4.  It Is a Kingly Gospel.  The genealogy shows the royal descent of Jesus.  The Magi came seeking him that was “born king of the Jews,” and John the Baptist preaches that the “Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Here we have the parables of the kingdom, beginning with “the Kingdom of heaven,” etc.  In Luke a certain man made a great supper and had two sons, while in Matthew it was a certain king.  In the other evangelists we always have the term gospel while, with one exception, Matthew always puts it “the gospel of the Kingdom”.  The “keys of the kingdom” are given to Peter.  All the nations shall gather before him as he sits on the throne and “the king say” unto them, and the “king shall answer,” etc. (Matt. 25:34, 40).

5.  It Is an Official and an Organic Gospel.  This is suggested in that Matthew represents Satan as head of a kingdom; also, in that those connected with Jesus’ birth are official persons and most of the acts are official in their nature.  Pilate, the judge, washed his hands of the blood of Jesus, the Roman guard pronounces him the Christ, and the guards say he could not be kept in the tomb, Jesus denounces the officials and calls his own disciples by official names.  It is Peter, not Simon, and Matthew, the apostolic name, and not Levi as in Luke.  Jesus indicates his official capacity in his rejection of the Jews, telling them that the kingdom is taken away from them (21:43).  He makes ready for the establishing of his own kingdom and tells them who is to wield the keys of the kingdom which is not to be bound by time or national relations as was the former kingdom.  In Matthew alone do we find full instructions as to the membership, discipline and ordinances of the church.  Here alone are we given in the gospels the command to baptize to administer the communion and the beautiful formula for baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and here we have his official command to “Go” backed by all the authority of heaven and earth.

In the further pursuit of this official work, we find Jesus giving especial recognition to the Gentile believers-giving them full place in his kingdom.  The genealogy through grace and faith includes Gentiles; the second chapter shows how the Gentile Magi do him honor; the Roman centurion displays a faith superior to any Israelite; the great faith of the Canaanite woman led him to heal her daughter, and the Gentile wife of Pilate because of her dreams sends a warning that he have “nothing to do” with him.  All this tended to show the official and organic way in which Jesus worked.

6.  It Is a Gospel of Jewish Antagonism and Rejection.  On the one hand the Jews antagonize and reject Jesus.  On the other the Jews, especially the scribes and Pharisees, are exposed and rejected by Jesus.  The Pharisees plotted against Jesus and resented his violation of their regulations and customs concerning the Sabbath and their ceremonies about eating and washing and his associations with publicans and sinners.