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.

The Gospel of Matthew is unique in that it is attributed to one of Jesus’ disciples. White calls it “by far the most Jewish of the Gospels” due to its distinctive focus on the Torah, Jewish Scripture (p310). Due to this emphasis on Torah and the evidence of this gospel being written in Hebrew as well as greek, it can only be assumed that the author wrote to a Jewish audience. Within this account, Matthew is revealed as a tax collector (Mt 10:3). This job was frowned upon because tax collectors were known to ask for more than simply the tax so that they could keep the money left over for themselves, basically stealing from their neighbors. This is why in Matthew 9:11, the Pharisees chastise Jesus for sitting with tax collectors and sinners, therefore constituting them both as equal outcasts of society. In fact, the gospel of Matthew repeatedly emphasizes Jesus’ relationship with tax collectors, highlighting Jesus’ rebellion against social norms. According to White on page 304, this account was also written during the time of a Pharisaic movement and the marginalization of Christians. This makes the book significant in its attempt to show Jews why Christianity is the right way whereas the Pharisaic movement is not.

As we read through the gospel of Matthew, chapter 18 has a long list of teaching regarding what it looks like to be a follower or against followers. Children are key characters in chapter 18. The disciples are told by Jesus to be humble like children (vs 4) and are warned against causing children to stumble. Matthew incorporates more teaching, expanding from this one. Jesus’ teachings are inked together by the questions of the disciples, a narrative layout we do not see in Mark.  Chapter 18 goes on to teach about forgiveness with slaves as the main characters. The master forgives the slave his debt and yet the slave does not forgive his debtor. Jesus warns not to be like this, but to forgive others because the Heavenly Father has forgiven the disciples.

Earlier, I touched on the idea that the author wrote this account in attempt to turn the Jews away from the ways of the Pharisees. This theme rings true throughout chapter 23 where Jesus cautions the crowds and disciples from being like the Scribes and the Pharisees. With this in mind, the main characters as well as the opponents, are the self-seeking, self-righteous, religious Pharisees. Through this chapter, we learn that Christians aren’t to be any of these characteristics but instead need to examine their hearts when they do things instead of seeking the attention of others. In addition, Jesus prophesies that there will be persecution for those who do not follow the false-teachings of the Pharisees but rather do with will of God.