Pastor Matthew's Sermon Notes

Author: Matthew, (which means Gift of the Lord) also known as Levi.

Possible Date Written: Between A.D. 50 and 70

Approximate Years Covered in Book: About 37 years (4 B.C. ~ A.D. 33)

The Book’s Title: Author’s name, Matthew

It is Written to: Primarily Jews, but also to Gentiles who have turned to faith in Jesus

Brief Background (before the book):
The Old Testament (OT) ends with God’s prophets predicting the coming of the Messiah, i.e. Anointed One. They prophesied how He would enter into the world to redeem and deliver His people. A little over 400 years later, the New Testament (NT) begins with the book of Matthew revealing the fulfillment of these prophesies in Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. Jesus calls a Jewish tax collector for the Roman government, Matthew, to follow Him as one of the twelve apostles. This leads to frequent eye-witness accounts presented by Matthew in his book.

Basic Content:
Matthew’s Gospel provides the crucial point of connection between the OT and the NT. Matthew begins by tracing the royal line of Jesus through His step-father, Joseph; the birth of Jesus to a virgin, Mary; the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist; and the temptation of Jesus by the devil while He was fasting in the desert. Jesus speaks more in Matthew than in the other Gospels, and his teaching discourses include: the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7); the sending out of the Twelve (chapter 10); parables of the kingdom of heaven (chapter 13); fellowship of the kingdom (chapter 18); and the Olivet Discourse concerning the future (chapters 24, 25). During Jesus’ final week his betrayal, trial, crucifixion, burial and resurrection take place. Matthew concludes with the call of the Great Commission to all believers.

Key Words: “Immanuel”; “Fulfillment”; “Righteousness;” “Kingdom of Heaven.”
Matthew begins and ends the book with a statement of “God with us.” Matthew quotes from many of the OT books to solidify further the claim that indeed Jesus is the “fulfillment” of the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. Matthew uses “righteousness” and we do not see it used at all in Mark. Not only must Jesus “fulfill all righteousness,” but He must demonstrate a way for His followers to be able to live it out. The term “kingdom of heaven” is only used by Matthew in the NT, and is used repeatedly to introduce the “Good News” that God is present in Jesus Christ and lives to reign in the lives of humanity. Hence Jesus is the Christ (Anointed or Chosen One) and our Lord (Master or Ruler).

Key Verses: Matthew 1:1, 16:21, 28:16–20

Themes:
Jesus came to save both the Jews and Gentiles. We also see that there is only one true God, but with the essence of three. (This lends support to the theology of believing in the Trinity: God the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit.) The standards of God are high, but the example He gave us is perfect… Jesus. The Messiah is sufficient for whatever need we might have. The ways of God are infinitely higher than the ways of the world. Jesus chose to willingly lay down His life in order to save our sinful world from certain destruction with His perfect and acceptable sacrifice.

Outline:
          (1) The birth and boyhood of Jesus the King, 1:1-2:23
          (2) The preparation and beginnings of Jesus’ ministry, 3:1-4:25
          (3) The Sermon on the Mount, 5:1-7:29
          (4) Jesus’ ministry of miracles, demonstrating the power of the King, 8:1-9:34
          (5) Jesus’ sending out the Twelve Disciples, 9:35-11:1
          (6) The continuation of Jesus’ ministry with claims and parables, 11:2-25:46
          (7) The betrayal and crucifixion of the King, 26:1-27:56
          (8) The burial, resurrection, and Great Commission of the King, 27:57-28:20

Matthew is one of the four Gospels of the New Testament, written by a tax collector who became one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. This Gospel apparently was written to show the Jewish people that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, since many events in His life are interpreted as fulfillment of the Scriptures (1:22; 4:14; 12:17; 21:4; 27:35). In Matthew’s genealogies, Jesus’ ancestry through Joseph, His earthly father, is traced to two of the greatest personalities in Jewish history – Abraham and David (1:6). Matthew’s Gospel also emphasizes the teaching ministry of Jesus, particularly His instructions to His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount (5:1 – 7:27). Another prominent theme of this Gospel is the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven (5:3; 6:33; 8:11; 12:28; 13:43-46; 19:23; 21:31; 25:34).

Matthew 1:1 opens with ‘The book of Genesis…’ and concludes with ‘until the end of the age’ (28:20) (Revelation).

Immanuel 1:23, 28:20

A reminder of God’s covenants with Abraham (Gen. 12:2, 3) and with David (II Sam. 7:8-13) is the opening of the book and God’s covenant with us (Jesus’ Disciples) is the conclusion of the book (Matthew 28: 18 – 20). It is interesting to note that David’s son was a king and Abraham’s son was a sacrifice. Matthew opens his Gospel with the birth of the son of God, a King, and then he ends his gospel by the death God’s son, a sacrifice.

Jesus is the 7^th 7 in Matthew’s demonstration of Jewish History (genealogy). (7 is symbolic of perfection in the Jewish thought of Numerology.)

Matthew 16:21 is the turning point of the book.
          Jesus’ Life and ministry in Galilee
          Jesus’ Life and ministry from Galilee to the Passion (Cross and Resurrection)
          Perhaps there is a third part, and that is at Matthew 4:17 (start of ministry)

OT states the promise, Jesus is that promise come true.

OT => Jesus
Galilee => Jerusalem
Israel => World

Note Matthew’s first 6 verses and his last five.

Applications for us, today:

• Matthew is big on the church as the fellowship of believers (or the community) established by Jesus to accomplish God’s plans and purposes. vs. The high value we place on individuality in regards to religion, spirituality, and encounters with God. Jesus is more than just my Lord; He is God’s instrument of grace and love to move the people of Israel, as well as all the nations to the ends of the earth. He is to move them closer to God.
• In Matthew’s time, Jews were the dominant majority and persecutors of “other followers of God” in the “followers of YHWH circle.” This does not account for the Gentiles who persecuted Jews and/or Christians. vs. Our time, Christians are the majority and persecutors of “other followers of God” e.g. the Jews.

Nevertheless, Matthew has three elements that we should take note of:

     1)          He is Positive towards and affirming of the OT and of Jewish heritage.
     2)          He is critical of “empty and hypocritical religion.”
     3)          He strongly believes in Jesus and that Jesus’ teachings are the only way to enter the kingdom, which is eternal life. Judgment comes to those who have rejected the King.

• One must live the Life, and not just talk the talk and occasionally jog the walk. This is not just a confession of faith or even a “religious experience”; it is being obedient to Jesus and Jesus’ teachings. Righteousness is what Jesus commands and expects, thus right conduct is not a voluntary bonus, but a quintessential element of true faithfulness demonstrated by followers of Jesus. Shallow understanding of the word/laws of God lead to fake believers. Matthew is against just going through the motions, or doing motions instead of being righteous.
   
• Like in Matthew’s time, there were many other religions being practiced at the time. For them it might have been considered pluralistic, and for us it can be understood as tolerance, but either way, some will be saved and others will not. Matthew argues that there are obvious differences between the following of Jesus and YHWH, and the practicing of a “false religion.” We like to tell ourselves that we are alright and that it is up to God to Judge the rest, where we believe His judgments will be just and unbiased. He is God after all, the divine ruler of the heavens and of the earth. Matthew had a similar notion; one in which he placed a grave emphasis on the divine judgment in various portions of his text. While this can lead to despair because we come to the realization that all people will not be going to heaven, it must be juxtaposed with the hope and faith in the “Good News” of Jesus Christ. Matthew does not mince words and tries to make it clear that the way one lives is important and that there will unfortunately be some who will be cast out of the kingdom, into darkness and misery.
   
• Most importantly we can come away with a saving faith in Jesus Christ, both as the promised Messiah of the OT and as the faithful King who not only laid down His life for His people, but took it up again showing He had the power over death and the devil.

Matthew __________ opens the book with ‘The book of Genesis…’ and the book concludes with ‘until the end of the age’ (_________) (Revelation).

A Key Word Is: _______________ 1:23, 28:20

We see a reminder of God’s covenants with ________________ (Gen. 12:2, 3) and with _______________ (II Sam. 7:8-13) as the opening of the book. We also see God’s covenant with __________ (____________________) at the conclusion of the book (Matthew 28: 18 – 20). It is interesting to note that ______________’s son was a king and _____________’s son was a sacrifice. Matthew opens his Gospel with the birth of the son of God, a King, and then he ends his gospel by the death God’s son, a sacrifice.

Jesus is the 7^th ___________ in Matthew’s demonstration of Jewish History (the genealogy). (_______ is symbolic of perfection in the Jewish thought of Numerology.)

Matthew 16:23 is the ________________ of the book.
          Jesus’ Life and ministry in Galilee
          Jesus’ Life and ministry from Galilee to the Passion (Cross and Resurrection)
          Perhaps there is a third part, and that is at Matthew 4:17 (start of ministry)

The _____________________________ states the promise, Jesus is that promise come true.

____________________ => ____________________

____________________ => ____________________

____________________ => ____________________

Applications for us, today:

• Matthew is big on the church as the fellowship of believers (or the community) established by Jesus to accomplish God’s plans and purposes. vs. The high value we place on individuality in regards to religion, spirituality, and encounters with God.

Jesus is more than just my Lord; He is God’s instrument of __________ and __________

• One must live the Life, and not just talk the talk and occasionally jog the walk. This is not just a confession of faith or even a “religious experience”; it is being obedient to Jesus and Jesus’ teachings. Righteousness is what Jesus commands and expects, thus right conduct is not a voluntary bonus, but a quintessential element of true faithfulness demonstrated by followers of Jesus. Shallow understanding of the word/laws of God lead to fake believers. Matthew is against just going through the motions, or doing motions instead of being righteous.
   
• In Matthew’s time, Jews were the dominant majority and persecutors of “other followers of God” in the “followers of YHWH circle.” This does not account for the Gentiles who persecuted Jews and/or Christians. vs. Our time, Christians are the majority and persecutors of “other followers of God” e.g. the Jews.

Nevertheless, Matthew has ________ elements that we should take note of:

     1)          He is affirming of the _____________________ and of Jewish heritage.
     2)          He is critical of “_______________ and____________________ religion.”
     3)          He strongly believes in Jesus and that Jesus’ teachings are the ________ way to enter the kingdom, which is eternal life. Judgment is coming to all of those who have ____________________ the King.

• Like in Matthew’s time, there were many other religions being practiced at the time. For them it might have been considered pluralistic, and for us it can be understood as tolerance, but either way, some will be saved and others will not. Matthew argues that there are obvious differences between the following of Jesus and YHWH, and the practicing of a “false religion.” Matthew placed a grave emphasis on the divine judgment in various portions of his text. While this can lead to despair because we come to the realization that all people will not be going to heaven, it must be juxtaposed with the hope and faith in the “Good News” of Jesus Christ which leads to life.
   
• Most importantly we can come away with a ______________________________________ in Jesus Christ, both as the promised Messiah of the OT and as the faithful King who not only laid down His life for His people, but took it up again showing He had the power over death and the devil.