Do The Gospels document that Jesus claimed to be God?

An argument is often brought forward to support the idea tha Jesus Christ, Isa Al-Masih, never claimed to be God. When we claim something for us, we can do it orally, written or by action. Either something we say or something we do demonstrates who we are.

Perhaps you have hear this Argument. Jesus never said explicitly, I am God, worship me. The first question I'd like to ask is whether you've read the Bible or not. The second is if you have given the chance to understand its contents or not. Regardless the answer to those questions, I invite you to read the notes below. They summarize the accounts in which is seen wether Jesus claimed to be God or not. Please read this with critical and constructive eyes, with a sincere heart.

Where did Jesus  Claim to be God in The Gospel According To Matthew?

1. He claimed the prophets were persecuted because of Him, implying he sent those prophets

Prophets are messengers sent by God. Only he can send them. Jesus said to His disciples that they would suffer for the same reason the prophets were persecuted, and therefore they would also be persecuted.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV)

2. He claimed to be The Son of Man, 

The Son of Man is a prophetic character who would receive all the power and be worshipped 

Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:19-20 NIV)

The following is one of the prophetic verses talking about the Son of Man.

Daniel 7:13-14 (HCSB) 13 I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him 14 He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

Those versed on the Scriptures knew who The Son of Man was and what that title implied.

3. In an occasion  He claimed to be both the Son of Man and who can forgive Sins

Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:2-8 NIV)

4. He accepted to be called the Son of David, a Title given to the Messiah. 

In the time of Jesus scholars expected that the Messiah would be divine. The Targum f Isaiah, in the commentary of Isaiah chapter 9, equates The Messiah to The Everlasting Father (1). The Messiah was expected to be A descendant of David.

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” (Matthew 9:27-30 NIV)

5 He asked to be loved in the same way we should love God, more than anyone else

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37 NIV)

6. He claimed to forgive sins

Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:2-8 NIV)

7. He claimed to be The Son of Man, the one to be worshipped

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:19 NIV)

8. He claimed having all dominion

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11:27 NIV)

9. He claimed to be the dwelling place of God, the presence of God 

I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. (Matthew 12:6 NIV)

10. He claimed to be owner of the Sabbath

For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:8 NIV)

11. He claimed to fulfill the prophecies

For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Matthew 13:17 NIV)

12. He claimed being the sower of the word The Spirit

He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. (Matthew 13:37 NIV)

13. He accepted being called the Messiah Son of God

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:16-17 NIV)

14. He claimed to be the owner of the keys to heaven

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:16, 19 NIV)

15. He's the promised Son of Man who will be worshipped

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (Matthew 16:27 NIV)

16. He claimed Omnipresence

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20 NIV)

17. He claimed to be the Son Of Man that would receive the power from God

When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. (Matthew 17:22-23 NIV)

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:44 NIV)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. (Matthew 25:31 NIV)

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. (Matthew 26:45 NIV)

18. He claimed to be the right hand of God and the corner stone spoken of in psalm 118

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? (Matthew 21:42 NIV)

19. He claimed to be the Messiah and therefore The Lord Adon

“What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:42-46 NIV)

20. He claimed again being the one who sends prophets

Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. (Matthew 23:34 NIV)

21. He claimed that his words are eternal 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35 NIV)

22. He claimed to fulfill gen 49, Isaiah 53 and all other prophecies of the suffering servant

But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:56 NIV)

23. At his response to the Sanhedrin he was charged of blasphemy

But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. (Matthew 26:63-65 NIV)

24. He claimed to be the savior, the Son of God and the King of Israel

and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross. In like manner also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 27:40-43 ASV)

Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. (Matthew 27:54 ASV)

Note the Son of God can do miracles: The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Matthew 4:3 NIV)

25. He claimed to be the crimson worm of psalm 22

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46 ASV)

26. After resurrection He was worshipped and did not stop them

And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. (Matthew 28:17 ASV)

Jesus had mentions before that only God should be worshipped: Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” (Matthew 4:10 NIV)

27. He claimed having all authority 

And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18 ASV)

28. He claimed to be equal to the father and the Spirit of God

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: (Matthew 28:19 ASV)

29. He claimed to be eternal and omnipresent

teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20 ASV)

-------------------

Footnotes 

(1)  Approximately 100 years before the birth of Jesus, some fathers of the Judaism interpreted that descriptions of The Servant presented in the book of Isaiah corresponded to The Messiah. This is found within the writings of the students of the Jewish school of Hilel. Beit Hilel, the house of Hilel, was one of the most recognized jewish law academies in the first century BCE. Jonnathon Ben Uzziel, a disciple of Hilel, wrote a Targum with Mishnah (interpretative commentaries) of the book of Isaiah. The Targum originally written in Aramaic, served as a translation of The Scriptures. Given the piety and righteous life of Jonnathon Ben Uzziel, some Jews came to consider that his translations were inspired by God himself. Not saying that this is the case, I highlight this to indicate to the reader that Judaism before the time of Jesus did believe that the Servant was The Messiah. Proof of this are the following excerpts of Isaiah 9, 42, and 52. 

Targum Johnathon - Isaiah:

A. Isaiah 9:6 The prophet spoke to the House of David, for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, He has taken the Law upon himself to keep it. His name is called from eternity, Wonderful, The Mighty God, who liveth to Eternity, The Messiah, whose peace should be great upon us in His days

B. Isaiah 42:1 Behold my Servant, The Messiah, whom I bring, My chosen in whom one delights: As for My Word, I will put my Spirit on Him; He shall reveal my judgement into the nations

C. isaiah 52:13 Behold My Servant, The Messiah, shall prosper, He shall be exalted and stolled,  and He shall be very strong (7)

We can conclude that the Judaism in the first century BCE was expecting a Divine and suffering Servant as their Messiah. Today's Rabbinic Judaism does not recognize that the Servant mentioned in Isaiah is referred to the Messiah. A believe has evolved over the last 2000 years which claims that the Servant is the nation of Israel. Why? Some of Them don't believe that The Messiah has come. They don't believe that Jesus son of Mary (Isa ibn Maryam) and Joseph is The Messiah (Al-Masih). It results very interesting reading in the Qur'an that Jesus was called The Messiah (Al-Masih). In a passive way, this is a recognition that Jesus is The Messiah and therefore The Servant described in Isaiah. And the implication is that this is acceptance of whom Jesus was and what He did and who He is: