Matthew's Gospel Overview

Matthew's Gospel

• Structure: The gospel follows a transitional structure with two key statements in 4:17 and 16:21, dividing the narrative into:
  • Preliminary Events: Ancestry, infancy, baptism, and temptations.
  • Public Ministry: Mighty deeds, teachings, and controversy.
  • Rejection and Death: Predictions, journey, suffering, death, and resurrection.
• Five Large Sermons: All conclude with the phrase "When Jesus had finished these sayings..."
  • Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7)
  • Sending of the Twelve (Chapter 10)
  • Parables of the Kingdom (Chapter 13, parallels Mark 4)
  • Sermon on Humility & Forgiveness (Chapter 18)
  • Olivet Discourse (Chapters 24-25, parallels Mark 13)
• Christology: Matthew emphasizes Jesus' divinity beyond what is found in Mark.
  • Jesus is miraculously born as God's son (1:18-25)
  • Jesus is referred to as "Immanuel," meaning "God with us" (1:23)
  • Jesus is publicly announced as the "son of God" at his baptism (3:17)
  • Jesus is worshipped as God (2:11, 14:33, 28:9, 17), even challenged as such during his temptations (4:1-11)
  • Jesus is granted divine authority over all things (11:27, 28:18), emphasized as equal with the Father and Holy Spirit (28:19)
  • Jesus' lineage from David is emphasized (1:1-17, referred to as "son of David" 10 times in Matthew)
  • Matthew uses titles for Jesus more frequently than Mark, like "Christ" and "King of the Jews" (2:2)

The Gospel According to Matthew: Content

• Title: "Book of the origin of Jesus, the Christ, son of David, son of Abraham" (1:1)

The Beginning: Infancy Narratives (Chapters 1-2)

• Unique Material: Only Matthew and Luke provide details about Jesus' birth, but they do not describe the same events.
• Genealogy of Jesus: Traced through David to Abraham (1:1-17), including four (or five) women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary (1:3, 5, 6, 16)
• Dreams: God uses dreams to communicate with Joseph (1:20, 2:13, 19, 22) and the magi (2:12)
• Bethlehem: Mary is betrothed to Joseph in Bethlehem (1:18-25), with no mention of Nazareth until later.
• Magi: Wise men from the east follow a star, visit Herod the Great, and journey to Bethlehem to worship Jesus, presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (cf. Isaiah 60:1-6)
• Flight to Egypt: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus flee to Egypt because Herod's son rules the Jerusalem area after Herod's death.
• Slaughter of the Innocents: Herod orders the killing of infants in Bethlehem.
• Fulfillment of Prophecy: Matthew emphasizes the fulfillment of Jewish scriptures:
  • Virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14 LXX)
  • Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
  • Egypt (Hosea 11:1b)
  • Weeping (Jeremiah 31:15)
  • Nazarene (unknown source, maybe related to "branch/netzer" in Isaiah 11:1?)

Early Episodes of Jesus' Ministry (Chapters 3-4)

• Baptism of Jesus (3:1-17):
  • Includes John's preaching about repentance (3:7-12)
  • John's objection about why he is baptizing Jesus instead of the other way around (3:14-15)
  • Heavenly voice speaks directly to Jesus in third-person (3:17)
• Temptations of Jesus (4:1-11):
  • After 40 days of fasting in the wilderness, Jesus is tested by Satan in three temptations, testing the kind of Messiah he will be.
  • Turning stones to bread (4:1-4)
  • Jumping off the Temple (4:5-7)
  • Accepting the kingdoms of the world (4:8-11)
• Ministry Begins in Galilee (4:12-25):
  • Capernaum becomes Jesus' "homebase" for ministry (4:13)
  • Ministry in Galilee (4:14-16), fulfilling Isaiah 9:1-2

Five Big Sermons in Matthew:

1. Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7):

   • Beatitudes
   • Metaphors: Disciple's role as salt of the earth and light of the world (5:13-16)
   • Six Antitheses: Interpretation of Torah (5:17-48)
     • Murder & Anger (5:21-26)
     • Adultery & Lust (5:27-30)
     • Divorce & Immorality (5:31-32)
     • Vows & Truthfulness (5:33-37)
     • Retaliation & Forgiveness (5:38-42)
     • Neighbors & Enemies (5:43-48)
   • Avoid Publicizing Spirituality: Regarding giving, praying, fasting, and seeking treasures in heaven (6:1-34)
   • Lord's Prayer (6:9b-13):
   • Active Obedience: Regarding not judging, praying, the Golden Rule, the narrow way, wolves vs. sheep, good trees and bad fruit, doing God's will, and the parable of the house on the rock (7:1-27)

2. Sending of the Twelve (Chapter 10):

   • Sent only to Israel (10:5)
   • Preach, heal, and cast out demons (10:7-8a)
   • Limitations on travel and support (10:8b-13)
   • Opposition (10:14-16)
   • Apocalyptic imminency (10:17-25, esp. 22-23)

3. Parables of the Kingdom (Chapter 13; cf. Mark 4):

   • Parable of the Sower and 4 Soils (13:1-9)
   • Reason for secrecy of parables (13:10-17)
   • Interpretation of the Parable of the Sower (13:18-23)
   • Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (13:24-30)
   • Parable of the Mustard Seed (13:31-32)
   • Parable of the Yeast (13:33)
   • Interpretation of the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (13:36-43)
   • Parable of the Hidden Treasure in a Field (13:44)
   • Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (13:45)
   • Parable of the Net in the Sea (13:47-50)
   • Parable of Treasures New and Old (13:51-52)

4. Sermon on Humility & Forgiveness (Chapter 18):

   • Regarding greatness (18:1-5)
   • Regarding temptation and stumbling (18:6-9)
   • Parable of the 100 Sheep (18:10-14)
   • Correcting a brother (18:15-20)
   • Regarding forgiveness (18:21-22)
   • Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (18:23-35)

5. Olivet Discourse (Chapters 24-25; cf. Mark 13):

   • Setting: Mount of Olives opposite the Temple (24:1-3)
   • False messiahs and turmoil (24:4-8)
   • Opposition to the good news (24:9-14)
   • "Abomination of Desolation" (24:15-25)
   • Coming of the Son of Man (24:26-31)
   • Timing and preparedness (24:32-36)
   • Suddenness as in Noah's Days (24:37-41)
   • Suddenness as a Thief (24:42-44)
   • Suddenness as a Returning Master (24:45-51).
   • Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (25:1-13)
   • Parable of the Talents (25:14-30)
   • Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (25:31-46)

Other Teachings in Matthew:

• Marriage and Divorce (19:1-12; cf. Mark 10:1-12)
• Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (20:1-16)
• Parable of the Two Sons (21:28-32)
• Parable of the Wedding Banquet (22:1-14; cf. Luke 14:16-24)
• Seven Woes/Curses against Scribes and Pharisees as "Hypocrites" (23:1-36)

Matthew's Passion Narrative (Chapters 26-28)

• Follows Mark: Matthew closely follows Mark's Passion narrative more closely than Luke.
• Unique Material: Matthew uniquely mentions:
  • Judas Iscariot's death by hanging (27:3-10)

Authorship and Purpose

• The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels due to their similarities.
• Ancient Witnesses: Several early Christian writers (Origen, Eusebius, and Jerome) claim Matthew wrote the Gospel.
• Original Language: While traditionally attributed to Matthew, the earliest complete manuscripts were written in Greek. Some scholars have pointed to a possible Hebrew original, though no extant copies exist.
• Purpose: Matthew's Gospel is often seen as addressed to Jewish Christians and aiming to establish Jesus' authority as the fulfillment of Jewish scripture and the rightful King of the Jews.
• Key Theme: Matthew emphasizes Jesus' identity as Messiah, the "son of God," and his authority over all things. He uses the events of Jesus' life and teachings to demonstrate how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament and establishes the new covenant with God.

Explore the structure and key themes of Matthew's Gospel. The quiz covers the transitional narrative, five large sermons, and the emphasis on Christology. Test your understanding of Jesus’ identity and teachings as presented in this significant biblical text.