Bible Commentary Forever คำอธิบายความเข้าใจในพระคัมภีร์ไทยสำหรับชีวิต

Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew

About the Author of the Gospel of Matthew

The true author of the Gospel of Matthew, the whole Gospel from the beginning until the end, has only one author: the Holy Spirit; the words to put down in the Gospel itself come through the Holy Spirit. The Lord has chosen Matthew, the tax collector, to write down the Word in this Gospel not because he had school but because he was clean from inside his heart. Because of the work he held, Matthew had more than one name (See Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27).

Who is Matthew?

Matthew was considered an outcast because he was a tax collector; many places in the Bible talk against the tax collectors. But, the Lord takes him for a purpose. As the Bible has told, the Lord called, he got up and went to follow Jesus; he was holding a position (as a tax collector), but that position didn’t keep him there, just a word calling from the Lord, and he followed. The following is proof of his heart and that he deserved to be a disciple. Matthew has followed the Lord, has seen the work of the Lord, and he believed the Word of the Lord because he has seen it, so he believed every word the Lord spoke.

How did Matthew Reach the Point of Writing the Gospel?

After having passed a long time for him following the Lord and having seen many miracle works, the work of the Lord has opened his heart to commit himself fully to write down the Gospel (more than commitment, submit himself to the Lord for the work). So, he followed that conviction, left everything behind, and worked for the Lord (wrote the Gospel down).
One day as he went along the life, the Lord has put in his heart to start the work; that was a simple way, come along, sit down and listen to the Holy Spirit speak to him and write down the Gospel. Suppose that someone comes and says that Matthew copied the Gospel. That is wrong; Matthew got the Gospel from the Lord straight; he did not take words from anyone, only from the Holy Spirit; his ear was opened, his heart was gentle, and the work of the Holy Spirit has been done through him. Also, remember that Matthew was an intelligent man, his job as a tax collector was important for people in that time, but this did not hold him down from where his heart was calling, like the majority of people do when the Lord calls, they will not leave everything behind; and the work of writing the Gospel, that time was work without payment.

Purpose of the Gospel

The Gospel of Matthew covers all the gospel details, and that is why his Gospel is the first Gospel to be put down in the Bible. The facts as written in this Gospel are further covered in the other gospels. Think of the main details; for example, he has put enough details of the birth of the Lord, but other gospels will provide extra details as well. The main purpose of the Gospel of Matthew was to show the plan of the Lord for humans. He quotes things from the prophets that no one knows, only the Lord who showed it to him. As you read the Gospel, you should notice that he quotes a Scripture manuscript that is older than his generation, which is not written down for common people to read. Some quotes he put, as his work on earth as a tax collector, he would not have a chance to study those work unless the Holy Spirit has revealed them to him.