Matthew

THE Gospel (that is, good tidings) means a book containing the good tidings of our salvation by Jesus Christ. St. Mark in his Gospel presupposes that of St. Matthew, and supplies what is omitted therein. St. Luke supplies what is omitted by both the former: St. John what is omitted by all the three. St. Matthew particularly points out the fulfilling of the prophecies for the conviction of the Jews. St. Mark wrote a short compendium, and yet added many remarkable circumstances omitted by St. Matthew, particularly with regard to the apostles, immediately after they were called. St. Luke treated principally of the office of Christ, and mostly in a historical manner. St. John refuted those who denied his Godhead: each choosing to treat more largely on those things, which most suited the time when, and the persons to whom, he wrote.

The Gospel according to St. Matthew contains,

I. The birth of Christ, and what presently followed it

a. His genealogy Chap i. 1-17

b. His birth 18-25

c. The coming of the wise men ii, 1-12

d. His flight into Egypt, and return 13-23

II. The introduction

a. John the Baptist iii, 1-12

b. The baptism of Christ 13-17

c. His temptation and victory iv, 1-11

III. The actions and words by which Jesus proved he was the Christ

a. At Capernaum 12-16

Where we may observe