Epaggelia

Matthew quotes the Old Testament more often than any other gospel narrative. Which is peculiar as he was a ‘tax collector’. His compromising career towards his Jewish brethren, reflects dubious dedication towards Jewish law, as he was supporting the Roman oppression of Israel. His law-oriented career must have affected his discipleship towards Jesus and he obviously immersed himself in the new covenant’s superior fulfillment of the old covenant law. Matthew’s background in law led him to have a keen interest in showing his Jewish brethren how great a future they have in Jesus as the Christ (never using the word Messiah). What it was about Matthew that moved Jesus to call Matthew is a mystery, but as a tax collector, he was a social outcast amongst religious Jews. No one can ignore the possibility that Jesus was deliberately calling people who seemed like obvious misfits and that most Jews would consider sinful. Do we ever target irreligious or immoral people to seriously consider loving Jesus and intentionally invite unbelievers to worship him?

1:23 & Isaiah. 7:14, The Nature of the Christ.

2:6 & Micah 5:2, The Birthplace of the Christ.

2:15 & Hosea 11:1, The two-fold nature of prophecies (Isa. 8:1-8)

2:18 & Jeremiah 31:15, The Protected Childhood of the Christ.

4:15-16  & Isaiah 9:1-2, The Scope of His Appearance.

8:17 &  Isaiah 53:4, The Healing of Sin’s Consequences.

9:13 & 12:7 & Hosea 6:6, Christ’s Priority in Mercy.

11:29 & Jeremiah 6:16, Christ will be the Way.

12:18-21 & Isaiah 42:1-4, Christ’s service will be in perfect judgment.

12:39 & Jonah 1:17, Christ’s sign as the Son of Man in Jonah’s message.

24:15 & Daniel 12:11, Christ will confirm Daniel’s warning & define the abomination of desolation.