 The gospel has been interpreted as reflecting the struggles and conflicts between the evangelist's community and the other Jews, particularly with its sharp criticism of the scribes and Pharisees.Prior to the Crucifixion the Jews are called Israelites, the honorific title of God's chosen people; after it, they are called "Ioudaioi", Jews, a sign that, through their rejection of the Christ, the "Kingdom of Heaven" has been taken away from them and given instead to the church.The divine nature of Jesus was a major issue for the community of Matthew, the crucial element marking them from their Jewish neighbors.