Matthew Intro

Long long ago in a galaxy far far way we went through the gospel of John. It differs significantly from the other three gospels. The gospel of John tells us things the other gospels don’t. Studying the gospel of John was and is always a blessing because it so clearly presents the divinity of Jesus. It is the gospel I recommend to new believers, because knowing who Jesus is, the Son of God, God in the flesh is so important to our faith. If Jesus is not God, then our salvation is resting upon just a good man. Jesus is God, and that fact is crucial to the work of salvation being complete and trustworthy. Today we begin the gospel of Matthew.

We want to get the background for the book, answer those who what why where and when questions that are so important to set a right context. It is not my intent to bore you with historical details and a list of facts, but we must have this information to proceed through the book.

The gospel of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often referred to as the synoptic gospels. Synoptic is a five dollar word that means they are similar in their account of the life and ministry of Jesus. However, each of them has things that set them apart from each other. All Scripture is God breathed, and God has specific purposes for each of the Gospels. First and foremose, The Gospels were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for to get the gospel message out to the World.

There are a number of things that set Matthew’s gospel apart from the Mark and Luke. Answering those five questions will point some of these things out. Once we do this, we will have a good background for context and will be more lined up with the purpose of the Holy Spirit in having it recorded for us.

The first question is Who wrote this gospel. There are some who do not believe it was written by Matthew the apostle. I am not one of them. I believe it was written by one of the twelve apostles hand picked by Jesus whose name was Matthew. He is also referred to by the name of Levi in other gospels. We know his occupation. HE was a tax collector when Jesus called him. Fittingly, some observe that this gospel has more to say about money than the others.

I have found it interesting that God often uses things in our lives, even things we did prior to coming to know Jesus, for HIs purposes. On Wednesday night as we began the series on the English Bible, Mr. Connoly made the comment that Paul was a passionate in his pursuit of persecuting the early church, but that God did not eliminate that passion once Paul came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior, but rather redirected it. It is not uncommon to find someone either ministering to others in a particular occupational field or using skills or talents they had acquired in a particular field in some ministry. Consider all those who have musical abilities and vocal talents who have turned them over to serve the body of Christ. Perhaps you have found that to be true in your life. God uses what you do or the way you do something to either share the gospel or to minister to others in some way.

However, what Matthew did for a living was not exactly something that was held in high regard. Tax collectors were not your favorite house guests for a typical Jewish person. Come to think of it, they may not be in our society either. The tax collectors in Matthew’s were divided into two basic groups by the Jews. Those who collected the general tax of Rome were called the gabbai and those who extracted the more localized taxes from those who traveled and engaged in commerce were the mohksa. These mohksa were most often Jews who made their living collecting Roman taxes. IN order to support themselves, they were allowed to collect more than the tax required, but there was very little regulation as to how much more. They were looked down upon by other Jews for two reasons. They saw them as puppets of the Roman oppressors, and they were very often greedy regarding the amount above the required tax they collected. All the Romans wanted was their share, whatever was extracted beyond that was of little concern to them.

It is quite possible that Matthew did well financially in this occupation, which would have made him even more despised. In Luke’s gospel he throws a banquet for the Lord. Poor people didn’t throw banquets for many people. HE apparently had a home large enough to accommodate one and the means to serve up the meal.

One other thing to consider about Matthew’s occupation. Some accounts say these mohksa even taxed fishermen for their catch. Noting the occupation of several of the other apostles, and noting their particular temperament, a couple of them referred to as the sons of thunder, the day Matthew was called to join the group and follow Jesus, there might have been a raised eyebrow or two.

So I think we can safely say that Matthew was not Mr. Popular amongst your everyday Jewish folk, especially fishermen.

We know some other things about this man. According to Mark’s Gospel, he was the son of Alphaeus. Why is that significant? If this is the same Alphaeus as noted as being the father of another apostle, James, that would make Matthew his brother . This James should not to be confused with James the brother of John who was the first to be martyred by Herod. This James is often referred to as James the less, apparently small in stature compared to the other James, once again, who along with John was one of the sons of thunder. Many believe this James son of Alphaeus was the James who eventually wrote the epistle by that same name and became the ranking overseer of the church in Jerusalem. Also, some make the connection that James the Less was a close relative of Jesus. If that is the case, it would make Matthew kin as well. We can’t be dogmatic in that, but it is interesting to make note of it. It shows that Jesus chose a real mixed bag of guys, some family guys, some stinky fishermen guys, a tax collector, a skeptic, and even a traitor. Some are amazed by this, but it is just the way of Jesus. You see, He came to save us from our sins. He is still choosing a really mixed bag of people.

Go ahead, just look around the room. Just in our little church there is tremendous diversification. I see doctors, engineers, ex drug addicts, ex alchoholics, contstruction people, clerical people, business people, bus drivers, real estate people, public servants, tall people, short people, big people small people, and people of a wide variety of ethnical backgrounds. The further out you move into the greater Body of Christ, the more diverse it gets. The only reason any one will not be saved is not because Jesus will reject them, but because they will not come to Him and be saved.

There is something else that is noteworthy about this man Matthew. In all four gospels there is no record of one single word he spoke. HE was not one of the so clalled super apostles, not one of the well known apostles, such as Peter, Andrew, James, John, Judas Iscariot, or even sort of known like Philip and Thomas. He was one of the lesser known like Bartholemew, Thadeus, and the other Simon.

I think it is significant to note what Matthew did for a living, the attitude people may have had towards him, and his apparent lack of being in the limelight.

Even though he was not Mr Popularity among the Jews, even though he did not have much written about him and there is no record of him saying anything at all in the Gospels, it is his name that is attached to the first book of the NT in the most published book of all time. Also, in the early days of the church, some say it was this gospel that was referred to more than any other. Also, Countless people down through the ages have read his account of the life of Jesus, and countless scholars have dissected it and critiqued it. Add to all that a number only God can know of those who have come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior by reading Matthew’s gospel. NO small blessing to be sure. Not only is Jesus the Savior for all, but any who come to Him may be used in ways beyond their wildest imagination.

If you ever feel like you are a nobody, or if you don’t fit in with the in crowd, or the really cool people, whatever that means, or if you have some job that is looked down upon, or is regarded as a lowly profession, or if your life is lived in the back ground of others, the only thing that really matters is who is Jesus to you? Is He your Lord and Savior? Did He call you once to follow Him and you did? IF so, never be discouraged by your low place, your nowhere job, your lack of fame or fortune. Just follow the Lord, serve Him.

By using Matthew in these ways, God reminds us that there is no pre qualification to becoming a follower of Jesus. All we need do is follow Him when He calls us. That is what is recorded about Matthew, Jesus said “follow me” and that is what he did. God also used him to let us know that God is not a respecter of persons. HE can and does use any of us in ways far greater than we can ever imagine. Even one such as a lowly and disdained mohksa was used by God and blessed by God more than he could have ever imagined….When we read this gospel and consider who God used to write it we ought to again marvel at the love and grace of God and exclaim…..O the depth of the riches that are ours in Christ!

And if ever not being mr or mrs popular, or Joe successful begins to get you down, just open your bible to the NT and read the very first name you come to. It will jump out at you, it is right at the top of the first page and is often in bold print “Matthew”. Read that name and be encouraged. Just serve the Lord wherever you are, be available to HIm and God can do great things in you and through you.

The second “who” question is to whom was the letter written. Most feel Luke’s gospel was written for a Greek audience. Mark’s gospel was for a Roman audience. John’s was written for a world audience. Matthew’s gospel is significantly and obviously written for a Jewish audience.

Matthew often refers to Jesus as the ‘Son of David”. That would be meaningless to any who were not Jews. Matthew shares things that pertain to Jewish customs and traditions. HE seems to assume that his readers will know what certain Hebrew words mean. He records things concerning keeping the sabbath day and paying the temple tax.[1]

THat is important information to help clarify some things that will come. We will get into more of the internal evidence and significance of this as we move through the text. Please remember this was written to Jews.

Next, the What. WHat type of writing is this and what is the main theme or themes of the book? The primary literary style of the book is a narrative, it tells a story, it gives an account. And what a story it is.

Certainly, the main thing about the story is the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is not to say it is everything about Jesus’ life, John tell us all the books in the world would not be able to contain it.

What is important to us about that? This is not called Matthew’s epistle, this is the Matthew’s gospel. Gospel means good news. The fact that Jesus, the Son of God, the Second person of the Trinity took on flesh, was born of a virgin, walked the earth, preached, taught, and prophesied, was rejected by men, was falsely accused, was totally innocent, was crucified for our sins, and rose from the dead, are the foundations of our faith through which we are saved. It is not the title “Gospel” that makes this a gospel, it is the content, the story, the account of the gospel that makes the gospel the gospel, the good news.

Any time we read the gospel, we ought to note we are not just reading a story, but we are reading good news straight from heaven, about a loving, merciful, compassionate, gracious God who saves us from the righteous judgment HE will most certainly bring against creation because of the sins of mankind. Never read a gospel with the idea you are reading about a good teacher, a good man, a nice guy, or a profound prophet, Though Jesus was all those things, to limit the gospel to those things violates the intent of the gospels. Read the Gospels to know God better as you read about HIs Son Jesus, the exact representation of the Invisible God, God in the flesh. Read each gospel never forgetting you are reading good news about what God has done for us through the person of HIs Son.

Then when we read and study the things He says and teaches, we will not take it as though it comes from just some wise man, but from the only wise God. When we hear Him prophecy of things to come, it is not from some soothsayer, but it is the Word of God from the Word of God, Jesus, the Son of God. When HE teaches us, HE doesn’t teach as a man who learned a lot of things, but as God who knows all things. When we read about the miracles He did, it was not just a nice guy with some special gifts, it was a revelation of the compassionate, merciful, caring, and all powerful God. In Matt 19 Jesus tells us “with God all things are possible”.

So This is a story, yes, but it is a story about the incarnate Son of God and what He did for us. Therefore, it is not just a letter, not just a story, it is the gospel, or Good News. Never forget that as we go through this or any of the gospels.

The major theme of the book fits right in with to whom it is written, the Jews. Matthew’s Gospel is specifically meant to show his fellow Jews that the promised Messiah King spoken of so often in the OT is none other than Jesus.

The gospel of Matthew has more references to OT Messianic prophecies fulfilled than any of the other gospels.

Also, more than half of the gospel is devoted to the teaching of Jesus. One of the themes of HIs teachings is the Kingdom of Heaven. There are about 33 occurances of the phrase “kingdom of heaven in entire NT. They are all in the Gospel of Matthew. And rightly so, because heaven is the kingdom of the King of Kings, we would expect a gospel that is written to Jews to identify their Messiah King would have much to say about His Kingdom. This Messiah/King theme will unfold as we study through the book.

Why was this written? This fits in with who it was written to and the theme. It was written to connect the OT and the NT especially to the Jewish mind. No other gospel makes the connection between the OT and NT more than this gospel. There are over a 120 direct or indirect references to the OT in Matthew’s gospel. As we have said, it especially makes the connection from OT prophecy of the Messiah King and Jesus the Son of David.

We see the wisdom of God here. There was a great need for this connection to be made, and God met the need. Paul said the Gospel was a stumbling block for the Jews and folly for the Greeks. Many Jewish people today reject Jesus as their Messiah and are waiting for someone else. They struggle with a suffering sacrificing Messiah King. They can’t make the connection between the consequences of their sins and an eternal relationship with Holy Holy Holy God. They can’t reconcile grace. It doesn’t fit in with their good works. God gave them the Law to point them to their need for a Savior. Paul, a Jew, told them that in Galatians. God gave them prophets to tell about their Savior King. They scorned them and killed them. And then God gave them Matthew’s gospel to help them make the connection to their scriptures and point them to their King. This gospel was written not just to say that Jesus is the Messiah, but to show the Jews that He is their Messiah King.

Why is that important? First, Jesus was Jewish. The incarnate Son of God came first to the Jews. The first ones He called to be His followers were Jews! Jesus sent His disciples first to the Jews. The Holy Spirit came upon Jews at Pentecost to empower them to proclaim the gospel to all the Jews who were there for the feast. Jesus died for all, but the gospel, by God’s plan and faithfulness to HIs promises was to go first to the Jews. As simply as I can say it, this gospel was written to primarily connect the dots for the Jews to recognize Jesus as their Messiah, Savior, and King, and to proclaim the faithfulness of God regarding His promises to them.

When we read this Gospel, read it knowing that. It connects the dots. God sovereignly chose the Jewish people and called them His people. HE called them the Apple of His eye. Second, It was not for anything they did that God chose them, it wasn’t because they were cuter, smarter, and stronger or anything else. IT was for what He was going to do through them. The dots had to be connected because this gospel was written to get the Jews to line up with God’s plan of salvation, not theirs. To them the Messiah would be born, but Through Him both Jew and Gentile could be reconciled to God and receive eternal life. The gospel of Matthew makes that so clear. It begins very Jewish, identifying Jesus as the Messiah, and ends with a commission given to born again Jews to reconcile all men to God through Christ by making disciples of all nations. Interestingly enough, The gospel of Matthew is the first book in the NT to use the word we have for “church” and it is the only Gospel to use it.

So this was written to connect the dots for the Jews, to proclaim God’s faithfulness to them, and so that through them we might receive the gospel and have everlasting life.

Next, Where was this written. We can’t say for sure, but if it is so rich with Jewish things, written for Jews, most believe that Matthew wrote it from somewhere in Israel. There is evidence that a lost manuscript was on file at one time that was written in Hebrew or Aramaic. Why is that important?

If this was written to Jews, to help them connect the dots from the OT to the NT, and to show them Jesus is their Messiah, something written somewhere else might have not been received at all. The Jews have always had a sense of reverence for the land and that which comes from the land, and rightly so because they were given it by God. Something written right in the midst of the Jewish people, By a Jew, right in the midst of the religious leaders, the priests, the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and such, not a gentile writing, not something that came from some disdained Hellenistic Jew or country, but a Jewish writing, it would certainly get a lot more attention. Also, This coming right from within the midst of the Jews would certainly shake things up. And it did. God knows what HE is doing.

God wasn’t trying to sneak something in on the Jews. He wanted the Gospel of Matthew to burst upon scene and light up the darkness. This gospel was supposed to shake things up! That tells us something.

God doesn’t want the gospel to be hidden under a lamp, or hidden in some back room. He wants it right out in the open shaking things up. There is nothing timid about the Jesus of the Gospel of Matthew. This is no clandestine Jesus sneaking around and doing subversive things. This is Jesus, the Light of the world, the way, the truth and the life, the Messiah, the King, the Son of God incarnate right out in the open.

Also, Jesus spoke and taught very publicly. Over half of the gospel contains Jesus’ teachings and much of that pertains to specific Jewish things.

Jesus’s Teachings were, in many ways, radically different from what Jews had heard. Jesus opens up the depth of the scriptures to them. We will read where Jesus says, “you have heard it said, but I say to you”….in other words, I know what you have heard, I know what you have been taught, but now let me tell you what God says. Many teaching of Jesus were hard, many teaching of Jesus were in your face to a lot of Jewish religious people.

Therefore I am confident Matthew wrote it from somewhere in Israel, maybe even Jerusalem. If it was written in Rome, or some other place, many would not have batted an eye at it, but because it was written in Israel, amongst the Jews, by a Jew, and for the Jews, I feel it is reasonable to proceed with this assumption. It connected the dots between the OT and the NT, but it was also written to enlighten, correct, to separate, sift, to encourage, teach, and bless God’s chosen people. IT is still doing that today, but not just for Jews.

What is there to get from this? What is in this information for us? The teaching of Jesus are sometimes hard for some, even in your face at times. We may know what men say, we may know what governments say, we may know what rulers say, or what the majority sas or even what religions say, but what is important is what Our God says. There are so many empty words flying around these days, we need the clear truth from the Truth, Jesus.

The fact is mankind has always struggled with and rejected what God says and embraced what man says. That is called sin, and that is the problem. Know this, The gospel of Matthew will confront sin. IT doesn’t dance around the issue, it is quite clear and specific in a number of areas. When God makes things clear, we have clear choices.

Also, The teachings of Jesus in this Gospel, will take us to a higher level of accountability regarding the Righteousness of God. Jesus will focus us on the inner man, not the outer man. HE will speak of a righteousness greater than the righteousness of the Pharisees, and will expose the religious hypocrisy God’s people had gotten caught up in. Be prepared for this Gospel to convict and be in our faces at times. Be prepared to hear truth. Be prepared to make choices.

So as we move through this Gospel, we will keep in mind who wrote it and to whom it was written,(Matthew a Jewish tax collector written to Jews) what kind of writing it is, a narrative of the Life of Jesus, the Son of God to Show Jesus as the promised Messiah and King that also contains much of HIs teachings; Why it was written, to help the Jews to connect the dots to their OT Scriptures in order to show them the faithfulness of God to them, and to align them to God’s plan of salvation for all men, Jew and Gentile, so God could use them for that purpose. Where it was written, right there where they lived, so as to impact their lives, shine the light, open their eyes, raise the standards of righteousness, confront hypocrisy, and teach them truth.

Finally, when was it written? Before 70 A.D. There is a lot of debate about this. Some say Mark’s gospel was written first. I tend to think it was Matthew. My reason for this opinion is not based on some subjective historical opinion or commentary, but on the fact that Jesus went and sent first to the Jews. It seems quite reasonable then that we can trust God to be faithful to HIs people and send the first written gospel to them.

I hope you can see that there is a consistency or a common thread that runs through all those questions. That gives us a good context when all those questions line up. All that is important to establish some context, but also because, like the Jews, some, perhaps even some here, may struggle with some of the things Jesus says and teaches in this gospel. IF so, remember: Many had a problem with what Jesus said in the gospel of Matthew, but some made the choice to follow Him. If we come upon a passage that says some hard things, if it pokes at us a little, if it makes us squirm, if it shines some light, or pierces our hearts, then remember the choice before us is the same. We can argue and oppose Jesus like some did, or we can to drop our empty idea nets or our notepads and follow Him like Matthew did and many did. We will be faced with that choice as we study this gospel. Be ready for it. It is my prayer that we who go into this gospel as believers will come out of it more as followers, and any who don’t know Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and King will come out of this not just knowing Him but following Him as well.

So to wet our appetites, allow me to give you just some of the things we will feast upon in the gospel of Matthew.

A multitude of Messianic prophecies fulfilled in the person of Jesus

The early life of the Messiah Jesus

John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus with a message of repentance. (amazes me there are some these days that preach a gospel void of repentance) Seriously violates the context of the gospels.)

The Son of God, Jesus Himself, being tempted by none other than the father of lies, satan himself. This is an interesting match up. IT is really no match up at all. I liken it to one of those speeding ninja motorcycles verse an Oak tree. Tree wins every time.

Jesus calling the disciples to follow Him. I can’t wait for that one.

Jesus the healer

Jesus the teacher

The sermon on the mount

The beatitudes, the instruction of the happy people

Murder and Adultery, heart issues

Sanctity of marriage

Speaking truthfully, “yea be yea”

Giving sacrificially (haven’t I heard that before?)

Love your enemies (say What?)

Do good quietly…

Here’s how to pray

Here’s how to fast

Invest in Heaven

Watch where your eyes go

Don’t get too caught up with money

Don’t worry! (that sounds familiar too!)

Don’t judge

Keep knocking

Wide to Narrow

Watch for the fruit

Who did you say you are? I don’t recall ever knowing you?

Where to build a house. Rock is a better than sand.

Then In the eighth chapter more healing.

Rotting flesh is made new (leper healed)

Paralized and tormented servant healed through intercession of a faith filled centurion.

Here is a good one…a Mother-in-law healed!

Many healed.

Then more teaching

Jesus teaches about the cost of discipleship

Then the elements bow to their Creator

Then the demons tremble and it is bad day for pigs

Demonstration of power and authority. Only God can forgive sins, and a paralytic walks, thanks to the persistence of some friends.

More healing

Just one touch, that all it took

The dead are brought to life

A speechless man speaks

More teaching, preaching, healing, compassion towards many, multitudes. Jesus says The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.

The twelve named

The twelve sent

The twelve are warned Persecution coming

Jesus teaches: Fear God Be bold Love no one more than you love Him, and Do it in all in His name

John the Baptist in Prison asks, “are you the One”

Then there are some woes,

Reject Jesus….Woe

Reject the prophets…woe

Repent not….woe

We will listen in as Jesus prays to the Father

We will rejoice as Jesus calls to the weary and heavy laden

We will be in awe as Jesus proclaims Himself as Lord of the Sabbath

More teaching:

A house divided cannot stand

There is an unpardonable sin

See the fruit and identify the tree

Jesus speaks of The sign of Jonah

Jesus speaks about An ever increasing wicked generation (somethings never change)

Jesus shakes things up….Who is my mother and who are my brothers?

Parables

The sower

The wheat and the tares

The mustard seed

Leaven

Hidden treasure

The Pearl of Great Price (not cult literature)

The casting of the net

Then the Messiah is rejected by His own

John the Baptist beheaded

Life lessons walking with Jesus.

Jesus feeds 5000

Jesus walks on water, Peter floats, looses focus and sinks

Disciples proclaim “You are the Son of God”

More touch and more are healed

The commands of God vs the traditions of men

The blind leading the blind

A gentile woman healed because of her faith

Jesus heals the multitudes

Jesus feeds 4000

Clueless Pharisees and Sadducees

The leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees

Who do you say that I am…Peter testifies, Peter is puffed up, and

Peter is deflated

Jesus predicts His death

Jesus instructs to take up the cross and follow Him

The transfiguration..Jesus meets with Moses and Elijah

A boy is healed

Jesus predicts His death again

VERY INTERESTING Jesus schools Peter on Fishing and paying taxes

Childlike faith

Another Woe to those who stumble others

Parables: Lost sheep/ The wicked and ungrateful servant

First mention of the church

More teaching: right where we live.

Marriage and Divorce (praying the Lord comes before we get there)

Celebacy / not a popular idea these days

Jesus loves Children

Jesus counsels the rich

A camel going through the eye of a needle…with God all things are possible

another Parable:

wage disputes The workers in the vineyard ….,

Jesus predicts His death a third time

The disciples Bickering over where to sit

Instruction on being the servant of all

Two blind men healed

The triumphal entry

The cleansing of the temple

The withered fig tree

The authority of the Son of God questioned…..how foolish and how sad

More Parables: Prophetic

The two sons

The wicked vinedressers

The wedding feast

Here come the lawyers, tricky questions about

Taxes

The resurrection

which is the greatest commandment?...

The scribes and Pharisees rebuked.

8 woes

Hypocrites, blind guides, fools, serpents, brood of vipers and camel swallowers, Name calling is just so right when Jesus does it.

Tears over Jerusalem

Amazing Prophecies

Temple destroyed – fulfilled in 70 AD

Bad times ahead- being fulfilled in the persecutions that come to the church

But you ain’t seen nothing yet…The great tribulation, not like anything ever seen before.

The coming of the Son of Man

The parable of the fig tree

No one knows the day or the hour

parables that are prophetic

Faithful servant and unfaithful servant

The ten virgins

The talents

The plot to kill Jesus

The anointing of Jesus at Bethany

Judas betrays Jesus

Jesus celebrates the Passover

Take and eat, take and drink

Sleep or pray? Spirit willing flesh weak

The Agony in the Garden

Jesus Arrested

Jesus stands trial in a kangaroo court

Peter denies Jesus…. Jesus handed over to Pilot

Judas comits suicide

Barabbas is freed

Jesus crowned with thorns, mocked and beaten.

Jesus is crucified.

The titulus

Jesus is forsaken for our sins

Jesus dies

Veil torn, earth quakes, rocks split, graves opened

Jesus buried

Jesus rises

The women surprised

The disciples are commissioned

A wonderful promise from the Son of God

“And lo I am with you always even to the end of the age.”

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[1]Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide. Includes index. (1st Augsburg books ed.) (406). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.