When was the Book of Matthew Written

QUESTION: When was the Book of Matthew Written?

ANSWER:

When was the book of Matthew written is a debatable question. The debate centers on Matthew 24:2: "'Do you see all these things?' he [Jesus] asked. 'I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.'" In this verse, the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place in A. D. 70, is viewed as an event yet to come. Some teachers ignore this verse and date this Gospel in the 80's or 90's. It is generally accepted that this was not the first gospel written and that it was written in the 60's A.D

The gospel was written to the Jews to answer their questions about Jesus of Nazareth, who claimed to be their Messiah. His recorded teachings are to substantiate the claim of Jesus to be the One who fulfills the Old Testament prophesies of Messiah.

The book is characterized by its inclusion of people outside of Judaism. This Gospel speaks to the church in verses 16:18 and 18:17 and ends with the commission to "Go into the world to preach the gospel to all people."