The Gospel of Matthew

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer maintains that although the Vatican claims all gospels are equal, this is simply not the truth. The writer discusses that although the gospels are equal in terms of subject matter (Jesus) and purpose (to convert people into following Jesus), each gospel has a political agenda in terms of how this subject and purpose should be portrayed. The writer notes that whereas such gospels as Paul's gained the greatest influence among the early church leaders, the message found in such gospels as that of Matthew took a less important role in the developing faith of Christianity. The writer discusses that this is, however, somewhat ironic in that the gospel of Matthew is perhaps the most accurate account of telling who Jesus was and what Jesus should be today. The writer concludes that as Vatican II states, the four gospels of the New Testament, read together, provide the reader with enough information for them to understand who Jesus was and, more importantly, who Jesus is today.

From the Paper:

"At the foundation of all the gospels is the question of who was Jesus. This question is one that is both straight forward and at the same time ambiguous. On the one hand, everybody knows who Jesus was. Simply, he is whom Christians believe to be the Son of God and who Jews and Muslims believe to be a prophet of God. On the other hand, knowing who Jesus is beyond this basic understanding is dependent on who one is asking, as Jesus is something different to every person, including between Christians. At the same time, there is the question between who Jesus was as a historical figure and who Jesus is as a religious figure.
"The Gospel of Matthew provides one of the most detailed accounts of the life of Jesus, from his birth through his death, resurrection and ascension."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cook, Michael L. Responses to 101 Questions About Jesus. New York: Paulist Press, 1993.
• "Gospel of Matthew". King James Bible.
• Harrington, Daniel J. (1991): Gospel of Matthew. New York: Michael Glazier Inc.
• Johnson, Elizabeth. (1992): Consider Jesus: Waves of Renewal in Christology. New York: Herder & Herder.

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• Book Review # 142494 : "The Gospel Of Matthew"
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• Analytical Essay # 63414 : "The "Gospel of Matthew"

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