We Begin with the Book of Matthew...

Author: The book of Matthew was authored by, wait for it, Matthew. Matthew was a jewish tax collector, originally called Levi, who became one of Jesus's 12 deciples.

Matthew 9:9: "As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, 'Follow Me!' And he got up and followed Him."

Luke 5: 27-28: "After that He [Jesus] went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth and He said to him, 'Follow Me.' [28] And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him."

Mark 2:13-14: "And He [Jesus] went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to HIm, and He was teaching them. [14] As He [Jesus] passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaius sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, 'Follow Me!' And he got up and followed Him."

Date Written: Approximately A.D. 60-65

Specific Audience: Matthew presents the story of Christ in a way particularly relevant to the Jews, emphasizing Christ's fulfillment of Old Testiment prophycy relating to the Messiah.