Matthew

INTRODUCTION TO MATTHEW

 

INTRODUCTION

A.        The Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke & John!

            The Gospels — A boxed set of 4 books that open the New Testament

            The Gospels — The most widely read and recognized books of the Bible

            The Gospels — A comprehensive and multi-dimensional look at the life of Christ

            The Gospels — The declaration of the Good News Himself!

            The Gospels — The finished foundation of the fledgling church!

            The Gospels — A packed commentary filled with parables and miracles!

            The Gospels — The life of the most profound Person to have ever lived!

 

B.  The first three gospels — Matthew, Mark and Luke — are called the synoptic gospels because they somewhat mirror each other in an altogether different way than John’s gospel, who’s account of the life of Christ is unique from the first three gospels.  Though the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are similar in content and like the Gospel of John, each looks at the life of Christ from a different vantage point, they wondrously harmonize in bringing to the reader a beautiful and magnificent portrait of our Savior.  Each adds a brush stroke the other doesn’t or further intensifies the stroke already made on the canvas, giving a complete picture of the life of Jesus.  Yet each gospel writer presents Jesus in a light that bends at a slightly different angle.

 

            * Matthew presents Jesus as the coming King!

 

            * Mark presents Jesus as a suffering Servant!

 

            * Luke presents Jesus in His humanity as the Son of Man!

 

            * John present Jesus in His Deity as the Son of God!

 

Together these four gospels present a rich masterpiece of the perfect God man as a king yet a servant!  Matthew, the ex-tax-collector-turned-disciple-of-Christ, will take you on a one-way journey through the monumental life of Christ, from His birth to His death, from His acceptance to His rejection, from His teachings to His sufferings, from His baptism to His resurrection!

 

THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

 

1.  It highlights the kingly position of Jesus

            The first of these seven has been previously alluded to in the introduction — it highlights the kingly position of Jesus.  Whereas Mark focuses on Jesus the servant and Luke on Jesus as human and John on Jesus as divine, Matthew highlights the kingly position of Jesus.  In Matthew 1:1 we read:

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”

Although Abraham precedes David chronologically, David is mentioned first.  Why?  Matthew’s purpose is obviously more thematic than chronological — he wants to present Jesus as King.  Hence he starts with King David at the beginning of Jesus’ genealogy and not Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel!  The King who would rule over the nation would come through King David.  This would be the fulfillment of those words spoken to this very King David hundreds of years earlier:

            “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12-13)

Turning from the first verse of Matthew to one of the last verses of Matthew, Jesus commissions His disciples to go forth and make disciples and utters His authority in 28:18.  So in the very first verse of Matthew, the kingly position of Jesus is highlighted and in one of the last verses of Matthew, the kingly position of Jesus is highlighted via His all-encompassing authority.  What do we find in between?  Here’s what pastor-teacher John MacArthur writes in his commentary on Matthew:

            “The message of the book of Matthew centers on the theme of kingship.  Just as virtually every paragraph of the gospel of John points to something of Christ’s deity, so virtually every paragraph of Matthew points to something of His kingship.” (Matthew 1-7, page xii)

2.  It describes the coming kingdom of Jesus

            Not only does Matthew highlight the kingly position of Jesus, but secondly, it describes the coming kingdom of Jesus.  In the middle of the Book of Matthew, a change begins to take place as Israel continues to reject her king.  In Matthew 13, Jesus initiates a new program.  He begins to instruct His disciples on the coming kingdom, a kingdom that would also include Gentiles, through a series of parables.  Up to this point He has not used even one parable.   Now He unleashes seven of these parables in rapid-succession.  A parable is a heavenly truth dressed in earthly clothes.  Jesus is unveiling this coming kingdom before their very eyes.  In 13:3, he begins His parabolic discourse on the sower.  In 13:10, His followers question His parabolic speaking.  Jesus gives them the reason for His parables in 13:11.  The second parable is also linked to the kingdom in 13:24.  But not only are the 1st and 2nd parables linked to the kingdom, so too are the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th (see 13:31, 33, 44, 45, 47).  In 25:31-32, the coming of this kingdom is further described through a period of judgment that will transpire.  Clearly, the intent of Matthew is to describe the coming kingdom, which in a sense, is already upon us but in its fullest sense, will ensue at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period when Jesus sets up His literal throne on this earth for 1,000 years. 

 

3.  It emphasizes the teaching ministry of Jesus

            The third unique characteristic of the Gospel of Matthew pertains to the content of the material.  Far greater than all the other gospel accounts, Matthew emphasizes the teaching ministry of Jesus.  Large sections of discourse material are found throughout the book.  Beginning in Matthew 5:1 we find that theological treatise commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount which first addresses the beatitudes:

            “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.  Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit … Blessed are those who mourn … Blessed are the meek … Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness … Blessed are the merciful … Blessed are the pure in heart … Blessed are the peacemakers … and Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (5:1-10)

Starting in 5:1 and finishing 110 verses later in 8:1 when Jesus comes down from the mountain, we have one of the most protracted and uninterrupted theological discourses by Jesus contained in all of Scripture.  In 10:1-5, we find a second section of didactic material, this time specifically to the twelve apostles.  And for the next nearly 40 verses, He instructs His apostles concerning their mission.  As previously seen in Matthew 13, Jesus issues a series of seven parables, stories that teach heavenly truth dressed in earthly clothes.  In Matthew 18:1, in response to the disciples’ question, “Who then is the greatest?” He teaches on the obligations of discipleship for the rest of the chapter.  And in 23:1-2 we see a holy scolding by Jesus that only increases in intensity in the verses to follow (23:13,14,15,16,17,19).  His condemnation of the religious leaders continues throughout the chapter.  Finally in Matthew 24-25, Jesus teaches eschatologically what has become known as the Olivet Discourse, a detailed explanation of future events relating to Jerusalem and the nation.  Without question, Matthew’s gospel emphasizes the teaching ministry of Jesus.  One commentator writes:

 

            “No gospel is more instructive to those who are the Lord’s disciples and who are called to represent Him in the world.  The lessons on discipleship are life-changing for the committed reader, as they were for the eleven who were Jesus’ first followers.” (John MacArthur, Matthew 1-7, pages xii-xiii).

4.  It stresses the fulfilled prophecies of Jesus

            Whereas each of the gospel writers give some attention to the Old Testament, Matthew appears to go out of his way to provide an Old Testament setting for his account.  This then is the fourth unique characteristic of Matthew — it stresses the fulfilled prophecies of Jesus.  Matthew quotes directly out of the Old Testament over 50 times, more than the Gospels of Mark and Luke combined!  Consider just some of these fulfilled prophecies from the early days of Jesus’ life.

In 1:23, Isaiah 7:14 is quoted and then fulfilled concerning the promised birth of Immanuel through a virgin.

In 2:6, Micah 5:2 is quoted and then fulfilled concerning the promised birth place of Bethlehem where the Christ child is to be born.

 In 2:15, Hosea 11:1 is quoted and then fulfilled concerning the promised place of Egypt from which Jesus would be called by the Father.

In 3:3, Isaiah 40:3 is quoted and then fulfilled concerning the promised prediction of the one who would prepare the way for Christ, John the Baptist.

In chapter 4, Deuteronomy is quoted three times by Jesus Himself in the face of three temptations by Satan.

Throughout his gospel account, Matthew quotes extensively from Old Testament prophecies that have now been fulfilled in the life of Christ.  From His birth to His death, from His healing ministry to His serving ministry, from His offering of Himself to Israel to His arrest in Gethsemane, predicted prophecy was perfectly fulfilled in the life of Christ.  When one considers the over 50 direct quotations alongside the nearly 75 allusions to the Old Testament, surely we can say that the Gospel of Matthew stresses the fulfilled prophecy of Jesus. 

 

5.  It evidences the Jewish precedence of Jesus

            Closely tied to the emphasis upon fulfilled prophecy from the Old Testament is the fifth unique characteristic of Matthew — it evidences the Jewish precedence of Jesus.  “The Old Testament clearly taught that the Messiah would bring in a glorious utopian reign on the earth in which the nation Israel would have a prominent position” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, pages 16-17).  That’s why Jesus goes first to the house of Israel.  Among all the gospel accounts, Matthew alone records a constant contrast between the wise and the foolish, a common linguistic device in the Old Testament and thus familiar to the Jew.  The respect for the Old Testament Law is perhaps stated no better than in Matthew 5:17.  In a nice balance of appreciation for the authority and relevance of the Jewish teachings, Jesus speaks these succinct words.  R.K. Harrison, in his book, Introduction to the New Testament, contributes this insight regarding Matthew:

 

            “This Gospel is sensitive also to the phenomena of current Judaism: its emphasis upon external acts of piety, the love of recognition found in its leaders, the proselyting activity of the Jews, the practice of binding and loosing in relation to authority, and even a hint as to the dispute between the two schools of thought on divorce.  These are only samples of the local color that shines through” (page 171).Clearly the Gospel of Matthew evidences the Jewish precedence of Jesus which is perhaps reflected best in Jesus’ own words in 15:24,

 

            “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

 

Yet despite this emphasis upon the Jews, a notable concern for the Gentiles is also manifested in Matthew!  Because Jesus’ message to His own nation is rejected, a universal message begins to reach out to all peoples, including the Gentiles.  So much so, that in 28:19, the message has shifted from the Jew alone to all.  Now the message of salvation is to go out to the whole world — to Jew and Gentile!

 

6.  It headlines the future events of Jesus

           A sixth unique characteristic of the Gospel of Matthew is this — it headlines the future events of Jesus.  In theological circles, it’s called eschatology.  As seen earlier in Matthew 13, seven parables address the future event of the kingdom.  What we find in Matthew 24-25 is a theological treatise commonly called the Olivet Discourse.  24:3 gives us the purpose and in the rest of Matthew 24, He answers these questions concerning the sign of His coming and the end of the age.  Then in Matthew 25, He points to the establishment of the future kingdom and the future judgment of the Jews and Gentiles.  Nowhere else in all the gospels is there such a lengthy, uninterrupted passage on future events as we find here — 95 verses strong!  Jesus’ own last words, which conclude the Gospel of Matthew, summarize this headlining of future events:

 

            “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (28:20)

 

Clearly Matthew headlines the future events of Jesus. 

 

7.  It introduces the future bride of Jesus

            The seventh unique characteristic of Matthew affects you to a greater extent than any of the previous six — it introduces the future bride of Jesus.  No other gospel writer draws attention to the church, save Matthew.  In that pivotal chapter 16, the introduction of the church is made and she is attached a promise spoken from the lips of Jesus Himself:

 

            “I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (16:18).

 

What a wonderful futuristic promise to His disciples and a present promise to us — that Christ is building His church and nothing will be able to overcome her!  Two chapters later in Matthew 18, Jesus gives that wonderful passage of Scripture in 18:15-20 concerning the procedure for carrying out discipline in the church.  How indebted we are to Matthew for recording these precious two cardinals truths of the Christian church, truths that are still fundamental to our faith nearly 2,000 years later! 

 

CONCLUSION

            What a marvelous masterpiece we have in the Gospel according to Matthew.  Though no precise statement is given in the book for the writing of this account, it clearly has the same purpose as the other gospels — to make known the person and work of Jesus Christ in order to bring the reader to make a decision to follow the Son of God.  But in a way that no other gospel writer takes, Matthew’s Gospel is intended to serve as a teaching manual for the church.  This is made remarkably clear by the words of the Great Commission in Matthew 28, a commission unique to Matthew, where Jesus commands His disciples to:

            “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you”

 

To think that the Lord Himself, in His sovereignty, allowed the ordering of the New Testament books to begin with that of Matthew.  Matthew — the despised tax collector, Matthew — not one of the more prominent apostles, Matthew — grouped with the sinners by the Jews!  May you ponder with a profound reverence and awe a God who uses all kinds of people, especially no-names, to build His kingdom and advance His program!