' hair, with a belt of 4 leather round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, and all Judaea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. When, however, John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgement? Let your life, then, 8 18 Jer. 31. 15. 20 Exod. 4. 19. 2 Dan. 2. 44. 42 Kings 1, 8, 3 Isa. 40. 3. 7 |