The Gospel according to Matthew 

First book of the New Testament 

(1ª Part) 

We begin this issue the Systematic Study of the New Testament, which includes the study of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the book of Acts. The study is based on the Catholic version of the New Testament that the reader can see from this link: http://www.bibliaonline.com.br/acf/mt/1.

Relevant answers to questions are at the end of the text below. 

Questions for discussion 

1. Which of the twelve tribes of Israel belonged to the ancestors of Jesus?

2. How is called the city where Jesus was born and the king who ruled then Judea?

3. Where Joseph took the baby Jesus after the birth of this?

4. Why Joseph decided to hide the boy?

5. When and why Joseph returned from exile and the place which he chose to live? 

Text for reading

1. The New Testament - The New Testament books are those that contain the history of the new covenant that Jesus made the whole human race and whose epilogue it was with his resurrection, then the sacrifice of Golgotha. There are 27 books that make up the New Testament: the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the fourteen Epistles of Paul, the seven Catholic Epistles - one of James, two of Peter, three of John and a Judas - and the Apocalypse of John the Apostle. (The Holy Bible, published by Livros do Brasil S.A., Volume I, pp. XXVIII.) 

2. The Gospel of Matthew - The first Gospel was written in Aramaic by St. Matthew, between 40 and 50. This Aramaic text was not, however, found. The writing of Matthew recognized by the Church as canonical Scripture is a second version, written in Greek, probably in 70. The Church from the beginning, used it with real affection. It is therefore the most commented, most used, most quoted and was rightly called by Renan the most important book of history. The Gospel of Matthew contains three parts: the private life of Jesus, his public life and the story of his passion, death and resurrection. The second and third parts are common with Mark and Luke, and the third also similar to that of the Evangelist John (The Holy Bible, published by Livros do Brasil S.A., Volume I, pp. XXVIII and XXIX.) 

3. The twelve tribes of Israel - Abraham begat Isaac, who was the father of Esau and Jacob This, named after Israel, had twelve children - Joseph and Benjamin (sons of Rachel), and Dan Nefthali (sons of Bala), Gad and Asher (children of Leah) and Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun (sons of Leah) - and a daughter, Dina. Joseph, husband of Mary, descended from Judah, like the kings David and Solomon. (Genesis, chap. 29 and 30, and Matthew 1:1 to 1:17.) 

4. José Maria leaves because of a dream - As Mary was pregnant before he had carnal conjunction with Joseph, he, not infamous for her, brought her away secretly. An angel of the Lord, however, appeared to him saying, "Joseph son of David, fear not to take Mary your wife, because what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit and bear a son and shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. " Awakening from sleep, Joseph did as the angel commanded him and took his wife and knew her not until she gave birth to her son, the eldest son, whom he named Jesus. (Matthew, 1:18 to 1:25.) 

5. Biblical Magi visited the infant Jesus - Coming from the East, Magi arrived in Jerusalem asking where was the king of the Jews who had just been born. They said to have seen his star in the East and were there to worship him. Herod was disturbed by this news and asked the chief priests and scribes where to be born the Christ. They said, "In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people of Israel." Then Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem, asking that they give him the news, on your back, so he also would love the boy. The star they had seen in the East went before them and stood over where the child was. Then warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi returned to their land by another way. (NR: Matthew is the only evangelist who mentions the wise men, but says their names. It was, however, of three brothers who ruled over half the world. Melchior ruled over the Persians, the Indians Baltazar and Gaspar Arabs . How do we know? The information is given by so-called apocryphal gospels, those who reject the Church.) (Matthew 2:1 to 2:12.) 

6. John the Baptist - On a date not defined in the book, John the Baptist came preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, because now is the kingdom of heaven. Because this is announced by the prophet Isaiah, who said: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. " John was wearing a camel fur and a leather belt, and his food was locusts and wild honey. The people of Jerusalem and Judea, and all the region round the Jordan, came to him and were all baptized in the Jordan, when he confessed his sins. Jesus then went up from Galilee to Judea, the river Jordan to be baptized also. John, recognizing him, said: "I need to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?" But Jesus answered and asked him: "Suffer it now, because for us to fulfill all righteousness." And John baptized him. When Jesus came out of the water, behold, the heavens were opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and came upon him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:1 to 3:17.) 

Answers to questions

1. Which of the twelve tribes of Israel belonged to the ancestors of Jesus?

Joseph, who married Mary, the mother of Jesus, belonged to a branch of the family that descended from Judah, son of Jacob and therefore grandson of Isaac. (Matthew 1:2.) 

2. How is called the city where Jesus was born and the king who ruled then Judea?

The city, located in Judea, was called Bethlehem of Judea The ruler was King Herod. (Matthew 2:1). 

3. Where Joseph took the baby Jesus after the birth of this?

Joseph took him to Egypt. (Matthew 2:13-14) 

4. Why Joseph decided to hide the boy?

He was warned in a dream to so act. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Arise, take the child and his mother and flee into Egypt, stays there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. Joseph stood up during the night, took the child and his mother and went to Egypt, remaining there until Herod's death, was to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: I called my son out of Egypt. (Matthew 2:14-15) 

5. When and why Joseph returned from exile and the place which he chose to live?

Once Herod died, an angel appeared again to Joseph in a dream and said, Arise, take the child and his mother and returns to the land of Israel, because dead which sought against the boy's life. Joseph stood up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. On hearing, however, that Archelaus reigned in Judea in place of his father Herod, did not dare go there. Again warned in a dream, he withdrew to the province of Galilee and dwelt in the city of Nazareth, it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets will be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:18-22)