Matthew

Matthew 5:17

Theme: That it might be fulfilled

Key Chapter: 12

Key Verse: 5:17

28 chapters; 1071 verses; 23,684 words

Grade Level - 4.79

Shortest Verse (8 words) 22:27

Longest Verse (50 words) 13:15

Middle Verse (of 1071 verses) 16:8

Middle Five Words (of 23684 words) “can discern the face of” in 16:3

Author: The Holy Spirit of God by inspiration (2 Timothy 3:15-16) through Matthew

Written: A.D. 50

Background:

While the Old Testament ends waiting on the coming Messiah the nation of Israel is under the world power of that day: Rome. The Roman empire were the army/police of the day and they ruled all the known world. The Jewish religious world was controlled by three groups, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Scribes. All were operating apart from the scriptures and thus apart from God. With all this in place God chooses to send His Only Begotten Son.

Setting:

The Gospel of Matthew is the link that breaks God’s silence from the close of Old Testament times.

Purpose:

This book was written almost 20 years after Christ ascended to Heaven. The Jews had rejected Jesus as their Messiah (Acts 7:54-60) and the nation of Israel would face the end of their religious and national life (Matthew 24:1-2). The Lord uses this Gospel of Matthew to reintroduce the Jews to their Messiah and to proclaim Him King of the Jews. This Gospel reveals that Christ will return and set up His kingdom (Matthew 25).

“In keeping with the thought of Jesus as King we find that only one time in Mark, once in Luke and once in John do we see men bowing to give homage to the Lord. Yet in Matthew we find this happening ten times (2:2, 8, 11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9,17).” [Excerpt From New Testament SurveyKnox, James W.]

Comparing with other Bible Books:

“The synoptic theory that Matthew, Mark and Luke are largely one (syn) view (optic) and that John is a rogue account has little support from the scriptures.” (James W. Knox - NT Survey )

Excerpt From

New Testament Survey

Knox, James W.

https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=0

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Mark:

Matthew presents Jesus as King; Mark presents Jesus as Servant.

Luke:

Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ rejection; Luke emphasizes Jesus’ acceptance.

Luke and John:

Matthew presents Jesus as the victim of the cross;

Luke and John present Jesus as the victor of the cross.

Revelation:

Matthew 24 helps explain the seal judgments of Revelation 6:1-8:1

Christ In Matthew:

Matthew’s Gospel shows Jesus to be the promised Jewish Messiah and King (1:23; 2:2, 6; 3:17; 4:15-17; 21:5, 9; 22:44-45; 26:64; 27:11, 27-37). To show that Christ is the Messiah Matthew quotes or alludes to the Old Testament at least 128 times. There are more references to Christ being of the line of David more times in Matthew than the other Gospels.

Outline:

1. Christ the Messiah. chs.1-3

2. Christ the Minister. chs.4-27

3. Christ the Master. ch.28

Let’s examine the mountaintop EXPERIENCES in

Matthew

I. The Mountain of TRIAL

Matthew 4:8

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

II. The Mountain of TEACHING.

Matthew 5:1-2

1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

III. The Mountain of THRIVING.

Matthew 14:23

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

IV. The Mountain of TENDING.

Matthew 15:29-31

29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

V. The Mountain of TESTIMONY.

Matthew 17:1-2

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

VI. The Mountain of TRUTH.

Matthew 26:30

30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

VII. The Mountain of TRIUMPH.

Matthew 27:33

33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

Conclusion:

He’s still God of the mountain!