The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the fulfillment of Hebrew scriptures and a teacher of wisdom, deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition yet radical in his message of inclusion and liberation. Often referred to as the "teacher's Gospel," Matthew unfolds in a deliberate structure, with extended discourses attributed to Jesus that shape the narrative around his vision for the Reign of God—a community centered on justice, mercy, and faithfulness. The book speaks directly to a Jewish audience, positioning Jesus as the new Moses who reinterprets the Torah in the tradition of Isaiah and other prophets to emphasize love, equity, and restorative justice.

Main Themes:

1. The Heavenly Reign: The concept of the Heavenly Reign (called God’s Reign in Mark and Luke) appears frequently, signaling God's inbreaking presence that challenges societal hierarchies. Through parables, healings, and teachings, Jesus illustrates a community where humility, mercy, and compassion replace status and domination.

2. Fulfillment of Prophecy: Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the Messiah who fulfills the promises of the Hebrew Bible. From the birth narrative to Jesus' actions and teachings, Matthew highlights connections to Israel's history and prophecy, pointing to a continuation and transformation of God's covenant.

3. Justice and Mercy: A key aspect of Matthew's Gospel is the emphasis on justice and mercy as core to the Heavenly Reign. Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ focus on ritual while neglecting "the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness" (23:23), advocating for a spirituality that upholds the oppressed and marginalized.

4. Inclusion and the Call to Discipleship: The Gospel portrays Jesus calling students from varied backgrounds, extending the invitation to participate in the Heavenly Reign across social and cultural boundaries. His instructions on letting go of debts, peacemaking, and humility serve as guiding principles for followers, highlighting a call to community that upholds those with the lowest social status and least respect in society.

Structure:

Matthew can be seen as structured in two ways:

The first is that it is divided into five main sections, mirroring the Torah, with each section including a narrative segment followed by a teaching discourse. These segments are structured to reveal Jesus' identity and mission progressively:

• Chapters 1-4: Birth and beginnings, establishing Jesus as the the Lord’s Messiah.

• Chapters 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount, a foundational discourse on the ethics of the Heavenly Reign.

• Chapters 8-10: Powerful acts and mission, displaying Jesus’ power and sending students to extend his mission.

• Chapters 11-13: Parables and the response to Jesus, focusing on the varied reception of his message.

• Chapters 14-28: Journey to Jerusalem, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, culminating in Jesus’ ultimate demonstration of faithfulness to God’s purpose and his victory over death.

The second way to view the organization is as a “chiastic” structure. Hebrew writers often structured documents with mirrored passages that started with bookends and worked their way toward a central, pivotal section which is the only one without a mirrored counterpart. That central section holds the essential point of the whole document. In this case it’s Matthew 15:1-28. The following chart shows the mirrored passages and pivotal section.