Matthew

Matthew was a Jewish Christian, writing close to the time and the places where Jesus lived. He told his version of the story of Jesus' birth and life, cross and resurrection, with the aim of encouraging, challenging and stirring up the Christians he knew.

The message of Matthew's gospel is thoroughly practical with Jesus' teaching about lifestyle and relationships having a very prominent place. Commitment in all areas of life was clearly important to this writer. At the same time, he wrote a deeply spiritual gospel, emphasising how the events surrounding Jesus clearly fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy about the coming Messiah, and telling of the Son of God who 'is with you always, to the end of time'.

Part of The People's Bible Commentary Series.

Revd John Proctor is a minister of the United Reformed Church. Based at Westminster College, Cambridge, he teaches New Testament in the Cambridge Theological Federation, and to Church groups around England. He has also written The Christmas Stories in Faith and Preaching (Grove Books, 1998)

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