Studying the Bible -- What is the Book of Matthew About?

The book of Matthew is the first of the four gospels. The gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--tell the story of Jesus’ life. They do not contain everything that Jesus did or said (John 20:30-31; 21:25). They do tell us enough to teach us about Jesus, develop our faith, and learn how to live.

The book of Matthew, written by the apostle of the same name, seems to be written primarily to a Jewish audience. He lists the genealogies of the Old Testament to link Jesus’ family to King David, as prophesied in 2 Samuel 7 (see Acts 2:29-30). He also quotes many Old Testament prophesies and shows their fulfillment in Jesus. Matthew portrays Jesus as the Jewish Messiah.


References: (King James version)

John 20:30-31   "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

John 21:25   "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

Acts 2:29-30   "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;"