Final answer:
In the Gospel of Matthew, the phrase 'truly ('amen') I tell you' is used by Jesus to underscore the importance of his teachings, prophecy, and paradoxes within his messages. It emphasizes the significant and often surprising nature of divine Truth as understood within the context of the Kingdom of God.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Gospel of Matthew, the phrase "truly ('amen') I tell you" used by Jesus often precedes important teachings or declarations meant to underline the truthfulness and significance of what is being said. Jesus employs this phrase in various contexts, including moral instruction, prophetic statements, and when addressing matters of faith and discipleship. For example, Matthew 19:24, where Jesus discusses the difficulty for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, uses the phrase to emphasize the counterintuitive nature of His teachings compared to societal expectations. This phrase also often introduces prophetic revelations about future events, such as foretelling the betrayal by Judas (Matthew 26) or describing the end times. Additionally, it highlights the paradoxical nature of Jesus' messages, similar to the mystery ('mystérion') of the Kingdom of God, which is revealed to believers but remains hidden to others as seen in Mark 4:11.