An Introduction To Matthew

(A Book-By-Book Journey Through Scripture)

Today begins another exciting day on Cups to Crowns! We have been slowly making our way through Genesis but have paused that study to being studying the beginning of the New Testament, the book of Matthew.

bible open to Matthew with notebook and coffee nearby

INTRODUCTION...

The book of Matthew is one of the Gospels (along with Mark, Luke, and John) in the New Testament. From different perspectives, each Gospel tells of the life and ministry of Jesus. The Gospels complement, not contradict, each other.

The book of Matthew is different from the other Gospels in that it presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament.

By the time we reach the book of Matthew, the Jewish people had lost their way again. As in the days of Noah, God had to intervene. He did this by sending his son Jesus who lived and taught among the people.

At the age of 30, Jesus was baptized by his cousin John. At that point, Jesus stepped out into public ministry for 3.5 years.

Jesus did all that his Father in heaven asked of him, including teaching the people both spiritual and physical truths. He did this teaching with words and actions, which always pointed to God’s redeeming love for mankind.

However, the Jesus many discovered was not the Jesus they thought they needed or deserved. As a result, those who called themselves Gods people tried their best to make Jesus go away. When that didn’t happen, they began to manipulate and push to have him executed.

The final chapter of Matthew, chapter 28, sums up God’s will for our lives. Jesus asks us to always remember him and His teachings. He also lets us know how important it is to be there for each other and to share what we are learning.

Finally, Matthew shares a promise from Jesus; if we are his child, He will be with us always, even until the end of time.

We need that promise to hang on to, friend! We live in a fallen world that hates us because it hates Him. Because they can’t see Jesus in order to direct their hate at him, we become their target. Jesus told us not to be surprised by such things.

But what a fantastic promise to know that in spite of the hatred, we will always have Hope.

And Hope’s name is Jesus.

THE BOOK OF MATTHEW DETAILS…

AUTHOR:

It is not stated in the text but it is believed to be the apostle Matthew

PLACES YOU WILL READ ABOUT:

Bethany: A village outside of Jerusalem where Jesus sometimes stayed, especially in his last week on earth as he went back and forth from Jerusalem. Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Simon the Leper.

Capernaum: Capernaum was near the communities of Zebulun and Naphtali, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. During Jesus’ lifetime, this town was under Roman control and was heavy with the Roman military.

Galilee: A region (in America, we might call it a county) that borders the Sea of Galilee on the east side. Nazareth was one of the towns in the Galilee region. During Jesus’ time, it was ruled by Herod’s son with its own unique politics and unwritten rules. The area of Galilee played a major role in Jesus’ life. It is where He walked on water, called some disciples, was baptized by his cousin, fed the masses, and gave the Sermon on the Mount.

Jerusalem: Jesusalem was also called the City of David. Jerusalem is located between the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. The city of Jerusalem is mentioned many times throughout Scripture. According to the book of Matthew, when he was in the city of Jerusalem, Jesus healed, tossed the tables in the temple, taught on the Mount of Olives, held Passover, spent time in the Garden of Gethsemane, was crucified, died, buried, and resurrected.

Nazareth: A small Jewish village located in the lower southern area of Galilee, approximately 64 miles from Jerusalem. Nazareth sat in the hills, was near the crossroads of a popular caravan trade route, and wasn’t well respected (see John 1:45-46). Nazareth was also under Roman control and housed a Roman garrison. Nazareth was the childhood home of Jesus. It was also where Jesus preached from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue.

THEME:

Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies (promises), and the rightful King.

WHO WAS IT WRITTEN TO:

First the Jews then the Gentiles

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN:

No one is sure. I have seen estimates anywhere from AD 50-70. We know it was written during the time of the early church.

WHO WAS MATTHEW?

Matthew (also called Levi) was a Jew appointed by the Romans to be a tax collector in the busy town of Capernaum. During his ministry, Jesus hung out and had dinner with Matthew and his friends at Matthew’s house.

Matthew was the 5th apostle called by Jesus. This didn’t happen until after the Sermon on the Mount, and the demons were cast into the herd of pigs. When called by Jesus, Matthew didn’t hesitate to follow Him. As an apostle, Matthew was an eyewitness to the things he wrote about.

The name Matthew means “gift of the Lord.”

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CHAPTER BREAKDOWN:

Chapters 1-2: An introduction of who Jesus is; His connection to the Old Testament

Chapter 3: John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus

Chapter 4: The temptation of Jesus, his public ministry begins, and disciples are called

Chapter 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount

Chapters 8-9: Jesus heals, calms, and calls

Chapter 10: Jesus sends out the 12 disciples

Chapters 11-13: Jesus teaches about the Kingdom

Chapters 14-18: Jesus encounters various reactions to his ministry

Chapter 19-23: Jesus confronts, teaches, prophesies, and heals

Chapter 24-25: The teaching from the Mount of Olives

Chapter 26-28: The death and resurrection of Jesus

FAVORITE VERSES:

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” (Matthew 4:23)

“But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

“Jesus asked them, what do you want me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32)

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INTERESTING TIDBITS FROM THE BOOK OF MATTHEW…

The book of Matthew connects the Old and New Testaments
The book of Matthew is the 40th book of the Bible containing 28 chapters
The book of Matthew is filled with Messianic language and symbolism because of who was originally written to
Matthew quotes from the Old Testament more than any of the other Gospels
Thirteen times Matthew says “such things took place to fulfill what the Lord said through the prophets” reminding the Jews of the foretold connections
The word “kingdom” occurs 55 times in the book of Matthew
The “kingdom of heaven” occurs 35 times (and nowhere else in the Gospels)
Matthew records 20 miracles, 3 of which are only found in this book
All but 3 of the parables begin with, “The kingdom of heaven is like…”
Fourteen times Jesus says, “I tell you…” revealing his authority and power
Only Matthew tells of Judas’ repentance
One verse (2:23) says such and such was fulfilled but this statement has not been found in the Old Testament
Typically, Matthew refers to Jesus as the Son of David, as if to remind of Jesus’ connection to his heritage, and his right to hold the title