Matthew - Introduction

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INTRODUCTION

 

This book is often called the GOSPEL according to Matthew. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ came into the world and gave His own life to save sinful men, and that all who place FAITH in Him will receive forgiveness of sins and enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD. A summary of the Gospel is given in John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew, the writer of this Gospel, was originally a tax collector, who was called by Jesus to be one of His first twelve disciples (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18). Although Matthew’s Gospel comes first in the New Testament, most Bible scholars believe that the first complete Gospel to be written was Mark’s Gospel (see Mark: Introduction). However, many scholars think that Matthew wrote a rough description of the life of Jesus in the Aramaic1 language before Mark’s Gospel was written. Then after Mark’s Gospel was published in 55-65 A.D., Matthew revised his Gospel and included much of Mark’s Gospel in his own. Indeed, all but fifty-five verses of Mark’s Gospel is included in Matthew’s Gospel. According to these scholars, the final revision of Matthew’s Gospel was written in the Greek2, language, either by Matthew himself or someone associated with him.

Of the approximately 1050 verses in Matthew, 500 are also found in Mark. Another 250 are found in Luke’s Gospel. Many Bible scholars believe that in addition to Mark’s Gospel there was an early written collection of Christ’s teachings that both Matthew and Luke knew about, and which they added to their Gospels.

According to many scholars, the final edition of Matthew’s Gospel was written in the city of Antioch3 in northern Syria sometime between 70 and 80 A.D. It was written mainly for Jewish readers. In this Gospel, Matthew shows again and again how the PROPHECIES of the Old Testament, the Jewish Scriptures, were fulfilled in the birth and life of Jesus.

For the comments on those sections of Matthew that are also found in Mark, the reader is asked to refer to Mark’s Gospel.

OUTLINE

  1. The Birth and Childhood of Jesus Christ (1:1-2:23).
    1. The Genealogy of Jesus (1:1-17).
    2. The Birth of Jesus (1:18-25).
    3. The Visit of the Magi (2:1-12).
    4. The Escape to Egypt and the Return to Nazareth 2:13-23).
  2. The Beginning of the Ministry of Jesus Christ (3:1-4:11).
    1. John the Baptist Prepares the Way (3:1-12).
    2. The Baptism of Jesus (3:13-17).
    3. The Temptation of Jesus (4:1-11).
  3. The Ministry of Jesus Christ (4:12-25:46).
    1. Jesus Begins to Preach (4:12-17).
    2. The Calling of the First Disciples (4:18-25).
    3. The Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:29).
    4. Ten Miracles (8:1-9:38).
    5. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve (10:1-42).
    6. Jesus’ Answer to John the Baptist and Related Teachings (11:1-30).
    7. Opposition from the Pharisees (12:1-50).
    8. Parables of the Kingdom (13:1-58).
    9. Withdrawal of Jesus after John’s Beheading (14:1-36).
    10. Conflict with the Pharisees (15:1-20).
    11. More Miracles (15:21-39).
    12. Further Teachings (16:1-28).
    13. The Transfiguration (17:1-23).
    14. In Capernaum (17:24-18:35).
    15. In Perea (19:1-20:16).
    16. In Judea (20:17-34).
    17. In Jerusalem (21:1-22:46).
    18. Jesus’ Denunciation of the Pharisees (23:1-39).
    19. Teachings on the End of the Age (24:1-25:46).
  4. The Passion of Jesus Christ (26:1-27:66).
    1. The Plot against Jesus (26:1-16).
    2. The Lord’s Supper (26:17-30).
    3. In the Garden of Gethsemane (26:31-56).
    4. The Arrest and Trial of Jesus (26:57-27:31).
    5. The Death of Jesus (27:32-56).
    6. The Burial of Jesus (27:57-66).
  5. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (28:1-20).
    1. Discovery of the Empty Tomb (28:1-8).
    2. Jesus Appears (28:9-10).
    3. The Guard’s Report (28:11-15).
    4. The Great Commission (28:16-20).
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