I. Israel's Lack of Love of God, 1:6-2:16. It is proved.
1. By their polluted offerings, 1:6 end.
2. By the sins of the priests. 2:1-9.
3. By their heathen marriages and by their divorces, 2:10-16.
II. God Will Come and Judge His People, 2:17-4:6 end.
1. His messenger will separate the righteous from the wicked, 2:17- 4:6.
2. This is seen in the effect of their withholding or paying tithes. 3:7-12.
3. Faithful services will be rewarded. 3:13-4:6 end.
For Study and Discussion. (1) Make a list of the particular sins rebuked. (2) Make a list of all the different things said about the Messiah and his mission and also that of the forerunner. (3) Analyze and study each of the seven controversies. 1:2, 7; 2:13, 14, 17; 3:7, 8, 14. (4) Compare the future destinies of the righteous and wicked as revealed in this book, making a list of all that is said of each. (5) Make a list of all the promises of the book.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Each Gospel was written with a view to creating a definite result and written to a particular people and they differ accordingly. In this book, therefore, each Gospel is discussed with the hope of so outlining its purpose and consequent peculiarities as to stimulate a thorough study of the questions raised.
Date. Written about 60 A. D., but after Mark.
The Author. The Author always speaks of himself as "the publican," which may indicate his sense of humility, felt in having been exalted from so low an estate to that of an apostle. He was the son of Alpheus (Mar. 2:14; Lu. 5:27), and was called Levi until Jesus called him and gave him the name Matthew, which means "Gift of God." We know nothing of his work except his call and farewell feast (9:9-10), and that he was with the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Thus silent and observant and qualified by former occupation, he could well undertake the writing of this book. It might be possible that he was chosen by the others for this great task. We know nothing of his death.