Like anyone else who wishes to write a theology of Matthew, I am faced with a fundamental decision: should I present the theology of Matthew systematically, organized by topic, as has been attempted for example by J. Ernst and R. T. France? Or should I follow the Matthean account and write a ‘Matthew's Story of Jesus’ in the manner of R. A. Edwards and J. D. Kingsbury? I have chosen the second option, not because I am well versed in matters of literary criticism, but because I am convinced that the Gospel of Matthew is a story of Jesus that can only be understood when one retraces it and tries to grasp what it wished to convey to its intended readers. I have tried to interpolate several broader and more systematic sections at points in the story where it seemed most fitting to do so, just as Matthew inserted his discourses in the form of direct address from Jesus to the readers of his narrative. My own readers may decide for themselves whether this procedure is appropriate.

Hundreds of experts have written about Matthew's Gospel. The few I have mentioned in the notes (sometimes quite critically!) should know that I cited them because their writings have become especially important to me. I would like to thank them for all they have taught me.