Matthew

Author – Matthew
Time – 4 B.C. to 30 A.D.

Summary – Matthew’s Gospel is aimed at a Jewish audience. Its purpose is to witness that Jesus was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Matthew emphasises the words of the Lord regarding the Kingdom of Heaven. This was done to counterbalance the popular Jewish belief of the day that the Messiah would be a militant leader who would overthrow the current Roman occupation and re–establish the throne of David.

Key Verse – "Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" Matthew 1 v 1

Unique Features – Matthew makes no less than sixty references to the Old Testament writings as fulfilled in Christ, so that the word " fulfilled" becomes characteristic of the book. The word "Kingdom" occurs fifty–five times; "Kingdom of Heaven" thirty–two times; "Son of David" seven times. The Jews laid great store on Scripture, and this Gospel, written particularly for them, abounds in such references.

Preparation – Chapter 1 v 1 to 4 v 11

Passage	Subject
1 v 2 to 2 v 23	Jesus’ birth
3 v 1 to 17	His baptism
4 v 1 to 11	His temptations

Preaching – Chapter 4 v 12 to 7 v 29

Passage	Subject
4 v 12 to 25	Proclaiming the Kingdom
5 v 1 to 7 v 29	What Jesus taught

Eleven works showing Christ’s ability to rule – Chapter 8 v 1 to 10 v 42

Passage	Subject
8 v 1 to 4	The cleansing of the leper
8 v 5 to 13	Centurion’s servant healed of palsy
8 v 14 to 15	Peter’s wife’s mother’s fever
8 v 16 to 27	The stilling of the storm
8 v 28 to 34	Gergesene demoniacs healed
9 v 1 to 17	The man cured of the palsy
9 v 18 to 22	The woman with haemorrhage
9 v 23 to 26	The ruler’s daughter raised
9 v 27 to 31	Two blind men given sight
9 v 32 to 38	The dumb demoniac healed
10 v 1 to 42	The Apostles empowered to preach

There are a couple of digressions – see Chapter 8 v 18 to 22, 9 v 9 to 17 – but they are related to the miracles performed; the miracles revealed physically what the Gospel can do spiritually.

What people thought: Reactions to his call – Chapter 11 v 1 to 18 v 35

Passage	Subject
11 v 1 to 15	John the Baptist – in doubt
11 v 16 to 19	"This generation" – unresponsive
11 v 20 to 30	Galilean cities – unrepentant
12 v 1 to 45	The Pharisees – unreasonable
12 v 46 to 50	His family – misunderstanding
13 v 1 to 58	The multitudes – undiscerning
14 v 1 to 13	Herod the king – unintelligent
14 v 14 to 36	The disciples – of little faith
15 v 1 to 20	Jerusalem scribe – unimpressionable
15 v 21 to 39	Gentile multitudes – seeking
16 v 1 to 12	Pharisees, Sadducees – unrelenting
16 v 13 to 18 v 35	The Apostles – needing education

Passover – Chapter 19 v 1 to 28 v 20

Passage	Subject
19 v 1 to 25 v 46	Parables and entry into Jerusalem
26 v 1 to 27 v 66	Arrest, trial and crucifixion
28 v 1 to 20	Resurrection

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