1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
The Bible gives us four accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry. Each covers many of the same experiences from different perspectives. Some recount moments the others don't. Each was written in a specific context for a specific purpose, affecting how we understand its allusions, references, and framing.
If you haven’t studied Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John closely, you may have trouble recalling what sets each of these books apart.
† Eight noteworthy facts about Matthew’s gospel to remember (compliments of Jesus Film Project)
1. Matthew was primarily written for a Jewish audience.
2. Five women are included in Matthew’s genealogy.
3. The symbol for the Gospel of Matthew is a winged man.
4. The book contains more than 130 Old Testament quotes and allusions.
5. Matthew repeatedly used two phrases no other gospel includes.
6. The book of Matthew is one of the three synoptic gospels.
7. Matthew introduces Jesus as “Messiah.”
8. Matthew is the only gospel that mentions the magi at Jesus’ birth.
Thanks to Bible Project, we can see and appreciate the mysterious promised deliverer whom Matthew revealed. He, the Messiah, would one day come to confront evil, rescue humanity, and generously give his life lovingly on behalf of many.
An animated video from Bible Project
“Secret Generosity,” Today
Portrayed by Kansas City Santa,
Larry Stewart
This is one of those stories that gets repeated, Christmas after Christmas, never getting old or being forgotten. Every year, this Secret Santa donated used cars and handed out hundreds of $100 bills to random strangers across the country.
Once a homeless stranger himself, Larry Stewart vowed that, if he ever got rich, he'd personally contribute his wealth to those who were struggling financially. He eventually made millions in the cable and long-distance-telephone industries, thereafter becoming the first acclaimed Secret Santa. He chose to reveal his identity after he received a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2006, highlighted below in the two closing videos.
Part 1 of 6
(8 minutes)
† Kansas City's Secret Santa anonymously donates free used cars, hundred-dollar bills, and loving Christmas hugs.
Part 2 of 6
(7.5 minutes)
† His anonymous giving goes back more than twenty-five years!"
Part 3 of 6
(6.5 minutes)
† Over the years, this Secret Santa from Kansas City contributed $1.2 million to people across the country who were in need.
Part 4 of 6
(5 minutes)
† Larry promised God that if God ever put him in a position to help others, he'd gladly and humbly do just that.
Part 5 of 6
(10 minutes)
† Larry thanked so many who'd prayed for him as he struggled with the debilitation of terminal cancer..
Part 6 of 6
(4 minutes)
† Help out someone this Christmas or one day this week. You don’t have to give a $100 bill to make a difference. Simply give your time, your abilities, and possibly some of your money to those in need.
Remember! You don’t live well
until you give well.
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Introduction: Matthew’s Gospel:
Author
Matthew, one of the twelve apostles, is believed by the majority of Bible scholars today to have written this gospel. He, whose name means "gift of the Lord," was a tax collector who, when personally called by Jesus, left his tax collector's booth to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9–13). He's called by his other name, Levi, in Mark's and Luke's gospels.
Date and Place of Writing
Because of this gospel's Jewish slant, many believe that it was written in Palestine while others think that it had been written in Syrian Antioch. Based on its Jewish characteristics, it was possibly written in the early church period, perhaps the beginning of AD 50, when the gospel was preached only to Jews (see Acts 11:19). However, others date it later, after Mark's gospel had been in circulation for some time.
Recipients
Clearly, seeing that Matthew wrote this gospel in Greek, his readers were obviously Greek-speaking people, including Jews. Although much of what Matthew expresses is aimed at the understandings of Jewish readers, he didn't allow his gospel to be restricted to the Jewish culture. In fact, it often highlighted non-Jewish events, practices, and mores, giving it a more comprehensive, all-encompassing presentation.
Purpose
Without doubt, Matthew made a stern effort to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus was their Messiah. All three synoptic gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) cite relevant Old Testament Scriptures, however, Matthew also includes a variety of excerpts meant to conclusively reinforce the basic theme of this narrative, that Christ Jesus is the fulfillment of the OT prophecies about the coming Messiah. In addition, because Matthew was writing to Jews, it was important for him to begin his gospel by identifying Jesus' Davidic lineage, referring to him as "the son of David."
Thanks to Bible Project, we can see and appreciate the biblical meaning and importance of “generosity.”
In the Bible, God is depicted as a generous host who provides for the needs of his guests. However, humans live from a mindset of scarcity, hoarding God’s many gifts. In this video, discover God’s inexplicable generosity.
An animated video from Bible Project
The story of Jesus in the New Testament is portrayed as God’s response to a history of human selfishness. In a great reversal of expectations, God decides to give the ultimate gift, himself. In Jesus we see the creator God identify with humanity’s suffering and plight of scarcity.
Jesus chooses to go without adequate food and shelter, and he reached out to the homeless and hungry in order to share God’s abundance with them. Ultimately, Jesus allows the selfishness of his own people to kill him, and he overcomes their evil with his generous love in his resurrection from the dead.
He invites his followers to live as if the future reality of God’s abundant kingdom has truly arrived, here and now.
Helpful Resources
See Warren Camp's collection of helpful resources for the study of Matthew's gospel; includes several theologian and scholar commentaries, movies, videos, and more. . . Click here.
