Matthew's Gospel

These twelve disciples became willing learners of the master’s teaching and sought to follow His example by implementing His teachings and passing on what they learned to others (Hollman Bible Publishing). It is beneficial to keep in mind that this task was of utmost importance since there were not media outlets of any sort during this time except word of mouth. There was, and still is, a great cost involved as followers (disciples) of Christ. Some of the costs we find in the book of Mathew include: jobs (9:9), family (10:34-39), economic security (19:16-30), physical comforts (8:18-22 – 23:34-36), social acceptance (10:24-25) and ultimately oneself being totally offered to the Lord (16:24-28) (InterVarsity Press).

Often these men were

Who is Matthew and what is his relationship to the audience? How can we connect to the text? What was happening in these biblical times that warranted a response? We will examine Matthew’s audience, the events surrounding the text, and its meaning for us today.

Matthew, also called Levi, was a Jewish tax collector in Capernaum when Jesus called him to become a disciple. The primary audience for this book was Jewish believers in or around Capernaum, Caesarea by the Sea, or Syrian Antioch. Matthew takes great care to cater to his Jewish audience establishing Jesus’ genealogy from Abraham, frequently referencing Jesus’ actions in relation to Jewish prophecy, and the affirmation that Jesus fulfills Jewish prophecy completely. The location is a mountainside, a ridge of hills somewhere between Galilee and Capernaum, where Jesus delivers this message. The mountainside provided an area for His disciples to be nearer to him instead of the crowds that had been following Him. It is important to also consider the similarities of the backdrop of this scene for the Jewish followers who where well aware of Moses receiving the law on Mount Sinai, and now Jesus fulfilling the law as Messiah and

The light metaphor follows the salt metaphor, but takes the illustration further on what Jesus is asking of His disciples. Light in Scripture is the removal of darkness, purity, knowledge, and truth. Light is God’s presence. This metaphor resonated with the Jews who as Romans 2:19 says, thought of themselves as the light of the world, as in Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6 however, Jesus is the true light as He shares in Matthew 4:16, John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:35, and 1 John 1:7. As disciples, we are to be light-bearers that shine the light we have received therefore representing and glorifying