St. Matthew's Favorite Number

If the apostles were a sports team and it was time to hand out game day jerseys, which number would Matthew pick? 

You might think, since he was the first to give the Good News of Jesus, his Gospel being number 1 in the line up, he would choose number 1.

I think he would reject that number because, like all the apostles, there would be an element of humility. He wouldn'ty want people thinking that he thinks he is the best. Afterall, it was Matthew who wrote, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Hint, hint- that was in Matthew 5:5. 

Besides, Matthew more than the other evangelists had a clear understanding that Peter was the first apostle. He describes Peter as the “first” (Greek, protos) of the apostles (see Matt 10:2). So, obviously jersey number one was unavailable.

Here are the FIVE reasons Matthew would select number FIVE to represent him on game day... 

1. The entire structure of his Gospel was based on five key sections or discourses. The Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5–7), The Mission Discourse (Chapter 10), The Parables of the Kingdom (Chapter 13), The Church/Community Discourse (Chapter 18), The Olivet Discourse (Chapters 24–25) ]

2. He saw the number 5 as a sign of fulfillment. Matthew had a deep reverence for the first five books of the Bible, the Torah or in Greek, the Pentateuch. He saw Jesus as the Messiah that fulfilled all of the typology and prophecy as the New Moses.  He wanted his Jewish-Christian audience to know that Jesus does not abolish the Law of Moses, but fulfills it. Matthew frequently pauses his narrative to explain that something has taken place “to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet.”

3. The word "five" and the number 5 appear in several key places throughout the Gospel of Matthew. The five loaves, the five thousand men in the crowd, the five wise and foolish virgins and the five talents.

4. Chapter five of his Gospel contains the start of the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes which is unique to Matthew’s Gospel.

5. At the beginning of Jesus’ earthly life and at the end, Matthew gives us five key insights that the other Gospels lack:

1. Matthew is the only Gospel that includes the visit of the Magi

2. The star in the east

3. Herod's Slaughter of the Innocents

4. The holy family's flight into Egypt

5. The emphasis on the newborn Jesus as a King of the Kingdom of Heaven

Furthermore, Matthew is the only evangelist to mention these five details of the passion and resurrection of Jesus:

1. Pilate's wife's dream

2. Pilate washing his hands

3. An earthquake

4. Saints rising from the tombs during the crucifixion

5. The guard bribery plot by the chief priests at the tomb