Study Introduction

I.         Book Title – The Gospel According to Matthew

A.      The “Gospel” being the story of the life of Jesus being given for the sins of the world (1Cor 15:1-4)

B.       The fact that God used a man (Matthew) to pen the words of the Gospel account shows that God knows we depend upon perspective

1.        There will be a total of four perspectives of the life of Jesus presented in the four Gospel accounts

2.        Each account is slightly different providing an additional angle on the life of Jesus:

a.       Matthew – Jesus is the perfectly qualified King of the Jews

b.       Mark – Jesus is the perfect Servant of God

c.       Luke – Jesus is perfect Son of Man

d.       John – Jesus is the perfect Son of God, the Lamb of God

II.       Date of Writing

A.      Probably around 65 AD (some 30 years after the death of Christ)

B.       But the possibility exists that this Gospel was written sometime right after Jesus’ death, say in 35-40 AD.

C.       There was a large demand for documented writings about the life of Jesus (Lk 1:1-4). There was also a massive effort of corrupting those words (2Cor 2:17)

III.     Author – Matthew

A.      A Tax collector – Publican – public official working for the Roman government (Mt 9:9; 10:3). This was a shameful career for a Jew because it allowed for extortion, bribery, treachery, and other abuses.

B.       A Jew of the Galilee area (as were ALL the apostles).

C.       Also known as Levi (Mk 2:14,15; Lk 5:27-29)

D.      The son of Alphaeus, and brother of James the less (Mk 3:18; Lk 5:27-29; 6:12-16; Acts 1:13; Mk 15:40).

E.       Became a disciple of Jesus by invitation, and was a great connection between Jesus and the unsavoury people - people no one else cared about (Luke 5:29)

F.       Later became an Apostle of Jesus (Mt 10:1-3)

G.       Not prominent at all among the apostles, yet used by God to write this first Gospel. Prominent ones would include Peter, James, John, and Judas Iscariot.

IV.    Placement – the link between the Old Testament, and specifically Malachi, and the New Testament.

A.      With this Book, we are coming out of a series of 39 Jewish Books, and starting into 27 Books that are directed at both Jews and Gentiles.

B.       Matthew, as all four of the Gospels are, is a bridge between the Law, and Grace as general themes.

C.       There was a gap of approximately 430 years between the prophecy of Malachi and the arrival of the Messiah.

1.        Judea was under Persian rule until 332 B.C. - under which Nehemiah and Ezra were allowed to return and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple

2.        The Greeks took over from 331 – 167 BC

3.        Judea was independent from 167 – 63 B.C., during which the Maccabean family led the Jews as a small nation back to God – there was a lot of baggage though, and during this time a lot of the apocrypha was written.

4.        The Roman Empire took over in 63 B.C under Pompey. Herod the Great was made ruler of Judea by Rome, and he built again the Jewish Temple, which happened to be the one that Jesus walked around in. Many jews felt indebted to Rome for the peace and tranquillity because of this kindness. But, this is the same Herod that was met by the wise men, and who had all the children massacred when Jesus was born!

V.      Purpose of the Book – to present Jesus as the verifiable, promised Messiah.

A.      By His lineage – the fact that he could prove his was a direct descendant of David the king

B.       By His works – the fact that he did what the Old Testament promised the messiah would do –all the way to the cross, and resurrection

C.       By His words – He taught, preached, and promoted the Father

D.      By His fruit – the results of Him being here would prove to the world that this Man, was not just any man, but the one promised from God!

VI.    Comparative View of the Life of Christ in the Four Gospels

VII.  Statistics of the Book

A.      The 40^th Book of the Bible (matches Isaiah 40).

B.       28 chapters.

C.       1071 verses.

D.      23,684 words.

E.       177 questions are asked, mostly by Jesus in this Book.

F.       25 specific Old Testament prophecies are pointed to as having been fulfilled in this Book. You will be required to find and list them in a report at the end.

G.       The Old Testament began with Man made in the image of God. The New Testament begins with God now made in the image of Man.

H.      Matthew is one of the most troublesome Books in the Bible next to Acts and Hebrews – because it is transitional.

1.        Matthew – from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

2.        Acts - from the Jew to the Gentile

3.        Hebrews – from the current dispensation of Grace to the coming Tribulation when the Jews will again figure prominently in God’s plan.

VIII.      General Outline

A.      Introducing the Messiah – the King of the Jews (1:1 – 3:17)

1.        The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

2.        The Birth of Jesus Christ

3.        Wise Men Worship Jesus

4.        Jesus is taken to Egypt for Safety

5.        Herod Massacres all Children in Bethlehem

6.        John the Baptist begins to prepare people for the soon coming Messiah

7.        Jesus Gets Baptized

B.       Testing the Character of the Messiah (4:1-11)

1.        Satan Tempts Jesus

C.       Main Ministry - Teaching About The Kingdom (4:12 – 19:1)

1.        Jesus Begins to Call Out His Disciples

2.        Jesus Begins Teaching About the Kingdom of Heaven

3.        Teaching on the Importance of the Law

4.        Teaching on Murder

5.        Teaching on Adultery and Lust

6.        Teaching on Divorce

7.        Teaching on Swearing and Keeping Your Promises

8.        Teaching on not Always Paying-Back Evil for Evil

9.        Teaching on Conquering Your Enemies

10.     Jesus Teaches on How to Give Your Money to Good Causes

11.     Jesus Teaches How to Pray

12.     Jesus Teaches on Fasting When Praying

13.     Teaching About Investing in Heavenly Rewards

14.     Teaching on Worry

15.     Jesus Teaches About Pre-Judging People

16.     Jesus Teaches More About Prayer

17.     The Golden Rule

18.     Christ's Way is Not an Easy Way - But it is the Right Way

19.     Warning About False Prophets

20.     Jesus Warns About False Believers

D.      The Miracles of the Messiah (8:1 – 10:34)

1.        Jesus Heals a Leper

2.        A Centurion Seeks Jesus' Help

3.        Jesus Heals Peter's Wife's Mother

4.        Jesus Tests People's Desire to Follow Him

5.        Jesus and His Disciples Cross the Sea of Galilee in a Storm

6.        Jesus Shows the Most Important Kind of Healing

7.        Jesus Calls Matthew to be His Disciple

8.        A Question About Fasting

9.        The Healing of A Young Girl, and a Woman

10.     The Healing of Two Blind Men

11.     Jesus Heals a Dumb Man

E.       The Ministry of the Disciples (10:35 – 11:30)

1.        Jesus Urges His Dsciples to See How Large, and Needy are the Multitudes for the Gospel

2.        Jesus Chooses Twelve Specific Disciples to Be His Apostles

3.        Jesus sends out His Twelve with Special Powers and Special Instructions

4.        Be Courageous in Telling People About Jesus

5.        Jesus Answers John the Baptist's Questions

6.        John the Baptist was the Greatest Man

7.        Jesus Rebukes the Cities For Unbelief

F.       More Teaching and Miracles (12:1 – 20:34)

1.        Jesus Teaches About the Sabbath

2.        Jesus heals on the Sabbath Day

3.        Jesus was Hated and Loved at the Same Time

4.        Jesus Gets in Trouble by healing a Blind and Dumb Man

5.        The Sign of Jonah is Proof Jesus is Messiah

6.        Jesus Teaches Who is in His Family

7.        Jesus Teaches More About the Kingdom of Heaven

8.        The Parable of the Sower

9.        The Reason Jesus used Parables

10.     Jesus Explains the Meaning of the Sower and the Seed

11.     The Parable of the Wheat and Tares

12.     The Parable of the Mustard Seed

13.     The Parable of Leaven

14.     The Parable of the Wheat and Tares Explained

15.     The Parable of Treasure Hidden in a Field

16.     The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

17.     The Parable of the Fishing Net

18.     Jesus is Rejected by the People of Nazareth

19.     Herod Tries to Believe Jesus is John the Baptist, Whom He had Earlier had Murdered

20.     Jesus Feeds 5,000 People

21.     Jesus Sends His Disciples into a Storm

22.     Jesus Heals Anybody Who Would Believe in Him

23.     Jesus Condemns the Keeping of Traditions Instead of the Commandments of God

24.     Jesus Explains How People become Defiled

25.     Jesus Teaches About Humble Faith

26.     Jesus Continues to Heal

27.     Jesus Feeds 4,000 People

28.     The Sadducees Are Rebuked

29.     Jesus Warns About the Teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees

30.     Jesus Teaches About Himself

31.     Peter Misunderstands What it Means to Follow Jesus

32.     Jesus Reveals His Deity

33.     Jesus Answers Why Elijah Must First Come

34.     Jesus heals a Lunatick

35.     Jesus Warns About His Crucifixion

36.     Jesus Answers About Paying Taxes

37.     Jesus Explains the Value of Being a Child

38.     Jesus Warns About Sinning

39.     How to Handle Wayward Church-Members

40.     Jesus Teaches About Forgiveness

41.     The Parable of the Two-Debtors

42.     Jesus Teaches on Divorce and Marriage

43.     Jesus Invites Children to Trust in Him

44.     A Rich Man Seeks Eternal Life

45.     Jesus Warns of the Attraction of Riches

46.     The Parable of the Penny's Wage

47.     Jesus Foretells of His Soon Death

48.     Some Disciples Want to be the Greatest

49.     Jesus Teaches How to be the Greatest

50.     Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

G.       Final Entry into Jerusalem (21:1 – 25:46)

1.        Jesus Enters Jerusalem as King

2.        Jesus Clears the Temple of Thieves

3.        A Barren Fig Tree is Cursed

4.        Jesus Teaches Where He Got His Authority

5.        Jesus Teaches About Repentance

6.        The Parable of the Husbandmen

7.        The Parable of the Wedding Supper

8.        Jesus Answers About Paying Taxes

9.        Jesus Teaches About the Resurrection

10.     Jesus Teaches What is the Greatest Commandment

11.     Jesus Proves His Deity from Scripture

12.     Jesus rebukes the Hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Scribes

13.     Jesus Warns of the Coming Destruction

14.     Jesus Warns of False Christ's

15.     Jesus Warns of False Prophets

16.     Jesus Explains More About the Coming Great Tribulation

17.     The Time of the Second Coming

18.     The Parable of the Ten Virgins

19.     Rewards for Serving Jesus

20.     The Judgment of the Nations

H.      The Crucifixion (26:1 – 27:66)

1.        Jesus Again Prepares His Disciples for His Betrayal

2.        Judas Iscariot Agrees to Betray Jesus

3.        Jesus Prepares for the Passover Meal

4.        Jesus Identifies His Betrayer

5.        The Last Supper

6.        Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane

7.        Jesus is Captured like a Criminal

8.        Peter Denies knowing Jesus Three Times

9.        Judas Hangs Himself

10.     Jesus is Tried by Pilate

11.     Jesus is Crucified

12.     Jesus is Buried

I.         The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (28:1 – 20)

1.        The Resurrection

2.        The Pharisees Come up with a False Report

3.        The Great Commission

IX.    Other Study Resources

A.      The Book of Matthew, The Bible Believer’s Commentary, by Dr. Peter S. R