The Hebrew Scriptures — or Christian Old Testament — permeate Matthew’s Gospel. Approximately fifty-five references prove close enough in wording for commentators typically to label them “quotations,” compared to about sixty-five for the other three canonical Gospels put together. About twenty-three of these texts are unique to Matthew. Twelve times Matthew speaks explicitly of a passage or theme of Scripture being “fulfilled.” In addition to explicit quotations, numerous allusions and echoes of Scripture may be discerned in every part of this Gospel.

“Matthew” by Craig L. Blomberg in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, eds. G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, 1.