THE GOSPELS
The four gospels of Jesus Christ present a
fourfold view of the life of Christ. There are a few scant references by
Josephus and Tacitus about the life of Christ but our entire knowledge of the
life of Jesus comes from these four accounts. Scholars believe that the early
accounts were probably passed on verbally in the Aramaic language and later recorded
in Greek manuscripts sometime between ad 60 and 90. All four accounts build
upon one another with historical tradition and each keep and preserve different
slants and aspects of it.
The whole purpose of the Gospels is to present to
the world the Good News of the Redeemer-Savior. The focus and present Jesus as
the Messiah of Israel, the Son of God, Christ the King, and Savior of the
world. These accounts were written, inspired by God, so that their readers
would come to believe in Christ and receive eternal life (see John 20:31). The
Gospels present Jesus as the Lord of Glory who is alive and is seated at the
right hand of God in heaven!
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Author, Matthew (called Levi), one of the twelve
apostles, Mark 2:14.. He was a Jew, a publican, or Roman tax collector. (Matt.
10:3). Matthew’s name means "gift of Jehovah", he left his job of
gathering taxes (Mat 9:9-13) to follow Jesus.
When Jesus called him, he left all to follow him. Luke 5:27-28. He was
an "eyewitness of Jesus entire ministry.
He made a great feast for Christ, who attended it
despite that publicans belonged to a despised class, Luke 5:29-31, Mark
2:15-17. Jesus is a friend of
"publicans and sinners", that's good news. After this banquet Matthew
is not mentioned again except in the list of the twelve (Matt. 10:3; see also
Acts 1:13).
MATTHEW
Jesus the Messiah!
“You are the light of the world. Let your light
shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in
heaven.” Matthew 5:14,16.
“But seek ye first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. Matthew 6:33
The Emphasis of the Matthew
That Jesus is the Messiah foretold by the Old
Testament prophets is the main emphasis of the book. He quotes from the Old
Testament more than any other New Testament author and seems to be addressing
the Jewish nation.
The book provides amazing examples of the power
and accuracy of God’s prophets who had foretold of the coming Messiah. Born by
a virgin ( see Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem ( see Micah 5:2), to his crucifixion (
see Psalm 22:14, 16-17) with thieves (criminals), (see Isaiah 53:12) and
resurrection from the dead (see Psalm 16:10), Jesus did what the prophets had
predicted-he fulfilled every prophesy and fit ever description of the Jewish
Messiah.
He uses the terms “kingdom” or “kingdom of
heaven” often (43 times), his gospel is often called the Gospel of the Kingdom!
Matthew gives Jesus’s discourses quite precisely, especially the Sermon on the
Mount (chapters 5-7) and Jesus discourse about the coming of the end of the
world (chapters 25-25).
The book of Matthew is read more than any of the
Gospels.
This gospel does not name its author, but has
been accepted as the work of Matthew since the early church fathers, beginning
with Papias, who was a student of the apostle John. The Didache, the Epistle of
Barnabas, Papias ( the second century bishop of Hierapolis, Iranaeus ( the
bishop of Lyons), Origen (third century), and Eusebius (fourth century) all
agree as to Matthew as the author of this Gospel that bears his name. Good
enough for me!
Matthew may have left a clue or two; however.
After Matthew was called to be a disciple ( 9:9), the text says that Jesus ate
a meal with tax collectors and sinners “in the house”, which could be said “in
his house”. A parallel scripture Mark 2:15 states that this was Levi’s house
(Matthew), it seems safe to believe that the author of this first gospel was
speaking of his own house.
Matthew (Levi) was a former tax
collector/Publican and one of the original twelve, he was an eyewitness to the
whole ministry of Jesus.
Valuable Statistics of Gospel of Matthew
Purpose: To prove that Jesus is indeed the
Messiah, the eternal King
Author: Matthew (Levi)
Written to whom: He wrote especially to the Jews
Date written: Probably between A. D. 60-65
Setting: Matthew was a Jewish tax collector
(publican) who heeded the call of Christ and became one of the twelve. The
gospel of Matthew forms the connecting link between the Old and New Testament
because of the many emphases on the fulfillment of prophesy.
Key Verse: “Think not that I am come, to destroy
the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill”. (KJV)
Key People: Jesus, Mary, Joseph, John the
Baptist, the disciples, the religious leaders, Caiaphas, Pilate and Mary
Magdalene.
Key Places: Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Capernaum,
Galilee, Judea
Special Phrases: Matthew uses much messianic
language (“Son of David” is used throughout) and Old Testament references (53
quotes and 76 other references). The gospel is not chronically written, but
it’s purpose was to present the clear evidence that Jesus, is the Savior, the
Messiah, the King!
OUTLINE OF
MATTHEW (Wycliffe Bible Dictionary)
- Birth Stories,
1:1-2:23
- John the
Baptist, 3:1-17
- Galilean
Ministry, 4:1-18:35
A. Preparation, 4:1-25
B. Sermon on the Mount, 5:1-7:29
C. Miracles and teaching, 8:1-18:35
- Activities in
Jerusalem and Judea, 19: 1-25:46
- Passion:
26:1-27:66
- Resurrection,
28: 1-20
OUTLINE OF MATTHEW (Life Application Bible Commentary)
A.
Birth and Preparation of Jesus, the King (1:1-4:11)
B.
Message and Ministry of Jesus, the King (4:12-25:46)
1.
Jesus begins his ministry
2.
Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount
3.
Jesus performs many miracles
4.
Jesus teaches about the kingdom
5.
Jesus encounters differing reactions to his ministry
6.
Jesus faces conflict with the religious leaders
7.
Jesus teaches on the Mount of Olives
C.
Death and Resurrection of Jesus, the King (26:1-28:20
(1) The complete Genealogy of Christ, ch. 1:1-17
(2) Incidents and Discourses found only in Matthew
Ch.2, The visit of the Magi v1
The flight into Egypt, v. 13, 14
The slaughter of the innocents,
v.16
The return to Nazareth, vs. 19-23
Ch. 3 The coming of the Pharisees and Sadducees to John the Baptist, v7
Chs. 5-7, The sermon on the Mount (complete)
Ch. 11;28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor”
Ch.14:28-31, Peter walking on the sea
Ch. 23, The denunciation of the Pharisees, as an extended Discourse
Ch. 26:15, The thirty pieces of silver received by Judas
Ch. 27, The return of the thirty pieces of silver, vs 3-10
The dream of Pilate’s wife, v.19
The appearance of resurrected
saints, v. 52
The watch at the sepulcher, vs.
64-66
Ch.28, The bribing of the soldiers, vs. 12,13
The earthquake, v. 2; The Great
Commission, vs. 19, 20
(3) Miracles found only in Matthew,
Ch. 9: 28-30, the two blind men
healed
Ch. 17: 24-27, the tribute money
(4) Parables found only in Matthew
Ch., The tares, v.24-----the hid
treasure, v. 44…the goodly pearl, v. 45---the draw-net, v. 47
Ch. 18, The unmerciful servant, v.
23
Ch. 20, The laborers in the
vineyard, vs. 1-16
Ch. 21, The two sons, vs. 28-32
Ch. 22, The marriage of the King’s
son, v. 1-14
Ch. 25, The ten virgins, v. 1-13
The Talents, vs. 14-30
The sheep and the goats, vs.
31-46
