Matthew: "Gift of the Lord"
Author: Matthew, Son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14)
Written: Between 58-68 AD

Written to the Jews to show that Jesus is the Messiah

Tax Collector in Capernaum, before Jesus called him

130 References to the Old Testament of Jesus Christ fulfilling the qualifications of the Messiah.

First book in the canon because of the amount of Old and New Testament comparisons and correlations