The self-field approach to quantum electrodynamics (QED) is used to study the bound state problem in light-front two-dimensional QED with massive matter fields. A composite matter field describing bound states is introduced and the relativistic bound state equation for the composite field including a self-potential is obtained. The Hamiltonian form of the bound state equation in terms of the invariant mass squared operator is given. The eigenvalue problem of this operator is solved for a fixed

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... alue of the self-potential, the corresponding eigenfunctions and the mass spectrum are found. In the case of massless matter fields, there are no self-field terms in the bound state equation, and the invariant mass spectrum can be evaluated explicitly. Possible ways of deriving more complete information about the bound state spectrum are briefly discussed.