Introduction to Matthew Fr

Introduction to Matthew Fr. Andrews' brief introduction to the Gospel of St. Matthew and its study. THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW Introduction: Authorship: Matthew (“Gift of God”) the Apostle and Evangelist. Church tradition teaches that 8 years after the Ascension of Christ, prior to Matthew leaving Jerusalem, the other Apostles agreed that he should write the Gospel in Hebrew. The place of the writing of the Gospel was Antioch first in Aramaic and later in Greek. His Feast Day is November 16. The Gospel of Matthew is the only one to use the word “Church” Matt. 16:18; Matth 18:17. It is known as the gospel that focuses on the ecclesia or church. The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, was named Levi (Mk. 2: 14; Lk. 5: 27) and most likely Jesus changed it to Matthew; he was an Apostle from among the Twelve (Mk. 3: 18; Lk. 6: 45; Acts 1: 13), and was brother of the Apostle James Alphaeus (Mk. 2: 14). He was a publican, i.e. a tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews had come under the rule of the Roman empire. Saint Bede the Venerable: “Matthew had two names. Levi means ‘added’ or ‘a joining’ or ‘taken up’ through being chosen by the Lord, and ‘added’ to the number of the apostolic band. Mark and Luke generously chose to use this name alone, so as not to make glaringly conspicuous his former way of life, for he was now their companion in the work of the Gospel; so they do not mention Levi, but simply called him Matthew. Now he calls himself by his ordinary name when telling of being called from his tax collector’s place. ‘A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech [Prov. 18:17].’ In this way he offers to publicans and sinners greater confidence in securing their salvation....The name Matthew in Hebrew means ‘granted’ in Latin, a name aptly corresponding to one who received the favor of heavenly grace.” The “Gospel” = the Good News of Salvation, God’s love and forgiveness in Christ. “The act of announcement: the content of God’s saving work in Christ, based on the events of the life of Christ and deriving its power from the risen Christ, Who Himself acts through the Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Fr. Stylianopoulos).” The Gospel of Matthew Saint Irenæos: “We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith....For, after our Lord rose from the dead, the apostles were invested with power from on high when the Holy Spirit came down upon them. They were filled with all His gifts and had perfect knowledge. They departed to the ends of the earth, preaching the good tidings of the good things sent from God to us....Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect…[Against Heresies, Bk. III, Ch. I(1), in Ante-Nicene Fathers, I:414.] The Mission of Matthew Having received the gifts of the grace of the Holy Spirit, which descended upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Matthew for the first 8 years preached in Jerusalem. He preached the Gospel and established Churches in Macedonia, Syria, Media, Parthia and Media. His life ended in Ethiopia with a martyr's death. The Icon of Matthew 7And the living creature, the first one, is like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature hath the face as of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle flying. [Rev. 4:7] Although the early Church fathers generally agree that the four living creatures symbolized the evangelists, there was a diversity of opinion about which creature represented which Gospel writer. Matthew was represented by a “man” because of his lengthy genealogy of Christ according to the flesh. Blessed Jerome writes: “The four-faced creature (tetramorph) that we met in the Apocalypse of St. John [Rev. 4:6-8], and in the beginning of Ezekiel’s prophecy [1:5],...has also special significance for the Gospels: In Matthew, this human being has the face of a man, in Luke an ox, in John an eagle, in Mark the lion crying in the desert.” [Homilies 60-96, Homily 75(1), in FC, 57:121.] ▪ Matthew & John are prominent in the dome placed on the East facing pendentives (triangles located under the dome) because they were both Evangelists and members of the 12 Apostles. They are also depicted as older than Luke and Mark and are in places of respect. The Conversion of Matthew Publicans, in collecting taxes from their countrymen, did this with great profit for themselves. Usually greedy and cruel people, the Jews considered them pernicious and betrayers of their country and religion. The word "publican" connoted for the Jews the sense of "public-sinner" and "idol-worshipper". To even speak with a tax-collector was considered a sin, and to associate with one -- was defilement. But the Jewish teachers were not able to comprehend, that the Lord was "come to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mt. 9: 13). Saint Gregory the Great: “Jesus, the Truth said, ‘No one, having put his hand upon the plow, and looking to the things behind, is fit for the kingdom of God [Lk. 9:62].’ Why did Peter return to what he had abandoned? We know that Peter was a fisherman, whereas Matthew was a tax collector…Matthew did not again sit down to his business of tax collecting, because it is one thing to make a living by fishing, and another to increase one’s gains by money from the tax office. There are many occupations we cannot practice either partially or completely without sin. No one is allowed to take up again, after his conversion, those occupations that are involved with sin.” Hymn of St. Matthew With zeal, you followed Christ the Master, who in His goodness, appeared on earth to mankind. Summoning you from the custom house, He revealed you as a chosen apostle: the proclaimer of the Gospel to the whole world! Therefore, divinely eloquent Matthew, we honor your precious memory! Entreat merciful God that He may grant our souls remission of transgressions. .

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