Thank you for the question on canonization of Matthew, “Among the synoptic gospels, why was the gospel of Matthew canonized first before the Gospel of Mark?”
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration as to the reasons why the Gospel of Matthew was canonized first in the Gospels:
A. Among the synoptic Gospels, Matthew is recognized as one of the Twelve apostles (Matt. 10:2–4).
B. Among the synoptic Gospels, Matthew may have been selected because he begins with the genealogy of Jesus tracing it back to David even to Abraham (Matt. 1:1–2).
C. Among the synoptic Gospels, Matthew may have been selected for the unfolding of the life and words of Jesus in sections as the Birth of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, the Parables, and the Olivet Discourse.
D. Among the synoptic Gospels, Matthew may have been selected since it is fitting that the gospel would be written to the Jews people first before the Gentiles people (Matt. 10:5–7). Whether it was written in Hebrew or Aramaic is uncertain.
E. Among the synoptic Gospels, Matthew may have been selected since it is more complete on the life of Jesus than the Gospel of Mark (Matt. 1–2, 28).
SUMMARY: The order of the Synoptic Gospel is less important than the content of the Gospels.
For more perspectives: