Matthew

Author: Matthew, who left his work as a tax collector to become one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 9:9-13). Matthew (Hebrew Mattityahu) means “Gift of the Lord.”

Period: 4 B.C. – 30 A.D.

Summary: Matthew is aimed at a Jewish audience. Its purpose is to witness that Jesus was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Matthew emphasizes the words of the Lord regarding the Kingdom of Heaven. This was done to counterbalance the popular Jewish belief of the day that the Messiah would be a militant leader who would overthrow the then current Roman occupation and re-establish the throne of David. Instead, Matthew speaks of the servant role that Jesus led while on earth.

CHRIST AS KING–THE FACE OF A LION

(see faces described in Ezekiel 1:5-10, 10:20-22)

Key Verse: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” Matthew 1:1

Unique Features: Matthew makes no less than sixty references to the Old Testament writings as fulfilled in Christ, so that the word “fulfilled” becomes characteristic of the book. The word “Kingdom” is met with fifty-five times; “Kingdom of Heaven” thirty-two times; “Son of David” seven times. The Jews laid great store on Scripture, and this Gospel, written particularly for them, abounds in such references.

Breakdown:

Preparation: Chapter 1:1 – 4:16

  • Christ’s relation to the past: 1:1 – 2:23
  • Christ’s relation to God: 3:1-17
  • Christ’s relation to humanity: 4:1-11

Preaching: Chapter 4:17 -18:35

  • Proclaiming the Kingdom: 4:12-25
  • What Jesus taught: 5:1 – 7:29
  • What Jesus wrought: 8:1 – 10:42

TEN MIGHTY WORKS SHOWING HIS ABILITY TO RULE

  • The cleansing of the leper: 8:1-4
  • Centurion’s servant–palsy: 8:5-13
  • Peter’s wife’s mother of fever: 8:14-15
  • The stilling of the storm: 8:16-27
  • Gergesene demoniacs healed: 8:28-34
  • The man cured of the palsy: 9:1-17
  • The woman with haemorrhage: 9:18-22
  • The ruler’s daughter raised: 9:23-26
  • Two blind men given sight: 9:27-31
  • The dumb demoniac healed: 9:32-38
  • The Apostles empowered to preach: 10:1-42

There are a couple of digressions (see 8:18-22; 9:9-17), but they are related to the miracles performed. The miracles revealed physically what the Gospel can do spiritually.

What people thought: Chapter 11:1 – 18:35

TEN REACTIONS TO HIS CALL

John the Baptist in doubt: 11:1-15

  • “This generation” unresponsive: 11:16-19
  • Galilean cities unrepentant: 11:20-30
  • The Pharisees unreasonable: 12:1-45
  • His family misunderstand him: 12:46-50
  • The multitudes undiscerning: 13:1-58
  • Herod the king unintelligent: 14:1-13
  • The disciples of little faith: 14:14-36
  • Jerusalem scribe unimpressionable: 15:1-20
  • Gentile multitudes seeking: 15:21-39
  • Pharisees, Sadducees unrelenting: 16:1-12
  • The Apostles needing education: 16:13-18:35

Passover: Chapter 19:1 – 28:20

  • Presentation: 19:1- 25:46
  • Condemnation: 26:1- 27:66
  • Vindication: 28:1-20