Matthew
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” — Matthew 18:20 (KJV)
Overview
- Testament: New
- Author: Matthew (Levi), tax collector and apostle
- Date Written: ~AD 50–60
- Key Themes: Kingdom of heaven, fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus as Messiah/King, sermons, discipleship
- Chapters: 28
Summary
Matthew is the most Jewish of the Gospels — written to prove that Jesus is the promised Messiah. It opens with “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (1:1) — a deliberate echo of Genesis’s toledot (“generations”) formula — and contains more OT quotations than any other Gospel (60+). The signature fulfillment formula, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,” appears 14 times. Matthew’s primary audience is Jewish readers who need to see that Jesus does not abolish the law but fulfills it (5:17).
The book’s most distinctive structural feature is its five major discourses, each ending with “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings…” — deliberately mirroring the five books of Moses:
- Sermon on the Mount (chs. 5–7) — The ethics of the Kingdom
- Mission Discourse (ch. 10) — Instructions for the Twelve
- Parables Discourse (ch. 13) — Seven parables of the Kingdom
- Church Discourse (ch. 18) — Community life, forgiveness, restoration
- Olivet Discourse (chs. 24–25) — End times, judgment, the Son of Man
Surrounding these discourses is narrative that shows Jesus exercising authority — over demons, disease, death, nature, and ultimately sin — as the divine Son of David who has the right to make these demands. The Gospel culminates in the Great Commission (28:19–20), sending a Jewish story to all nations.
The Five Discourses
| Discourse | Chapters | Theme | Closing Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sermon on the Mount | 5–7 | Ethics of the Kingdom; Beatitudes; Lord’s Prayer | ”When Jesus had ended these sayings” (7:28) |
| Mission Discourse | 10 | Instructions for the Twelve; persecution; Father’s care | ”When Jesus had made an end of commanding” (11:1) |
| Parables Discourse | 13 | Seven Kingdom parables; sower; wheat and tares | ”When Jesus had finished these parables” (13:53) |
| Church Discourse | 18 | Humility; restoration; seventy-times-seven forgiveness | ”When Jesus had finished these sayings” (19:1) |
| Olivet Discourse | 24–25 | End times; ten virgins; talents; sheep and goats | ”When Jesus had finished all these sayings” (26:1) |
Key Characters
| Character | Role | Key Passages |
|---|---|---|
| Jesus Christ | Messiah, King, Son of David | Throughout |
| Matthew (Levi) | Tax collector, apostle, author | Matthew 9:9 |
| Peter | Chief apostle, confessor | Matthew 14, 16, 18, 26 |
| Joseph | Earthly father, dreamer | Matthew 1–2 |
| Mary | Mother of Jesus | Matthew 1–2 |
| Herod the Great | King, murderer of innocents | Matthew 2 |
| Pilate | Roman governor, condemns Jesus | Matthew 27 |
| Judas Iscariot | Betrayer, 30 pieces of silver | Matthew 26–27 |
Key Events
| Event | Reference | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Birth of Jesus | Matthew 1–2 | Genealogy, virgin birth, magi, flight to Egypt |
| Visit of the Magi | Matthew 2:1-12 | Wise men follow the star; worship the infant King; present gold, frankincense, myrrh |
| Massacre of the Innocents | Matthew 2:16-18 | Herod slays all male children in Bethlehem two years and under; Rachel weeping fulfilled |
| Flight to Egypt | Matthew 2:13-15 | Angel warns Joseph; family flees to Egypt; “Out of Egypt have I called my son” fulfilled |
| Baptism of Jesus | Matthew 3 | John baptizes, Spirit descends, Father speaks |
| Temptation | Matthew 4 | 40 days, three temptations, Deuteronomy quotes |
| Call of the First Disciples | Matthew 4:18–22 | Peter, Andrew, James, John called from their nets; “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” |
| Sermon on the Mount | Matthew 5–7 | Beatitudes, Lord’s Prayer, golden rule |
| Miracles | Matthew 8–9 | Healing, authority, compassion |
| Sending the Twelve | Matthew 10 | Mission, persecution, Father’s care |
| Peter’s Confession | Matthew 16 | ”Thou art the Christ,” church founded |
| Transfiguration | Matthew 17 | Glory revealed, Moses & Elijah |
| Triumphal Entry | Matthew 21 | Palm Sunday, Zechariah 9:9 fulfilled |
| Cleansing of the Temple | Matthew 21:12-13 | Jesus overturns tables; “My house shall be called the house of prayer” |
| Olivet Discourse | Matthew 24–25 | End times, abomination of desolation, ten virgins, talents, sheep and goats |
| Anointing at Bethany | Matthew 26:6–13 | Woman anoints Jesus with costly ointment; “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached…this also shall be told” |
| Last Supper | Matthew 26 | New covenant, betrayal, Gethsemane |
| Great Commission | Matthew 28:19-20 | ”Go ye therefore, teach all nations”; trinitarian baptism; “I am with you alway” |
| Crucifixion | Matthew 27 | Trial, death, earthquake, tomb |
| Resurrection | Matthew 28 | Empty tomb, Great Commission |
Important Places
| Place | Significance | Key Passages |
|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem | Birthplace, Micah 5:2 fulfilled | Matthew 2 |
| Nazareth | Hometown, rejection | Matthew 13 |
| Capernaum | Ministry base, “his own city” | Matthew 4, 8, 17 |
| Jerusalem | Temple, trial, crucifixion | Matthew 21–28 |
| Mount of Olives | Olivet Discourse, ascension | Matthew 24–25 |
| Golgotha | Place of the cross | Matthew 27 |
| Jericho | Healing, Zacchaeus parallel | Matthew 19–20 |
Chapter Outline
| Chapters | Section | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Birth & Infancy | Genealogy, virgin birth, magi, Egypt, Herod |
| 3–4 | Baptism & Temptation | John the Baptist, Spirit, wilderness |
| 5–7 | Sermon on the Mount | Beatitudes, law, prayer, giving, judgment |
| 8–9 | Miracles & Authority | Healing, calling Matthew, compassion |
| 10 | Sending the Twelve | Mission, persecution, Father’s care |
| 11–12 | Opposition & Authority | John doubts, Sabbath, “My Father worketh” |
| 13 | Parables of the Kingdom | Sower, wheat/tares, mustard, leaven, treasure |
| 14–17 | Ministry & Transfiguration | Herod, feeding 4000, Peter’s confession, glory |
| 18 | Church Discipline | Humility, forgiveness, “seventy times seven” |
| 19–20 | Teachings on the Way | Divorce, rich young ruler, workers in vineyard |
| 21–23 | Week of Passion | Entry, cleansing, parables, woes to scribes |
| 24–25 | Olivet Discourse | End-times, virgins, talents, sheep/goats |
| 26–27 | Betrayal & Crucifixion | Last Supper, Gethsemane, trial, cross |
| 28 | Resurrection & Commission | Empty tomb, appearance, “all power,” go therefore |
Cross-References
Old Testament fulfillment:
- Isaiah 7:14 — Virgin birth (Matt. 1:23)
- Micah 5:2 — Bethlehem (Matt. 2:5-6)
- Isaiah 40:3 — Voice crying (Matt. 3:3)
- Zechariah 9:9 — Donkey entry (Matt. 21:4-5)
- Isaiah 53:5 — Wounded for transgressions (Matt. 8:17)
- Psalm 22 — Crucifixion details (Matt. 27:46)
New Testament connections:
- Luke 1–2 — Parallel birth narratives
- Mark 1–16 — Parallel ministry account
- Acts 1 — Resurrection, ascension
Key Verses
The Commission:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” — Matthew 28:19-20
The Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:3
The Confession:
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Barjonas: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” — Matthew 16:17
Notes & Reflections
- Matthew quotes the OT 60+ times — most of any NT book
- Five major sermons mirror the five books of Moses
- “Kingdom of heaven” used 32 times (Matthew’s Jewish sensitivity vs. “kingdom of God”)
- The Genealogy traces Jesus through David to Abraham — legal right to throne
- Sermon on the Mount (5–7) is Jesus’ most comprehensive teaching
- Olivet Discourse (24–25) is the primary end-times teaching
- Matthew 18:20 — Promise of Christ’s presence in gathering
- The Gospel ends with a command, not a question — “Go”
Sequential Connections
- Preceded by: Malachi — 400 years of silence end
- Parallel with: Mark, Luke, John — Other Gospel accounts
- Followed by: Mark — Second Gospel account
Tags
NewTestament Gospels Matthew Messiah Kingdom SermonOnTheMount GreatCommission