"SYNOPTIC "GOSPELS" MATTHEW.

 Christ left behind only memories. He wrote nothing at all, nor did He explicitly ask His Apostles to write down any thing what ever. He simple commanded them to proclaim the Good News of salvation throughout the world And that's what they did.  But, as the Church grew, the need arose to put clearly  in writing, what had been until then only an oral teaching.  Then the foundations of the Christian faith would be clear, solid, and could be transmitted, without danger of distortion. That is when the four Gospel appeared. The first three form an integral whole distinct from the fourth Gospel of John. They are called Synoptics, from a a Greek word meaning to embrace the whole at a single glance.  These three Synoptic Gospels can be set aside in three columns, enabling us to see the parallel unfolding of the accounts at a glance, and compare the terms dealing with the same subjects. However they are not so similar as to exclude any difference. A reading of the Gospels as presented in the New Testament their original character of each of the three inspired works which make up the Synoptic Gospels.
 The Gospel according to Matthew is the first of the Synoptic in the traditional order. It was also the first to be written( about the year 50 A.D.) in its Aramaic version, which preceded the Greek version,
  the source of the text we now use. Let us keep in mind that Matthew's Gospel was addressed first of all to the Jews of Palestine, ( and also the Bible Jesus read). The Semitic and Palestinian background appears in many details, Thus Matthew uses with out any explanation such words as "raca," that is "empty head" (5;22) " Bind and loose" 16:19 and 18:1); "yoke" (11:29-30)  "reign of God" (13:11,etc); condemnation to Gehenna (23:33); "holy city" to designate Jerusalem (4:5) "flesh and blood"  (16:17); " eternal darkness" and grinding teeth"(18:12; 13:42 and 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30).
 Perhaps we should also add the play on words on Beelzebul and the master of household(11:25).
   All these terms are fully intelligible only in the light of the vocabulary of late Judaism with which Matthew was familiar, as were no doubt those to whom his Gospel was addressed.
   Regarding the customs of the Palestinian Jews, Matthew is the only Evangelist to mention the gift for the Altar (5:23), the customs of the priests on the Sabbath (12:5), the ostentatious piety of  certain ones 6:1-6), the wearing of phylacteries (23:5), proselyting (23:15), tithes, ( 23:23). according to Matthew also, Jesus was sent at first only to Israel (15:24), and He sent His disciples on their first missions to the cities of Israel (10: 5 and 23).
  The "First Gospel, "  which gives an impression of order, sobriety, and balance, is much less colorful than Mark's. It does not have the delicacy of Luke's Gospel in describing person's or events.  But it is successful in presenting the vital sequence of events, discourses, syntheses and analyses. The Sermon on the Mount and the long chapters on the parables clearly show the perfection of his literary style.
 In Matthew, nothing is surprising or shocking. Graphic details do not divert our attention from the main points. his Gospel is like powerful, flowing with serene  majesty.  It has been said of Matthew's Gospel that it is like a temple because it is permeated with the sacred. The author seems to have  the gift of maxims (3:12); 5: 3-12; 6:23,etc). He can give solemn descriptions  (9:16-17); ((35-38), and he can make impressive declarations (16: 17-19; 9:35-38), His citations Scripture are admirably  chosen.
  The art of using key words gives the work as a whole serious tone, like a Eastern rhythmic chant. From the start his Gospel inspires us to reverence and meditation. That is perhaps why the Church- until recent reforms- had given Matthew's Gospel first place in its liturgy.
  Matthew does not set out to write a biography of Christ the way Mark and Luke do. He wants to give believers testimony on the Son of God, who is the fulfillment of the prophecies and the Founder of the Church. His witness inevitably tends to reduce the temporal importance of past events, and to give them an eternal dimension.