As White states, the gospel of Matthew is believed to be written in Antioch around the year 80 or 90 CE (312). Antioch was the capital of Roman Syria.  During the time that the gospel of Matthew was written, the city was primarily comprised of Jewish people. White claims that the early Christians were marginalized during this time period. It is clear to see that Matthew is trying to legitimize the Jesus movement through his gospel writing. He shows that Jesus is not only like Moses, but even better than Moses in chapter 5. In chapter 1 Matthew stresses that Jesus is not only a Jew, but also that he is of royal descent, coming from the line of David. Lastly, in chapter 23, Matthew shows how the Jesus movement is even better than Judaism by telling the story of Jesus calling out the Pharisees for not practicing what they preach. Clearly Matthew is trying to prove that Christianity is the superior belief system to Judaism.

Throughout chapters 18 and 23 Jesus is addressing his disciples and crowds of people (chapter 23 only) and answering questions they present to him. In both chapters Jesus is being portrayed as a teacher, telling people the ways in which they should live in order to reap the rewards in their afterlives. In chapter 18 Jesus says that everyone should be as humble as children in order to be among the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus goes on in chapter 18 to preach the importance of avoiding both giving and running into stumbling blocks; as well as forgiving everyone. In chapter 23 Jesus tells both the disciples and crowds of people that the scribes and pharisees are not what they seem. He tells them that the scribes and pharisees “sit on Moses’ seat” telling people what to do, but then do not practice what they teach to others (verse 2). Jesus continues on throughout the entire chapter explaining all the ways in which the Jewish leaders are not doing as they should. Jesus tells the disciples and people to not listen to the scribes and pharisees if they wish to be in the kingdom of heaven when they die. What Matthew is trying to do throughout chapter 18 and 23 is show both Christians and Jews alike that the Jewish leaders are not to be followed because they are hypocrites. Matthew uses the parts of Q and M that show Jesus as Jewish while showing Jesus as above the Jewish leaders.