If you have ever opened the New Testament and wondered why so many people were upset with Jesus, you are not alone. We have asked that question too. Learning the background of the Gospel of Matthew helps answer it. Jesus did not walk onto an empty stage. He stepped into a nation under pressure, full of hope, anger and longing.
In this article, we want to walk with you through that world. You will meet the rulers, the religious groups and the expectations that shaped first-century Israel. By the end, we hope the story of Jesus feels far more radical.
Key Takeaways
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised Messiah and King, written with a Jewish audience in mind.
Israel had lived under foreign powers for centuries and was desperate for a deliverer.
Many believed God would only send the Messiah once Israel proved itself righteous through strict obedience and zeal.
Jesus fulfilled the promises in a way no one expected, through mercy, humility and the cross.
Why Should You Learn the Background of the Gospel of Matthew?
Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels, from Greek words meaning "seeing together." They share many stories, each with its own emphasis. Mark shows the powerful servant Savior, Luke the compassionate Savior of all people, and John focuses on Jesus as God the Son.
Matthew is the longest Gospel, and it is all about the messianic King, full of Old Testament patterns and echoes of Moses. But if you do not know the world Jesus entered, you will miss how shocking he really was. God chose this moment in history on purpose.
Who Wrote Matthew, and Why Does It Matter?
Matthew opens with "the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1). The Greek words echo "Genesis," a new beginning. "Christ" is not a last name. It is the title Messiah.
Matthew was one of the twelve apostles, originally named Levi, the name of Israel's priestly tribe. Yet he was a tax collector. Tax collectors bid for their posts from Rome, then charged their own neighbors extra to get rich. People saw them as traitors.
Jesus gave Levi the name Matthew, which means "gift of God." The Gospel written especially for the Jewish people comes from a man they would have despised. Grace is written into the book before you read a single chapter.
How Did Israel End Up Under Foreign Rule?
Here is a quick tour of the centuries before Jesus:
The golden age. David expanded Israel, and Solomon added great wealth.
The split (around 930 BC). Solomon's son Rehoboam crushed the people with harsh labor, and ten tribes broke away.
Exile. God sent prophet after prophet calling his people to turn back. The north fell to Assyria in 722 BC. Judah fell to Babylon in 586 BC.
Return without freedom. In 539 BC, Cyrus of Persia let the Jews go home and rebuild, but they were not independent.
Greek influence. Alexander the Great conquered Persia in 332 BC, and Greek culture spread everywhere.
Crisis and revolt. In 167 BC, Antiochus IV outlawed circumcision and Sabbath observance and is said to have sacrificed a pig on the temple altar. Judah Maccabeus, "the Hammer," led a revolt and won independence.
Rome arrives. The ruling Hasmoneans merged king and high priest, which the Torah did not allow. Civil war followed, and in 63 BC the Roman general Pompey took Jerusalem.
Many concluded that Israel had walked away from God again. That conviction shaped everything that came next.
Who Was Really in Charge When Jesus Was Born?
Herod the Great was king. His father, Antipater, was an Edomite, a descendant of Esau, and his mother was Arab. Antipater helped Rome conquer the Jews, and Rome rewarded the family. The Roman Senate later named Herod King of the Jews.
Herod killed anyone who threatened his power, even his own wife and children. He built Caesarea Maritima, Masada and a restored temple, paid for by crushing taxes. So when Herod ordered the deaths of Bethlehem's children (Matthew 2:16), it fits who he was.
After Herod died, his sons Archelaus, Antipas and Philip divided the land, with Roman governors such as Pontius Pilate over them. The Sanhedrin and high priests handled Jewish affairs, yet even the high priests were appointed by Rome. Caiaphas held office because Rome removed his father-in-law, Annas.
Ordinary people were taxed from every direction:
Land taxes and a poll tax on each person in a household
Customs and tolls, collected by men like Matthew and Zacchaeus
Herodian taxes for building projects
The yearly half-shekel temple tax (Exodus 30:13)
Most families barely survived. Israel was a pressure cooker.
The Religious Groups Jesus Walked Into
The Pharisees
Their name means "separated ones." They studied the law closely and opposed foreign influence, and with good reason. Some surrounding cultures left unwanted babies to die of exposure to the elements, and others offered children as sacrifices. Honestly, if we had lived then, we would probably have been Pharisees ourselves. Yet they believed righteousness had to be earned, and grace offended them.
The Sadducees
These wealthy elites controlled the temple and most of the Sanhedrin. They accepted only the five books of Moses and denied the resurrection, angels and miracles. They were comfortable with Rome as long as order was kept.
The Essenes and the Zealots
The Essenes withdrew to caves near the Dead Sea. The Zealots were extremists who refused to pay tribute to Rome, and some became dagger-wielding assassins. One of Jesus' disciples was Simon the Zealot.
What Kind of Messiah Were They Expecting?
Faithful Jews noticed a pattern in Scripture: disobedience led to exile. Isaiah said, "Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God" (Isaiah 59:2). Moses promised that when Israel returned to the Lord, he would restore their fortunes (Deuteronomy 30:1–3). So many concluded the Messiah would come once Israel was obedient enough.
That obedience was measured by zeal. Phinehas was praised for being zealous for God's honor (Numbers 25:11). Elijah told God, "I have been very jealous for the Lord" (1 Kings 19:10). Paul later tied his zeal to persecuting the church (Galatians 1:13–14, Philippians 3:6).
Then there was Isaiah 9:6–7. A child born, yet called Mighty God. Prince of Peace, yet carrying the government on his shoulders. And the ending most Christmas cards leave off: "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." People expected a warrior king like David or Judah the Hammer.
Instead, Jesus said, "Put your sword back into its place" (Matthew 26:52). He told them to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them (Matthew 5:44). He ate with tax collectors and welcomed Gentiles. His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).
Here is the heart of it: Jesus is the promised Messiah, and the zeal of the Lord did destroy evil, but it did so at the cross, where Jesus put sin to death and clothed us in his righteousness. We could never measure up, so he measured up for us. That is why the broken ran to him, while the proud could not stand him.
What This Means for Daily Life
The same Jesus who confused first-century Israel still meets you at your kitchen table, your workplace and your quiet moments of failure.
Stop trying to earn God's love. Receive Christ's righteousness by faith.
Check where your hope lies. If you expect politics to save you, bring that hope back to Jesus.
Pray for someone who opposes you. Name them before God this week.
Welcome the outsider. Share a meal with someone who feels left out.
Read Matthew slowly. Ask how each scene sounded to people under Rome.
Reflective Questions
If you had lived in first-century Israel, which group do you think you would have joined?
Where are you tempted to earn God's approval instead of receiving it?
What "warrior king" expectations do you place on God?
Who in your life needs the kind of mercy Jesus showed Matthew?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jesus come when he did?
God chose the timing purposefully. Israel had waited centuries under foreign rule, and the longing for the Messiah was at its height.
Why did the Pharisees oppose Jesus?
They believed strict obedience and separation from foreigners would bring God's blessing. Jesus taught grace and love for enemies, which sounded like the very thing that had caused Israel's trouble.
Why does it matter that Matthew was a tax collector?
Tax collectors were seen as traitors. A Gospel for the Jewish people written by a former tax collector shows how far God's grace reaches.
Was Herod the Great Jewish?
No. His father was an Edomite and his mother was Arab. Rome made him King of the Jews.
The background of the Gospel of Matthew shows us a world much like ours, full of power struggles, fear and people trying to fix everything themselves. Into that world came a King no one expected.
If you feel tired of trying to measure up, hear this from us as your pastors: Jesus already measured up for you. He loved us when we were his enemies, and he invites you to give him your heart.
As you begin reading, let the background of the Gospel of Matthew help you see Jesus more clearly. Read Matthew 1 this week, and subscribe so you can walk through the genealogy of Jesus with us next. We would love to hear what stood out to you in the comments.
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