Matthew was a tax collector who became a disciple of Jesus. He writes the first book of the New Testament, historically believed by the church to be the earliest gospel. Matthew could read and write, and as a devout Jew it’s likely that he wrote this account in the 30’s, probably assembling parts of it from notes he took while following Jesus. He writes for a Jewish-Christian audience, constantly showing that Jesus is the new Israel who fulfills the Old Testament types. He reveals Jesus to us as the son of Abraham, son of David, and the son of God who came redeem and save His people.