The Gospel of Mark is the unique product of its social environment and of the theology of the early Christian church with its centre in the story of Jesus. We will come to know that this contract element is to be found in the Baptism, temptation and in other significant narratives and how the central thread of Matthew’s plot as having to do with the vindication of the humble, obedient Son of God. This means that we will need to direct our attention particularly to the “contract” element of the evangelist’s story where the mandate is clarified and accepted, where certain resources are communicated, and where the shape of the story’s “topic” begins to come into view. To ask about the Christology of Matthew’s Gospel is to seek Matthew’s answer to the question, “Who is Jesus and how he is significant?” To do so form a narrative perspective, it is necessary to identify those elements of Matthew’s Gospel in which the shape of the story’s plot comes most clearly into focus. The fine blend of these crucial aspects of Christian faith gives the gospel its comprehensive and systematic character which not only accounts for the importance accorded to it but also justifies its reputation as the “Teaching Gospel”. Thus Matthew has a high Christology characterizing Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of the living God, the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies and expectations a well-developed ecclesiology delineating the structures, values and powerfully outlining the missionary agenda of the Church a gripping and systematic presentation of Jesus’ moral teaching as well as a well-developed and captivating eschatology. One major reason for this importance given to Matthew is the comprehensive nature of the gospel. The gospel’s dominant presence in the lectionaries from the earliest times is a testimony to this, not to speak of the numerous quotations from Matthew in Patristic works and in theological and spiritual writings from early centuries. That same importance was also accorded to it down the centuries in the diverse Christian traditions. This in itself is an indication of the importance the Gospel has had since early Christian times leading up to the formation and fixing of the New Testament canon. The Gospel of Matthew is placed first in the New Testament canon.
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