Why is the Gospel of Matthew the most quoted gospel by the Fathers of the early Church? Why did the great St Dominic (founder of the Order of Preachers) always carry with him a copy of this gospel? Why is it the first book of the entire New Testament? How does this gospel serve as a bridge from the Old Testament to the New? And what are the important practical lessons Jesus teaches us for living out our discipleship more faithfully and more fervently?

This course seeks to explore what makes the Gospel of Matthew so unique. We will consider the structure and content of this literary masterpiece, what it has in common with the other gospels, and what is unique. The Gospel of Matthew is full of practical advice about how to live Christian discipleship, how to grow in virtue, how to deal with personal struggles, questions, and problems. As we focus on the rich theology of Christ’s fulfilment of Old Covenant prophecies, we will consider how the New Testament really is an unveiling of the Old, and we will discover the lessons for us in our life today.