Written from a Jewish perspective, the Gospel of Matthew forms the perfect bridge between the Old and New Testaments, drawing heavily on the Old Testament to show how Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophecies and commandments given to Israel. Yet, it is not exclusively Jewish, as the writer takes pains to record Jesus’ words and actions that indicate this gospel is for all mankind. Jesus is portrayed as the long expected Messiah, the King of the Jews and, ultimately, the King of kings. It begins with the genealogy of a King and ends with a royal command. As we examine Matthew, we see the unity of Scripture, not just in the fulfilment of the past, but as a springboard for the present and future mission of the church to ‘make disciples of all nations’, with the promise of the abiding presence of Jesus (Matthew 28:19–20)!
