The Gospel of Matthew

Along with other Gospels, the canonical Gospel of Matthew has been turned to for insight into the Jesus tomb findings.

The Gospel of Matthew is the first Gospel of the four canonized in the New Testament, and is sometimes considered to predate the others. However, it is believed that the contents of the three synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are intertwined and thus may be borrowed from the same oral or written source.

The Gospel of Matthew relates the story of the life of Jesus, including detailed passages of miracles performed leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, from which the core doctrines of the Christian faith stem. The Gospel concludes with the finding of the empty tomb by Mary Magdelene, whose status and relationship to Jesus has been under debate.

The Gospel of Matthew opens with the following genealogy:

1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren; 1:3 and Judah begat Perez and Zerah of Tamar; and Perez begat Hezron; and Hezron begat Ram; 1:4 and Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon; and Nahshon begat Salmon; 1:5 and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 1:6 and Jesse begat David the king.

The non-traditional mention of women in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew has led to speculation about the status of women in early Christianity for some scholars.