The Gospel of Matthew

Placement in the Holy Bible:

• First book of the New Testament

Author:

• Traditionally attributed to Matthew, a tax collector and one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

Intended Audience:

• Primarily Jewish readers.

Purpose:

• To demonstrate that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
• To present Jesus as the Messiah and King, affirming His divine authority through His teachings and deeds.

Key Themes:

• Fulfilment of Prophecy: Matthew shows how Jesus’ life fulfils Old Testament prophecies.
• Jesus as King: Jesus is presented as the King of the Kingdom of Heaven, with divine authority and mission.
• Moral Teachings: Includes detailed moral instructions and teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount.
• Conflict with Religious Leaders: Highlights the tension between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities.

Major Sections:

1. Genealogy and Birth of Jesus (Chapters 1-2): Traces Jesus’ lineage back to David and Abraham, detailing His birth and early life.
2. Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7): Includes the Beatitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, and teachings on morality and discipleship.
3. Miracles and Parables (Chapters 8-13): Describes various miracles and parables of Jesus, offering spiritual lessons.
4. Mission of the Disciples (Chapters 10-12): Details the sending out of the disciples, their mission, and conflicts with religious leaders.
5. Teachings and Actions (Chapters 14-20): Continues with teachings, miracles, and interactions with followers.
6. Triumphal Entry and Final Teachings (Chapters 21-25): Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, final teachings, and prophecies about the end times.
7. Passion, Death, and Resurrection (Chapters 26-28): The events of Jesus’ final days, crucifixion, resurrection, and His commission to the disciples to spread the Gospel.

Structure:

1. Chapters 1-4: Introduction, including Jesus’ genealogy, birth, early life, and the beginning of His ministry.
2. Chapters 5-7: Sermon on the Mount, containing foundational teachings of Jesus.
3. Chapters 8-9: Jesus’ miracles and their impact.
4. Chapters 10-12: Instructions to the disciples, their mission, and conflicts with religious leaders.
5. Chapters 13-20: Parables, teachings, and miracles, revealing the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven.
6. Chapters 21-25: Jesus’ final teachings in Jerusalem, parables, and prophecies about the end times.
7. Chapters 26-28: Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, resurrection, and the Great Commission to spread the Gospel.