A Key Passage to Understand the Gospel of Matthew

Understanding the Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 28:16-20 - The Key Passage to Understand Matthew's Gospel

Backgrounder on the gospel of Matthew

The gospel of Matthew is composed of 28 chapters. It is one of the synoptic gospels, together with Mark and Luke. Synoptic gospels mean that these gospels have a common source and tradition from which they obtained their present content. This is why if the three gospels were examined in more detail, one will discover passages in one gospel that are also found in the other two gospels. There are slight differences in presentation and some are placed in different contexts.

The key passage to understand the gospel of Matthew


The key passage to understand the gospel of Matthew can be found in the last chapter and passage of the gospel: Matthew 28:16-20. This is the Ascension scene where Jesus calls His apostles, and gives them His missionary mandate. He says in Mt 28:16-20, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." It is from this key passage that many bible scholars say the christological and ecclesiological affirmations of the gospel are expressed. By christological, it means all that refers to the study of the nature and person of Christ. And by ecclesiological, it means all that refers to the study of the nature and mission of the Catholic Church. Christological and Ecclesiological are theology terms (and theology subjects in themselves) but when simplified in everyday language, it can be easy to understand.

The Christological affirmation of the gospel of Matthew


If you place your attention to the temptation of Jesus in the beginning of Matthew, you can read the Evil One tempting Jesus to receive the power and authority of the kingdoms of the earth - which the Evil One would give, if Jesus would worship him. Knowing this as diabolical, Jesus said No. It was the faithfulness of Jesus to His mission and His obedience to the will of the Father, that granted Him the authority to give a missionary mandate to His apostles and disciples on the mountain of the Ascension. The Father has given Jesus authority in both heaven and on earth. The Evil One tempted Him with earthly authority, but Jesus obeyed God's will, underwent His passion and death on the Cross, and received the divine authority for both heaven and earth. The Christological affirmation therefore that can be gained from the key passage of Matthew 28:16-20 is: Jesus is the glorious Son of Man to whom the Father has turned over all power and authority throughout all the universe. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Savior of mankind, who has authority over all.

The Ecclesiological affirmation of the gospel of Matthew

The ecclesiological affirmation of the gospel of Matthew simply means that the Church was commissioned by Jesus to go out into the whole world and evangelize peoples with the message of the Gospel - baptizing all in the name of the Blessed Trinity. For the evangelist Matthew, it was important that the readers of his gospel know that the Church is basically a community of disciples making disciples. The emphasis in the community of disciples making disciples is in the value of service above power and authority. This truth is well expressed in Matthew chapter 18 which speaks in terms of brotherhood, and also in Matthew 24:45-51, which speaks of servants in charge of fellow servants. Thus, when this nascent Church at the mount of Ascension is given her commission to preach and teach the nations the Good News, she is to do so in the spirit of service and brotherhood. And the authority by which members of the community of disciples evangelize, is to be seen as flowing not only from a hierarchical structure of leadership but primarily from the Spirit of authority and power which was in Jesus. Jesus now gives the mandate to the community of disciples to make disciples.

A servant-Church following the servant-Christ

Another way of seeing the christological affirmation and the ecclesiological affirmation in the gospel of Matthew is in terms of Christ's teaching as regards service. Although Jesus was given all authority by the Father, He remains a servant-Christ. He proved this teaching by the example of giving His life on the Cross for the salvation of all people. It was clear to Jesus that He is to be obedient to the Father even if it means dying on the Cross. From this servant-Christ identity, the vocation and mission of Jesus flows also into the servant-Church identity and each of the faithful's vocation and mission as His disciples - who by each one's baptism, commit themselves to follow Jesus. So, just as Jesus said NO to the Evil One and shunned earthly authority and power, so are all the faithful called to say NO to the Evil One and his temptations to opt for an earthly power just self-serving interests. Just as Jesus performed His public ministry in a spirit of service and charity, so each of the baptized, within their respective communities, are also called to evangelize all peoples in the same spirit of service and charity as Jesus. The servant-Christ commissions a servant-Church: a community of Christ's disciples, making disciples for Christ.

St. Vincent de Paul, Priest: 1580-1660 A.D.

Birth, family background and education

Vincent was born at Pouy, France, on 24 April 1580 A.D., to Jean de Paul and Bertrande de Moras. Vincent's parents were French peasants. Even despite their poverty, his parents recognized much potential in Vincent. They were determined to give him a good education. The third of six children, Vincent's parents had him educated at the college of the Franciscans at Dax and then at the University of Toulouse, until he was ordained at the early age of twenty.

Early life as a priest

By Vincent's own account, his ambition as a young priest was to be comfortably well off. He became the tutor of the children of the Count de Joigny, and one of the chaplains of Queen Margaret of Valois - from whom he received the income of a small abbey. In the following years, his work with the poor and his preaching attracted widespread attention.

A turning point in his life

In 1617 A.D., Vincent became the parish priest of Chatillon-les-Tombes. When he heard the confession of a sick and poor farmer, he found that some of the masters of these poor people did not care or provide for them. This deeply affected him and led to his conversion to turn to care for the poor.

His influence attracts attention

In the years that followed, St. Vincent's sermons and work with the poor attracted attention - and imitation. He became the ecclesiastical superior of the Visitation nuns after he met St. Francis de Sales in 1618 A.D. His service to God and the Church touched and inspired all kinds of peoples - rich and poor, galley slaves, princes and peasants.

Founding the Vincentians and the Sisters of Charity

In 1625 A.D., with the help of his former patron, the Count de Joigny, St. Vincent founded the Congregation of the Missions (known today as the Vincentians), a religious congregation devoted to work among the peasants. Then in 1633 A.D., along with St. Louise de Marillac, St. Vincent also founded the Sisters of Charity. Both communities grew and flourished. The Vincentians spread to all parts of France, America, and many other countries. And the Sisters of Charity also grew in number as they obeyed St. Vincent's counsel that "their convent was the rooms of the sick, their chapels the parish church, and their cloister the streets of the city."

A very accomplished and active life

In his lifetime, St. Vincent de Paul established hospitals, orphanages, and seminaries. He ransomed slaves in Northern Africa; sent his priests abroad to preach missions; organized far-flung relief among victims of the war of the Fronde; and wrote widely on spiritual topics. He also vigorously opposed Jansenism and was active in securing its condemnation.

Declared patron saint of charitable groups

St. Vincent de Paul suffered from ill health in his later years until he passed away quietly while sitting in his chair at the age of eighty, on September 27, 1660 A.D. His tomb and the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity are still places of pilgrimage for huge numbers of Catholics today. Vincent de Paul was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737 A.D., and was declared patron of all charitable groups by Pope Leo XIII in 1885 A.D. The Church celebrates his feast on September 27.

• A Year with the Saints, by Don Bosco Press Inc.
• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• Saints for Our Times, by Ed Ransom
• The Who's Who of Heaven: Saints for All Seasons, by Msgr. John P. Kleinz

Memorial of Saints (September 25)

St. Finbar was educated at the monastery in Kilmacahill, Kilkenney. After his education, he became a preacher of the Gospel in southern Ireland. Then he decided to live a secluded life in Gouganebarra to have more time for prayer and meditation. He was then able to establish a monastery in Loigh Eirc and called it the Corcaghmer monastery. This monastery became a major influence in southern Ireland. The city of Cork, Ireland developed around the monastery's environs (died ca. 633 A.D.).

Bl. Herman the Cripple was born with a deformity that his family had to place him in Reichenau Abbey, Switzerland. The monks at the abbey taught Herman well until he developed a very keen mind and became known to scholars all over Europe at the time. He wrote the hymns Salve Regina and Alma Redemptoris mater. He also wrote poetry, a universal chronicle, and a mathematical treatise. Bl. Herman spent all his life in Reichenau Abbey (died ca. 1054 A.D.).

St. Sergius of Radonezh is the Russians' "Francis of Assisi". He founded about 40 monasteries, mediated at political disputes, and prevented four civil wars between princes. The monastic movement he initiated reestablished monasticism in Russia after the Tartar invasions of the 13th century almost destroyed everything in it. In 1387 A.D., he was to be elected to the patriarchate of Moscow, but he humbly declined. St. Sergius was also instrumental in the defeat of the Tartars in the Battle of Kulikov Polye in 1380 A.D. (died ca. 1392 A.D.).

St. Ceolfrid became a monk at Gilling monastery and then moved to St. Wilfrid's monastery at Ripon. He became master of novices at Ripon and then appointed prior of St. Peter's at Wearmouth by St. Benedict Biscop. When Benedict Biscop founded St. Paul monastery at Jarrow, he made Ceolfrid his deputy. Ceolfrid succeeded as abbot when Benedict passed away. He developed St. Paul's monastery into a great center of learning (died ca. 716 A.D.).

St. Firminus was a martyr during Diocletian's persecution of Christians. Baptized by St. Honestus, he became a bishop. Catholic tradition says that he went to Gaul as a missionary and built a church at Amiens. It was here where he was arrested, tortured and beheaded for his faith in Christ (died ca. 4th century A.D.).

St. Cadoc was educated by St. Tatheus of Caerwent. He decided to become a monk, then founded a monastery at Llancarfan, near Cardiff. This monastery he founded became well-known. After these, he pursued more studies in Ireland, and then at Brednock. A very zealous monk, he returned to his monastery to become its abbot. He then visited Brittany, Cornwall, Scotland, and made pilgrimages to Rome and to Jerusalem (died ca. 575 A.D.).

St. Aunacharius spent his youth in the court of King Guntram of Burgundy. He then left to serve under bishop Syagrius of Autun. Aunacharius was then ordained and later on was elected bishop of Auxerre in 561 A.D. Very zealous in ecclesiastical matters, he attended two synods, held two in his own diocese and introduced many reforms within his episcopal jurisdictions (died ca. 605 A.D.).

St. Albert of Jerusalem became bishop of Bobbio, Italy. In 1205 A.D., he was appointed patriarch of Jerusalem. Because the Saracens were still influential in Jerusalem at the time, he was obliged to establish his see at Akka. St. Albert took a prominent role in both the civil and ecclesiastical affairs under his jurisdiction. He was known to have mediated disputes between different Frankish factions. He is also especially known to have composed a rule of life for a community of hermits led by St. Brocard at Mount Carmel - the first fule of life of the Carmelites (died ca. 1214 A.D.).

St. Vincent Strambi resisted his parents' wish to become a diocesan priest. Instead, he chose to be a religious and joined the Passionists in 1768 A.D. He became provincial in 1781 A.D., and then a bishop in 1801 A.D. After being expelled from his see because of Napoleon Bonaparte, he returned in 1813 A.D. Bishop Strambi imposed reforms in his see, cared for his faithful during a typhus epidemic, and resigned from his see to become the papal adviser of Pope Leo XII (died ca. 1824 A.D.).