Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor
Quick note. This whole idea that Matthew (or portions of Matthew) was written for Jews only is nonsense  , confusing  and dangerous  . There is no Scriptural basis for this teaching. |
Matthew is of course intended for everyone including Gentiles to read as is the book of James which was addressed to the twelve tribes of Israel. However the original intent of the author may have been to demonstrate to a Jewish audience that Jesus is the Messiah.
Matthew frequently quotes the Old Testament to prove that Jesus fulfilled messianic prophecies and he uses Jewish terminology and customs without explanation (Sabbath laws, phylacteries, ritual purity), assuming his readers are familiar.
Matthew uniquely uses "kingdom of Heaven" instead of “kingdom of God,” likely to respect Jewish reverence for God's name.
And there's a some evidence that Matthew or at least an earlier draft of it was originally written in Hebrew.
Quote:
Papias (c. 110–130 AD)
Quoted by Eusebius in Ecclesiastical History 3.39.16:
“So then Matthew wrote the oracles in the Hebrew language, and every one interpreted them as he was able.”
Irenaeus (c. 180 AD)
From Against Heresies 3.1.1:
“Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome…”
Origen (c. 200–240 AD)
As cited in Ecclesiastical History 6.25.4 (by Eusebius):
“First was written according to Matthew … who published it for the believers from Judaism, composed in the Hebrew language.”
Epiphanius (c. 350–403 AD)
In Panarion 30.13.1–30.22.4:
“They have the Good News according to Matthew in its entirety in Hebrew … in the Hebrew alphabet, as it was originally written.”
Jerome (c. 380 AD)
From Lives of Illustrious Men (chapter 3), also reported in Dialogue Against Pelagians & letters:
“Matthew … first of all composed a Gospel of Christ in Judaea in the Hebrew language and characters … while things which were eloquently written in Hebrew were more eloquently turned into Greek.”
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