BROADCASTS.com

St. Jerome tells us that the Gospel of Matthew was originally written\nin Aramaic, and that it was reworked into a Greek version later, which\nis supported by some evidence. Jerome also tells us that Matthew was\nthe first gospel, but the actual order of composition is not clear.\nMatthew is also associated with a winged human in ecclesiastical\nsymbolism, though this is not part of the inspired text.
\n
\nThe initial genealogy is abbreviated and separated into 3 sets of 14\ngenerations beginning with Abraham, which provide a synopsis of Jewish\nhistory. Three women are mentioned in this genealogy, which is unusual\nfor Jewish genealogies: Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth.
\n
\nMatthew then begins the infancy narrative. Mary is a virgin who is\nbetrothed to Joseph, which was more like marriage than a modern-day\nengagement. When Mary is found with child, Joseph resolves to divorce\nher privately, but an angel tells Joseph to remain with Mary and the\nchild, who is to be called Emmanuel, which is translated for the\nbenefit of Greeks as 'God with us.'

\nThe closing theme is Gerard Satamian's Chansons Sans Paroles Op. 2 Pastorale, from the album Dry Fig Trees. www.magnatune.com