Matthew INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The Gospel according to Matthew tells the good news that Jesus is the promised Saviour, the one through whom God fulfilled the promises he made to his people in the Old Testament. This good news is not only for the Jewish people, among whom Jesus was born and lived, but for the whole world.
Matthew is carefully arranged. It begins with the birth of Jesus, describes his baptism and temptation, and then takes up his ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing in Galilee. After this the Gospel records Jesus' journey from Galilee to Jerusalem and the events of Jesus' last week, culminating in his crucifixion and resurrection.
This Gospel presents Jesus as the great Teacher, who has the authority to interpret the Law of God, and who teaches about God's kingdom. Much of his teaching is gathered by subject matter into five collections: (1) The Sermon on the Mount, which concerns the character, duties, privileges, and destiny of the citizens of the Kingdom of heaven (chapters 5—7); (2) Instructions to the twelve disciples for their mission (chapter 10); (3) Parables about the Kingdom of heaven (chapter 13); (4) Teaching on the meaning of discipleship (chapter 18); and (5) Teaching about the end of the present age and the coming of the Kingdom of heaven (chapters 24—25).
Outline of Contents
Genealogy and birth of Jesus Christ 1.1—2.23
The ministry of John the Baptist 3.1–12
The baptism and temptation of Jesus 3.13—4.11
Jesus' public ministry in Galilee 4.12—18.35
From Galilee to Jerusalem 19.1—20.34
The last week in and near Jerusalem 21.1—27.66
The resurrection and appearances of the Lord 28.1–20
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Matthew INTRODUCTION: GNBDK
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Matthew About this book
About this book
The Sermon on the Mount (5.1—7.28), the Lord's Prayer (6.9-13), and the Golden Rule (7.12: “Treat others as you want them to treat you”) are all in this book. It is perhaps the best known and the most quoted of all the books that have ever been written about Jesus. That is one reason why Matthew was placed first among the four books about Jesus called Gospels.
One of the most important ideas found here is that God expects his people to obey him, and this is what is meant by the Greek word that appears in many translations as righteousness. It is used seven times by Matthew, but only once by Luke, and not at all by Mark. So it is an important clue to much of what Matthew wants his readers to understand about the teaching of Jesus.
Jesus first uses this word at his own baptism, when he tells John the Baptist, “We must do all that God wants us to do” (3.15). Then, during his Sermon on the Mount, he speaks five more times of what God's people must do to obey him (5.6,10,20; 6.1,33). And finally, he reminds the chief priests and leaders of the people, “John the Baptist showed you how to do right” (21.32).
Matthew wanted to provide for the people of his time a record of Jesus' message and ministry. It is clear that the Old Testament Scriptures were very important to these people. And Matthew never fails to show when these texts point to the coming of Jesus as the Messiah sent from God. Matthew wrote this book to make sure Christians knew that their faith in Jesus as the Messiah was well anchored in the Old Testament Scriptures, and to help them grow in faith.
Matthew ends his story with the words of Jesus to his followers, which tell what they are to do after he leaves them:
I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
(28.18b-20)
A quick look at this book
1. The ancestors and birth of Jesus (1.1—2.23)
2. The message of John the Baptist (3.1-12)
3. The baptism and temptation of Jesus (3.13—4.11)
4. Jesus in Galilee (4.12—18.35)
5. Jesus goes from Galilee to Jerusalem (19.1—20.34)
6. Jesus' last week: his trial and death (21.1—27.66)
7. Jesus is alive (28.1-20)
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012