Matthews Gospel.
Main Theme of the Gospel : Jesus the Messiah.
Key verses
Matthew 5:14,16. "you are the light of the world.....Let your light so shine before men, that the way see your good works and praise your father in heaven."
Matthew 6:33. " But seek you first the kingdom and His righteouosness and all these things shall be given to you as well."
Matthew`s Emphasis:
Jesus is the promised Messiah.
The special emphasis of the gospelof Matthew is that Jesus is the Messiah foretold in the OLd Testament prophets. Matthew writes his gospel for converts to Chrstianity who have come specifically from a Jewish background. (This is an important emphasis, for it is confirmed by the many Old Testament reference to the teachings of the prophets that are used. If it had been a non jewsih group that Matthew was writting to he would never have use the Old Testament in this way.
Matthew`s Gospel :
The gospel doesnot name its author, but it has been accepted as the work of Matthew ever sinse the early church fathers, beginning with Papias who was a student of the apostle John.
We know almost nothing about Matthew, who is called Levi. He is mentioned in the four lists of the 12 disciples which are recorded in Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13. The only other time we read of Matthew is in the story of his call to be a disciple and that is recorded in Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:14-17 and Luke 5:27-32.
Matthew`s profession.
Matthew was a Roman tax collector, he would have been well off, as he had the responsibility on behalf of the Roman Government to collect his regions tax, when he did this he would have put his interest rate onto the tax amounts that people had to pay and through this method he would have become very rich.
Because the law of Moses forbid charging you fellow Jew interest on money it was see that all tax collectors disregarded and treated with contempt the Law of Moses on Usury.This being the case people would have treated tax collectors with levels of disdain.
Tradition tells us that after Matthew became a disciple of Jesus Christ and put his life afairs into order and left behind him his profession as a tax collector, that he preached in Palestine for a number of years and then travelled to foreign countries. it has been suggested thgat he originally write his gospel in the Hebrew language and somewhere around A.D. 60 he wrote a Greek version of the gospel as well.
Gospel Order of Events.
Chapter
1:1-17 : Genealogy of Jesus. ( Read also Luke 3:23-38).
In the record that Matthew concerning the genealogy of Christ, the author details 42 generations which are divided into three main groups of 14.The three groups of 14 generations cover a period of 2000 years while the first group covers 1000 years the second covers 400 years and the third some 600 years.
In keeping with Jewish tradition it is not usual to include female names in genealogies. While Mary was the mother of Jesus, Joseph`s line is given revealing that Jesus is the legal heir to the promises made by God to Abraham.
So Mary`s as the mother of Jesus her genealogy was given in her husbands name, Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli (Luke 3:23) the over all decent picture can be read in 1 Chronicles 1-9 in the Old Testament. This family line covers a period of some 4000 years.
1:18-25: The birth of Jesus.
2:1-12: Visit of the wise men.
2:13-15 The flight to Egypt.
2:16-18 The Children of Bethlehem killed by Herod.
2:19-23 The flight to Egypt.
3:1-17 The Baptism of Jesus.
4:1-10 The temptation of Jesus.
4:11 Angels.
4:12 Jesus begins his Galilean Ministry.
4:13-17 Residence in Capernaum.
4:18-22 The call of Simon, Andrew, James and John.
4:23-25 Travelling, multitudes following, miracles.
5, 6, & 7. The Sermon on the Mount.
8:1-4. A leper healed.
8:5-13 The Centurions Servant.
8:14-15 Peter`s mother in law healed.
8:16-17 Many healings.
8:18-22 Foxes have places to hide.
8:23-27 The storm is stilled.
8:28-34 The demon possessed man. (Gadarenes).
9:1-8 A man is healed.
9:9-13 The call of Matthew.
9:14-26 a question about fasting.
9:18-26 Jairus`s Daughter.
9:27-31 Two blind men.
9:32-34 The healing of a mute demon posessed man.
9:35-38 Travels.
10. The Twelve disciples sent out to serve.
11:1-9 Messengers from John the Baptist.
11:20-24 The mighty works of Jesus.
11:25-30 Come unto me.
12:1-8 Eating on the Sabbath.
12:9-14 Healing on the Sabbath.
12:15-21 Miracles.
12:22-23 A blind and dumb man healed.
12:24-37 Unpardonable sin.
12:38-45 The sign of Jonah.
12:46-50 Jesus` mother and brothers.
PARABLES.
13:1-23 The parable of the sower.
13:24-30; 36-43, 47-53. The weeds and the Net.
13:31-33 The mustard seed and the leaven.
13:44-46 The hidden treasure and the pearl.
13:54-58 Visit to Nazareth.
14:1-12 John the Baptist beheaded.
14:13-21 The feeding of the 5000.
14:22-33 Jesus walks on water.
14:34-36 Jesus meets the crowds in Gennesaret.
15:1-20 Clean and unclean.
15:21-28 The Canaanite woman.
15:29-39 The feeding of the 4000.
16:1-12 The leaven of the Pharisees.
16:13-20 The confession of Peter.
16:21-28 The passion.
17:1-13 The transfiguration of Jesus.
17:14-20 The Epileptic boy.
17:22-23 The passion.
17:24-27 The tax collector.
18:1-6 The greatest disciple?
18:7-14 Stumbling of the disciple.
18:15-35 Forgiveness.
THE PEREAN MINISTRY.
19:1-2 Jesus leaves Galilee.
19:3-12 Jesus teaches about divorce.
19:13-15 Children.
19:16-30 The rich young ruler.
20:1-16 The parable of the workers in the vineyard.
20:17-19 The passion.
20:20-28 The request of James and John.
20:29-34 The blind man at Jericho.
The last week in the life of Jesus. Ch21-28.
21:1-11 The Triumphal Entry
21:18-22 The Fig Tree.
21:23-27 Authority.
21:28-32 The Two Sons. (Parable).
21:33-46 The Vineyard. (Parable).
22:1-14 The Marriage Feast. (Parable).
22:15-22. Paying Tax to Caesar.
22:23-33. Resurrection.
22:34-40. The Great Commandment.
22:41-46. Son of David.
23: Woe to the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees.
24 & 25. Prophetic chapters concerning the "last days".
24:1-44. Prophecies concerning the Second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
24:45-51. The faithful and wise servants.
25:1-13. The Ten Virgins. (Parables).
25:14-30. The Talents. (Parable).
25:31-46. The Final Judgement.
26:1-5. The plot to kill Jesus.
26:6-13. The anointing at Bethany.
26:14-16. Judas agrees to betray Jesus.
26:17-29. The Last Supper.
26:30-46. Gethsemane.
26:47-56. Betrayal and arrest.
26:57-68. The High Priest`s judgement.
26:69-75. Peter`s denial.
27:1-2. The verdict.
27:3-10. Judas committs suicide.
27:11-25. Jesus`s trial before Pilot.
27:26. The Flogging of Jesus.
27:27-31. The Mocking of Jesus.
27:32. Simon carries Christ`s cross.
27:33-56. The Crucifixion of Jesus.
27:57-61. The Burial of Jesus.
27:62-66. The sealing of the tomb.
28:1-8. The women come to the Tomb.
28:9-10. The first appearance of the Lord Jesus.
28:11-15. The bribing of the tomb guards.
28:16-20 Jesu appears to the 11 disciples.