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The Gospel Of Matthew – The Tax Collector Makes His Case

By: Elliot M.

Published: September 14, 2022

Matthew the Apostle was a tax collector before he followed Jesus. But read the Gospel of Matthew and you’ll realize that Matthew would have made a great attorney.

The Gospel of Matthew is a beautiful collection of teachings, narratives, and parables that capture the light of Christ Jesus’ transformative message. Matthew’s gospel has a specific audience in mind … Israelites who were followers of Christ and Israelites curious about Jesus’ teachings.

Matthew wanted to make the case that Jesus was – in fact – the Messiah that the Israelites had been waiting for. Matthew wanted to establish that Jesus fulfilled every promise and prophesy that the Old Testament had established.

Matthew 5:17
Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Matthew starts his case by presenting Jesus’ genealogy. The apostle confirms that Jesus is of Abraham’s and David’s lineage … just as the Old Testament promised of the Messiah.

Matthew continues and illustrates how Jesus was the fulfillment of 23 Old Testament prophesies. By establishing this, Matthew provides an open and shut case for the nation of Israel that Jesus is God’s promised savior.

Matthew Presents Exhibit A, B and C …

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One of Matthew’s first pieces of “evidence” in his case that Jesus is the Messiah of the Israelites is the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:22 and Isaiah 7:14).
* The Apostle Matthew shows how it was prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:6 and Micah 5:2).
* Matthew highlights the significance of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:3 and Isaiah 40:3)
* The apostle shows how Jesus’ ministry of healing and caring for the ill was foretold by the Profit Isaiah (Matthew 8:14-17 and Isaiah 53:4).
* Matthew reminds the Israelites that the Messiah was to enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Matthew 21:5 and Zechariah 9:9).
* Matthew connects the dots when he shows it was prophesied that the Messiah would be deserted by His disciples (Matthew 26:56 and Zechariah 13:7).
* Matthew reminds us how it was foretold that the Messiah would be beaten and tortured (Matthew 27:30 and Isaiah 53:5).
* Matthew reminds us that King David foresaw Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:35 and Psalms 22:18).
* King David’s prophesy that the Messiah would make a statement concerning being forsaken by Father God is pointed out (Matthew 27:46 and Psalms 22:1).

The Gospel of Matthew has some of the most profound writing in the history of humankind, such as the Sermon on the Mount. And it also presents an open and shut case to Jewish followers of Christ that Jesus is – in fact – the promised Messiah. 

It’s not surprising that Matthew, an educated tax collector adept at keeping records, could present such a complete and compelling case proving that Christ Jesus is truly the Messiah. 

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