Gospel of Matthew: Discipleship and Righteousness

The Call of Matthew

• Jesus saw Matthew, a tax collector, at his booth and called him to "Follow me."
• Matthew immediately left his work and followed Jesus.
• Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners, causing the Pharisees to question his association with such people.
• Jesus responded that he came to heal the sick, not those already well, and that God desires mercy over sacrifice, calling sinners, not the righteous.

Salt and Light

• Followers are the salt of the earth but lose their value if they lose their "saltiness."
• Followers are the light of the world and should not hide their light.
• One's actions should reflect goodness, bringing glory to God.

The Cross and Self-Denial

• Disciples must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Jesus.
• Those who try to save their life will lose it, but those who lose their life for Jesus will find it.
• Gaining the world is worthless if one forfeits their life.

Concerning Anger

• Being angry with or insulting a brother or sister makes one liable to judgment.
• If you remember someone has something against you while offering a gift at the altar, reconcile with them first.
• Quickly reconcile with your accuser to avoid being handed over to the judge and imprisoned.

Concerning Retaliation

• Do not resist an evildoer, but offer the other cheek if struck.
• If someone sues you for your coat, give your cloak as well.
• Go an extra mile if someone forces you to go one mile.
• Give to everyone who asks and do not refuse to lend.

Love for Enemies

• Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
• Loving only those who love you is not exceptional and does not earn a special reward.
• Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Concerning Almsgiving

• Do not practice piety to be seen by others.
• When giving alms, do it in secret; God will reward you.

Concerning Prayer

• When praying, do not be like hypocrites who pray in public to be seen.
• Pray in private, and God will reward you.
• Avoid heaping up empty phrases, as God knows what you need before you ask.
• The suggested prayer includes hallowing God's name, asking for His kingdom to come and His will to be done, requesting daily bread, forgiveness, and rescue from evil.
• Forgive others to be forgiven by God.

Concerning Fasting

• When fasting, do not look dismal to show others.
• Fast in private, and God will reward you.

Jesus' Teaching on Forgiveness

• Forgive a brother not just seven times, but seventy times seven.
• The parable illustrates a king settling accounts with his servants, one of whom owed an enormous debt.
• The king had pity and forgave the debt, but the servant then refused to forgive a small debt owed to him by a fellow servant.
• The king, upon learning this, delivered the unforgiving servant to the jailers until he paid his entire debt.
• Forgive your brother from your heart to receive forgiveness from your heavenly Father.

The Question about Paying Taxes

• The Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap Jesus by asking if it was lawful to pay taxes to the emperor.
• Jesus, aware of their malice, asked to see the coin used for taxes and inquired about whose image and title were on it.
• Jesus said to give to the emperor what is the emperor's, and to God what is God's to avoid the trap set by his adversaries..

The Rich Young Man

• A man asked Jesus what good deed he must do to have eternal life.
• Jesus told him to keep the commandments.
• When the man claimed to have kept them all, Jesus told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him.
• The young man went away grieving because he had many possessions.
• It is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven; it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
• With God, all things are possible.

Peter's Denial of Jesus

• Peter denied knowing Jesus three times while sitting outside in the courtyard.
• He initially denied knowing what the servant-girl was talking about.
• He denied knowing Jesus with an oath.
• He began to curse and swear when accused of being one of them.
• Peter remembered Jesus's words about him denying him three times before the cock crows.
• Peter went out and wept bitterly.

The Great Commission

• The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had directed them to.
• Jesus instructed them to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• They were to teach new disciples to obey everything Jesus commanded.
• Jesus promised to be with them always, to the end of the age.