Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Introduction].
Introduction to the Gospel: Mr 1:1-13; Mt 3:1-4:11.
Ministry in Galilee: Mr 1:14-6:13; Mt 4:12-13:58.
Ministry in the Neighborhood: Mr 6:14-9:50; Mt
14:1-18:35.
Journey through Perea to Jerusalem: Mr 10:1-52; Mt
19:1-20:34.
Last week in Jerusalem: Mr 11:1-16:8; Mt 21:1-28:8.
The Gospel of Matthew comes first in the New Testament,
though it is not so in all the Greek manuscripts. Because of its
position it is the book most widely read in the New Testament and
has exerted the greatest influence on the world. The book
deserves this influence though it is later in date than Mark, not
so beautiful as Luke, nor so profound as John. Yet it is a
wonderful book and gives a just and adequate portraiture of the
life and teachings of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The
author probably wrote primarily to persuade Jews that Jesus is
the fulfilment of their Messianic hopes as pictured in the Old
Testament. It is thus a proper introduction to the New Testament
story in comparison with the Old Testament prophecy.
THE TITLE
The Textus Receptus has "The Holy Gospel according to
Matthew" (\to kata Matthaion hagion Euaggelion\), though the
Elzevirs omit "holy," not agreeing here with Stephanus,
Griesbach, and Scholz. Only minuscules (cursive Greek
manuscripts) and all late have the adjective. Other minuscules
and nine uncials including W (the Washington Codex of the fifth
century), C of the fifth century (the palimpsest manuscript) and
Delta of the ninth together with most Latin manuscripts have
simply "Gospel according to Matthew" (\Euaggelion kata
Matthaion\). But Aleph and B the two oldest and best Greek
uncials of the fourth century have only "According to Matthew"
(\Kata Maththaion\) (note double th) and the Greek uncial D of
the fifth or sixth century follows Aleph and B as do some of the
earliest Old Latin manuscripts and the Curetonian Syriac. It is
clear, therefore, that the earliest form of the title was simply
"According to Matthew." It may be doubted if Matthew (or the
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