NTS 004 The Gospel of Matthew

Ezra 7:10 ESV

10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Interesting Facts:

It contains 28 chapters.

It contains 20 parables.

It contains 21 miracles.

It is an ecclesiastical gospel.

Meaning it is the only gospel to use the word church (16:18)

The author: Matthew

Matthew worked as a tax collector before meeting Jesus.

Matthew 9:9 ESV

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Luke 5:27 ESV

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”

Luke and Mark refer to him as Levi.

Matthew 9:10–11 ESV

10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Why were tax collectors lumped in with sinners by the Pharisees?

Matthew 18:17 ESV

17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Why does Jesus call them out here as an example?

Nobody likes to give money to the government, especially one like the Roman government.

Tax collectors were Jews working for the hated Roman empire.

The were seen as betraying their own.

They were sellouts for their own good.

Tax collectors cheated people they collected from.

They would collect more than was owed and keep it for themselves.

This was common knowledge.

Tax collectors would offer personal high interest loans to people who could not pay their taxes.

Luke 19:8 ESV

8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Because of this, tax collectors were often well off.

They became shut off from society so they formed their own societal group.

Thus the Jews saw them as enemies to be shunned.

Luke 5:27–28 ESV

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

It meant something that he left everything and followed Jesus.

He left a lifestyle.

He left a group of friends.

He left his livelihood.

He left wealth.

Matthew was not someone we would pick to be a disciple, much less write a book of the Bible.

The audience: Jews

Matthew quotes the Old Testament 62 times. This is more than any other gospel.

Though Mark often explains Jewish customs for his readers (suggesting primarily a gentile audience), Matthew does not explain Jewish customs.

He simply refers to them suggesting the intended audience to be Jewish.

Also, Matthew uses the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” rather than “Kingdom of God”

Kingdom of Heaven is a common phrase used by the Jews referring to the general location of God.

It is used out of reverence for God.

Though the intended audience was Jewish, Matthew has some of the strongest indictments against Jewish religious leaders.

Structure of Matthew:

Geographic structure.

There is a specific geographic progression that shows Jesus moving from Galilee in the north to Jerusalem n the south.

This shows Jesus clear resolve to carry out His Father’s will.

Literary Structure.

Matthew is known for its five discourses.

Matthew seems to be written as a series of five book.

This structure is not used anywhere else.

Matthew may have used this for organizational purposes.

1. The Sermon on the Mount

Narrative (3-4), Discourse (5-7)

Matthew 7:28–29 ESV

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

2. The commissioning of the twelve

Narrative (8-9), Discourse (10)

Matthew 11:1 ESV

1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

3. The parables about the Kingdom (13)

Narrative (11-12), Discourse (13)

Matthew 13:53 ESV

53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,

4. Talking about the church. (18)

Narrative (14-17) Discourse (18)

Matthew 19:1 ESV

1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

5. The Olivet Discourse (23-25)

Narrative (19-22) Discourse (23-25)

Matthew 26:1 ESV

1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,

There are two sections left out of these books.

1-2 are the introduction.

26-28 is the climax of the narrative with the intent that the story wasn’t over.

The disciples would continue to teach.

Themes of Matthew:

Jesus the King

Matthew opens with genealogies.

Jesus the promised Messiah

Fulfillment

Matthew’s “Fulfillment Formulas” or “Fulfillment Citations”.

“that the scripture might be fulfilled”

or “to fulfill”

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:22–23 ESV

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

This happens multiple times in Matthew plus he refers to scripture multiple other times without using this formula, but in a way that alludes to Jesus being the fulfillment of it.

An Outline of Matthew

1. The announcement and arrival of Jesus the King and Messiah. (1-4)

a. The birth and childhood of Jesus (1-2)

Genealogy

Birth

Visit of the Magi

Feeing into Egypt

Settling down in Nazareth

b. The preparation for ministry of Jesus (3-4:11)

Baptism and temptation.

2. Jesus’ earthly ministry. (4-25)

a. Ministry in Galilee

b. Ministry in Perea

c. Ministry in Judea

d. Ministry in Jerusalem

3. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. (26-28)

Matthew helps us see the Old Testament roots in the gospel.

Matthew helps us understand the nature of Christ’s kingdom.

Matthew reveals the heart of Jesus to us.