As we undertake this survey of the New Testament, we come first to the four Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus. They were written to awaken and to strengthen faith in Christ and to answer objections and misconceptions about Him. As the flame of Christianity spread rapidly beyond the Holy Land, the oral testimony of the Apostles was no longer adequate; the truth concerning Christ needed to be recorded in written form.

Matthew, a tax collector by trade, wrote his book to emphasize Christ, the King. The book includes numerous facts and expressions, which would have appealed to the Jewish reader. The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the presentation of Jesus as Messiah are clearly emphasized. When we understand the book of Matthew we bow before King Jesus, the promised Messiah of Israel.