Local Examination Manual. ST. MATTHEW'S GOSPEL: THE TEXT DIVIDED INTO PARAGRAPHS, AND ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY, WITH NOTES. BY J. DAVIES, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, Author of Notes on Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, I. and II. Samuel, I. Kings, Mark, Luke, Acts of Apostles, Church Catechism, Book of Common Prayer, and History and Literatureof the Tudor and Stuart Periods. BIBL LONDON: GEORGE PHILIP & SON, 32 FLEET STREET; LIVERPOOL: CAXTON BUILDINGS, SOUTH JOHN STREET, AND 49 & 51 SOUTH CASTLE STREET. 1872. 101. i. 72. NOTES ON ST. MATTHEW'S GOSPEL. LIFE OF MATTHEW. PARTICULARS IN THE GOSPELS, (those narrated by himself being in italics) :— He was a son of Alphæus, and was named also Levi. He was a portitor, or inferior customs-collector, at Capernaum. He became one of Christ's early disciples, and was chosen, with the other 11, to be an Apostle, previously to the Sermon on the Mount. Christ finally called him from his employment, (to which he must have returned after his appointment to the Apostleship), on His leaving Capernaum. In celebration of the occasion, Matthew gave an entertainment to Christ, and to his friends. After this he is mentioned only once, (in Acts), as being at Jerusalem, with the 10, awaiting the "Promise of the Father." PARTICULARS FROM TRADITION : He ate no meat, whence he has been erroneously classed amongst the Essenes, (who, though extremely temperate, were not total abstainers from animal food). After the Crucifixion, he remained at Jerusalem for 15 years, preaching to his countrymen. He then journeyed into Ethiopia, and other countries, where he laboured chiefly amongst the scattered Jews. He died in Ethiopia a natural death, the date of which is not given. By some authorities, Alphæus, Matthew's father, is identified with Alphæus, or Cleophas, who married the sister of Our Lord's mother, and was the father of James "the Lord's brother." If so, Matthew was brother to James "the Less," and first-cousin to Christ. But it seems tolerably certain that this was not the case, since there is no hint of it anywhere in the Gospels,-and that the fathers of Matthew and James were distinct individuals. MATTHEW'S GOSPEL. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE,— The most likely account is that it was at first written in Aramaic, and that afterwards it was translated into Greek, either by Matthew himself, or under his supervision. TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING.-The Hebrew, (Aramaic), Version, A.D. 63, place unknown; the Greek Version, date and place unknown. OBJECT.-To prove to the Jews that Christ was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Proofs that this Gospel was designed for the above end :— 1. Matthew quotes largely from the Old Testament, and shows how passages therein found their accomplishment in Christ. 2. He does not explain Jewish rites and expressions, (which Mark and John do explain). 3. He relates the Sermon on the Mount before the call of the Apostles, because it shews the relation of the Saviour to the Old Covenant. 4. He traces Christ's genealogy from Abraham and David, in order to shew that He came in the predicted line. CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS : 1. The number of quotations from the Old Testament. 2. He wants precision in relating facts. 3. He gathers into one discourse utterances of Our Lord on different occasions. 4. He gives Christ's discourses with great accuracy, and rich fulness. MATTERS PECULIAR TO THIS GOSPEL : Miracles-Healing Two Blind Men at Capernaum. Casting out a spirit from a dumb and blind man. 66 Discourses:-The Sermon on the Mount. Servant. A long Tirade against the Pharisees. Upbraids Chorazin, &c., for unbelief; the address following, "I thank Thee, O Father," &c.; and the Invitation, "Come unto me," &c. How to treat an erring brother. Explains why He teaches in Parables. A great part of the charge to the 12, on sending them forth. Incidents:-Appearance of the Angel to Joseph explaining Christ's Birth. Visit of the Magi. Flight into Egypt. Slaughter of the Innocents. Return from Egypt. Pilate's wife's intercession on behalf of Christ; Pilate washes his hands. Resurrection of Saints after the Crucifixion. Setting the Watch at the Sepulchre; their Report; they are bribed to perjury. Christ appears to the women who had been at the Christ's 7th Appearance after His Resurrection. Various-Christ's Genealogy through Joseph, |