Matthew
Updated: Sep 16
Summary: Insights from Matthew
Below is a brief summary of what I found in Matthew concerning each of my four questions. The full evidence and commentary are available in the Matthew Study Bible linked above.
1. Who is God?
God is the one Yahweh, the God of Israel—the invisible Spirit and heavenly Father whom Jesus worships, prays to, obeys, and calls his God. God is the source of Jesus’ power, wisdom, and authority.
Specifically, who is the Holy Spirit?
Matthew calls the Holy Spirit “the Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of your Father.” The Spirit descends upon Jesus, leads him, works through him, speaks through the disciples, can be blasphemed, and is named alongside the Father and Son in baptism. Throughout the book, the Spirit acts. Matthew does not explicitly say, “the Holy Spirit is God,” but Matthew does reveal that the Spirit is an exalted person. This does not rule out the Spirit’s divinity, but Matthew alone does not provide sufficient evidence for that claim.
2. What is God's plan for the world?
Matthew strongly teaches both salvation and serious judgment, while also emphasizing God’s desire that the lost be sought and that His little ones not perish. Matthew alone does not explicitly say that everyone will ultimately be saved, so universal salvation requires the wider biblical case. At the same time, Matthew does not contradict the possibility of universal salvation.
3. Who is Jesus?
Jesus is God’s uniquely chosen and exalted human Messiah, Son, Lord, King, prophet, savior, servant, and representative—not God/Yahweh. He grew into holiness and perfection, gave his life to save the world, was raised and exalted by God, and was given universal authority.
4. Who are Christians?
In Matthew, Christians are called to become genuinely like Jesus—holy, mature, and ultimately perfect in character—through obedience, God’s grace, and the Holy Spirit. They are also called to participate in Christ’s ministry, power, authority, and role as the “light of the world.”
Comments