What themes are present in the Gospel of Matthew?

• A. Jesus as the new Moses and fulfillment of prophecy.
• B. Mercy and universal salvation.
• C. The Word becoming flesh.
• D. The divine Logos and eternal life.

Answer: (A)

Matthew frames Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and as a new Moses who brings and interprets God’s law. The opening genealogy ties Jesus to Abraham and David, signaling that he represents the promised Messiah who fulfills Israel’s hopes. Throughout the gospel, events and sayings are repeatedly described as fulfilling what the prophets spoke, anchoring Jesus’ life in the prophetic storyline. The Sermon on the Mount and the five major teaching blocks present Jesus as a decisive teacher and lawgiver, echoing Moses’ role while offering a deeper, authoritative interpretation of the Law. The gospel’s structure itself mirrors the Pentateuch with five substantial sections, reinforcing the portrait of Jesus as God’s faithful Israelite leader who guides the people through new revelation. In the climax, Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection are presented as the fulfillment of prophecies about the Messiah, sealing the pattern of salvation promised in Scripture. While other themes appear in the broader biblical witness, Matthew’s distinctive contribution centers on Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy and the new Moses.