The Gospel of Matthew is written to a Jewish Christian audience, the Jewish converts to Jesus' Way. These followers were a remnant, a select few of all that were chosen. Though the inheritance of the Messiah belonged to the Israelite people, many Jews did not recognize Jesus and consequently many converts to early Christianity came from Gentile communities. Fr. Anderson explains: "Matthew writes as a Jewish Christian. The Gospel of Matthew betrays the Jewish bias of the author, who holds Jewish laws and traditions close to his heart. For Matthew, Jesus does not come to do away with the Law, but to fulfilland correctly interpret the Law." The gospel writer had a deep love for his faith heritage, but also for the Way of Jesus.The writer of this gospel uses Old Testament descriptions to point the way to Jesus, such as Son of God and Son of David. He believes that the Church is the new Israel and the "reign of God is identified with the Church in the gospel, but it is not a total identification," explains Anderson. "The reign of God will continue throughout eternity, whereas 'the Church' refers to the disciples who are in union with Jesus here on earth."
