(46) The King's Call: Recap of Matthew 1-13

Intro

Getting back into Matthew after about 6 months

1. Jesus as the Promised Messiah

Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. From His genealogy (Matthew 1:1–17) to the repeated use of "this was to fulfill," the Gospel shows that Jesus is the culmination of God's redemptive plan.

Key Passages:

Matthew 1:22–23 ("...they shall call His name Immanuel.")

Matthew 5:17 ("I have not come to abolish [the Law or the Prophets] but to fulfill them.")

2. The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew presents Jesus as the King who inaugurates and teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven.

This kingdom is both already present in Christ’s ministry and not yet fully realized until His return.

Key Passages:

Matthew 4:17 ("Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.")

Matthew 13 (The Parables of the Kingdom)

3. Jesus as the New Moses and True Israel

Matthew also shows Jesus to be the new and greater Moses, bringing the final and perfect revelation of God.

He also shows how Jesus is the true Israel, fulfilling Israel's role as God’s chosen servant by succeeding where they failed, living in perfect obedience to God’s law.

Key Passages:

Matthew 2:15 ("Out of Egypt I called My Son.")

Matthew 5–7 (The Sermon on the Mount as Jesus' "new lawgiving")

4. The Call to Discipleship - A primary theme in this section we’re about to begin (but we’ll talk more about that in a minute)

Jesus’ teachings in Matthew repeatedly emphasize the cost of following Him.

Discipleship means complete allegiance to Christ as King, marked by humility, love, and faithfulness.

Key Passages:

Matthew 16:24–26 ("Take up your cross and follow Me.")

Matthew 28:18–20 (The Great Commission)

5. The Authority of Jesus

Throughout Matthew, Jesus’ authority is demonstrated over nature, sin, demons, sickness, and death. He is not merely some moral teacher.

This authority reveals His divine nature and His right to judge and rule.

Key Passages:

Matthew 8:27 ("What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?")

Matthew 28:18 ("All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.")

6. Conflict with Religious Authorities (Another theme)

Matthew highlights the growing tension between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders, especially the Pharisees. This conflict reveals the inadequacy of external religiosity and the necessity of inward transformation.

Key Passages:

Matthew 9:13 ("I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.")

Matthew 23 (Jesus’ woes against the Pharisees)

7. The Mission to the Nations

Although Matthew is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, the Gospel also emphasizes the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s redemptive plan. The Kingdom of Heaven is for all nations.

Key Passages:

Matthew 2:1–12 (The Magi, Gentiles, worship the Christ child)

Matthew 28:19 ("Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.")

9. Judgment and the Coming of the King

Matthew repeatedly emphasizes God’s coming judgment, urging people to live in light of Christ’s return. This includes warnings about hypocrisy and calls for watchfulness and faithful service.

Key Passages:

Matthew 7:21–23 ("Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven.")

Matthew 25:31–46 (The Sheep and the Goats)

10. The Role of the Church

Matthew uniquely highlights the formation of the church as the community of Christ’s followers, built on the foundation of faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

Key Passages:

Matthew 16:18 ("On this rock I will build My church.")

Matthew 18:20 ("Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.")

Recap of Matthew 1-13

Matthew 1–13 unfolds the arrival of Jesus Christ as the long-promised Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and inaugurating His kingdom. The first half of the Gospel emphasizes who Jesus is, His mission, and the varying responses to His message.

1. Introduction: The King’s Advent (Matthew 1–2)

Matthew begins with a genealogy and he has a lot to say to combat people’s misunderstandings.

Jesus is introduced as the Promised Son of David and the Promised Son of Abraham, fulfilling the covenant promises God made long ago.

His virgin birth fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy (Matt. 1:23), and His royal lineage affirms His kingship.

Matthew 1:23 ESV

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

The inclusion of the women was something that was

And then as we get to the end of this section we see the visit of the Magi and the opposition of King Herod, reflecting the universal scope of Christ’s reign and the hostility His kingdom will face.

Key Verses: Matthew 1:23, 2:6 (quotes of Isaiah and Micah)

Matthew 1:23 ESV

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Matthew 2:6 ESV

6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

2. First Narrative and Discourse: The King’s News (Matthew 3-7)

Key Verses: 3:2, 5:17, 7:13-14

John the Baptist heralds Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away sin, calling for repentance.

Matthew 3:2 ESV

2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Jesus’ baptism identifies Him with His people and is affirmed by the Father’s voice and the Spirit’s descent.

His wilderness temptation reveals Him as the true and faithful Adam, who triumphs over Satan by trusting God’s Word.

The Sermon on the Mount lays out the ethics of the kingdom, emphasizing righteousness of heart, not mere outward religion.

Matthew 5:17 ESV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Christ fulfills the law and calls His disciples to a life of radical dependence on God, reflecting kingdom values in a fallen world.

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

3. Second Narrative and Discourse: The King’s Mission (Matthew 8–10)

Key Verses: 8:26-27, 9:37-38, 10:38-39

Through miracles, Jesus demonstrates His authority over sickness, nature, demons, and even death.

These signs affirm His identity as the Messiah and point to the restoration of creation under His reign.

Matthew 8:26–27 ESV

26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Jesus’ compassion for the broken highlights the gospel’s offer of grace to sinners and outcasts.

Jesus sends out the twelve apostles, commissioning them to proclaim the kingdom and rely on God’s provision.

Matthew 9:37–38 ESV

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

He warns them of opposition, affirming that discipleship involves taking up the cross and following Him.

Matthew 10:38–39 ESV

38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

The mission is urgent, global, and centered on Christ’s authority.

4. Third Narrative and Discourse: The King’s Message (Matthew 11–13)

Key Verses: 11:6, 11:28-30, 13:11

Jesus faces growing rejection from religious leaders and indifference from many in Israel.

Matthew 11:6 ESV

6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

He condemns cities that witnessed His miracles yet refused to repent, illustrating humanity’s hardness of heart.

Jesus offers rest to the weary, pointing to the gospel’s invitation to find peace in His finished work.

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus teaches in parables to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom to His disciples while concealing truth from hardened hearts.

These parables explain the nature of the kingdom—its humble beginnings, its inevitable growth, and the certainty of future judgment.

Matthew 13:11 ESV

11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

The Reformed Perspective:

Matthew 1–13 highlights God’s all-knowing plan in sending Christ to fulfill His covenant promises.

Jesus is the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King who inaugurates His kingdom and calls sinners to repentance and faith.

While opposition to His reign is inevitable, His kingdom advances according to God’s purposes, assuring believers of the ultimate victory of Christ.

This section calls us to trust in God’s sovereign grace, delight in Christ’s redemptive work, and labor faithfully as ambassadors of His kingdom.

Introducing Matthew 14–18

The Fourth Narrative and Discourse: The King’s Call

In Matthew 14–18, the narrative shifts to focus on the increasing tension surrounding Jesus’ ministry and the deepening revelation of the nature of His kingdom.

These chapters show the promised Messiah continuing to proclaim the kingdom of God amidst growing opposition from religious leaders and misunderstanding from His disciples.

And the King’s Call becomes louder and louder because of it.

The key verse of this section comes from Mat 16:24-25, and though it is a restatement of 10:38-39, the reality of what it means to “deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus” becomes clearer and clearer as we hear stories of being faithful to the end, of Jesus revealing who he truly is, and of Jesus’ teachings of what this reality means for the actual practical lives of his followers.

Matthew 16:24–25 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

This fourth narrative and teaching shows Jesus’ identity and mission becoming clearer to those with eyes to see while becoming more veiled to those who reject Him.

Through his miracles, teachings, and interactions with His followers Jesus emphasizes just what it means to be a follower of the Christ, and he shows how God builds up his church.

As we journey through these chapters, we’ll see:

The King Tested (Matthew 14–15) – Jesus’ power and compassion shine as He performs miracles and challenges human traditions, even as opposition and misunderstanding grow.

The King Revealed (Matthew 16-17) – Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, leading to a deeper revelation of the cross and the foundation of the church.

Then in Chapter 17 we see that the transfiguration gives the disciples a glimpse of Jesus’ divine glory, even as He sets His face toward suffering.

A Kingdom Life (Matthew 18) – Jesus teaches about life in the kingdom, emphasizing humility, forgiveness, and the value of every soul in God’s economy.

This section challenges us to consider:

What does it mean to truly follow Jesus?

How should we respond to opposition, doubt, or misunderstanding?

How does God’s kingdom confront our expectations and call us to live in light of His grace?

Matthew 14–18 reminds us that Christ’s kingdom advances not through human power but through faith, suffering, and grace. It calls us to submit to the King and reflect His character as we participate in His mission.

As we journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem, we’re reminded that His path to the cross is not just His alone—it’s the call for all who would be His disciples.

Are we ready to embrace the King and His way? Will we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him into eternal life?