The life of Jesus demonstrates that the achievement of true greatness is found in humility, in being aware of one's own ignorance, and of the sin which we own. When we take stock of ourselves, truly look at what and who we are, most of us ignore those traits and qualities we would find abhorrent in others and strive to remake our mental image of ourselves - sans faults. This form of thinking leads people to develop a sense of the self and of the world that is based upon the idea that what is visible to others and to ourselves in the mirror is what is truly important. For it is not the mind that is appreciated, but the body. It is not the thought, but the deed that seems to count. The achievement of social position, physical beauty, monetary success, achievement of pleasure, and our physical survival are generally viewed in our world as being the primary goals, or points in life, which measure our success in it. The problem, of course for Matthew in his Book is that the pursuit of a material life only serves the now, whereas the pursuit of a spiritual and intellectual life serves us in the tomorrow. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the teachings of each of Matthew and to explore how each of them lived against the generally accepted principles of life within their time.
