“Gospel of the Messiah”
Although Mark likely has the distinction of writing the first of the four gospels, the gospel according to Matthew comes first in our New Testament. Because Matthew's is the most Jewish of all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), it's appropriate to find it as the first book of the New Testament; it's also the gospel most closely linked to the Old Testament's text, cultures, and practices; and it highlights the prophecies made regarding the coming of the Messiah.
Matthew’s central theme is promise and fulfillment: God’s promises in the Hebrew Scriptures to bring salvation to his people, Israel, and to the whole world are being fulfilled with the coming of Jesus the Messiah.
Matthew uses many titles for Jesus in his Gospel, including Messiah, King, Lord, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, Immanuel, etc. All of these have their roots in the Old Testament and point in one way or another to the theme of fulfillment and the coming of the kingdom of heaven.
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.
Click the list or the “bird” to enlarge and use Warren’s list of forty-four of Jesus’ parables (a PDF file with links).
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 and rescue humanity.
An animated video from Bible Project
“Matthew’s Gospel” Chapters 1–8
A Diverse Compilation of Bible-Study Resources
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In addition to this collection of chapter-specific Bible studies that include theological commentaries from a number of respected sources, you can watch a series of "Matthew's Gospel" videos on "The Beatitudes," "The Sermon on the Mount," "Matthew Videos by Chapter," and "Jesus' Forty-Plus Parables." Audio recitations of chapters are by Max McLean from The Listeners Bible: NIV Edition.
Chapters 1–8; 9–14; 15–22; 23–28
First Page — Chapters 1 through 8 . . .
Matthew, chapter 1
"The Genealogy and Birth of Jesus"
Read Matthew 1 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Enduring Word, Bible.org, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 1.
1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Chapter 2
"The Visit of the Magi" and "Escape to Egypt and Return to Nazareth"
Read Matthew 2 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Enduring Word, Bible.org (Part 1), Bible.org (Part 2), Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 2.
2:23 . . . and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Chapter 3
"John the Baptist Prepares the Way" and "The Baptism of Jesus"
Read Matthew 3 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Bible.org (Part 1), Bible.org (Part 2), Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 3.
3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Chapter 4, part 1
"The Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness" and "Jesus Begins to Preach"
Read Matthew 4:1–17 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Bible.org (Part 1), Bible.org (Part 2), Bible.org (Part 3), Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 4.
4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Chapter 4, part 2
"The Calling of the First Disciples" and "Jesus Heals the Sick"
Read Matthew 4:18–25 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Bible.org, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 4.
4:19–20 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him.
Chapter 5, part 1
"Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount, " "The Beatitudes," and "Salt and Light"
Read Matthew 5:1–20 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Bible.org, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 5.
• Warren's summary of the Parable of a Lamp on a Stand (5:14–16), including a video from Jesus Film Project
5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. . .”
Chapter 5, part 2
"Murder, Adultery, and Divorce"
Read Matthew 5:21–32 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Bible.org, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 5.
5:27–28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Chapter 5, part 3
"Oaths," "An Eye for an Eye" and "Love for Enemies"
Read Matthew 5:33–48 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Bible.org (Part 1), Bible.org (Part 2), Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 5.
5:43–45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous..”
Chapter 6, part 1
"Giving to the Needy" and "Prayer"
Read Matthew 6:1–15 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Bible.org, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 6.
6:9–10 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’”
Chapter 6, part 2
"Fasting" and "Treasures in Heaven"
Read Matthew 6:16–24 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Bible.org, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 6.
6:22–23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
Chapter 6, part 3
"Do Not Worry"
Read Matthew 6:25–34 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 6.
6:26–27 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
Chapter 7, part 1
"Judging Others" and "Ask, Seek, Knock"
Read Matthew 7:1–12 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 7.
7:7–8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Chapter 7, part 2
"The Narrow and Wide Gates" and "True and False Prophets and Disciples"
Read Matthew 7:13–23 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 7.
• Warren's summary of the Parable of the Narrow Door (or Gate) (7:13–14), including a two-minute video
7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Chapter 7, part 3
"The Wise and Foolish Builders"
Read Matthew 7:24–29 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 7.
• Warren's summary of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (7:24–27), including an animated video clip
7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Chapter 8, part 1
"Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy" and "The Faith of the Centurion"
Read Matthew 8:1–13 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Bible.org, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 8.
8:10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”
Chapter 8, part 2
"Jesus Heals Many" and "The Cost of Following Jesus"
Read Matthew 8:14–22 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 8.
8:18–20 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Chapter 8, part 3
"Jesus Calms the Storm" and "Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men"
Read Matthew 8:23–34 (choose a version); listen to this chapter; choose and read a commentary (BibleGateway.com, Enduring Word, Hilda Bright, C. H. Spurgeon, and numerous others); watch a short AudioBible movie of Chapter 8.
8:26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”
Additional "Matthew's Gospel" resources can be found on these pages. . .
Chapters 1–8; 9–14; 15–22; 23–28
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Introducing 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."
Outline
| Matthew, | Chapter by chapter (NIV) |
| 1 | • Genealogy and record of virgin birth of Jesus |
| 2 | • Visit of wise men; flight to Egypt; return to Nazareth |
| 3 | • John the Baptist, forerunner of King, announces kingdom and baptizes Jesus, the King |
| 4 | • Testing of the King in wilderness; begins public ministry at Capernaum; calls disciples |
| 5, 6, 7 | • Sermon on the Mount (1) relationship of subjects of kingdom to self (5:1–16), (2) relationship of subjects of kingdom to Law (5:17–48), (3) relationship of subjects of kingdom to God (6), and (4) relationship of children of King to each other (7) |
| 8 | • Six miracles of King demonstrate His dynamic to enforce ethics of Sermon on the Mount |
| 9 | • Performs six more miracles; calls Matthew; contends with Pharisees |
| 10 | • Jesus commissions twelve to preach gospel of the kingdom to nation Israel |
| 11 | • Quizzed by disciples of John; rejects unrepentant cities; issues new invitation to individuals |
| 12 | • Conflict and final break of Jesus with religious rulers |
| 13 | • Mystery parables of kingdom of heaven |
| 14 | • John the Baptist beheaded; Jesus feeds 5,000; sends disciples into storm at sea; walks on water to them |
| 15 | • Jesus denounces scribes and Pharisees; heals daughter of Syrophoenician woman and multitudes; feeds 4,000 |
| 16 | • Conflict with Pharisees and Sadducees; confession from disciples, Peter spokesman; Jesus first confronts them with church, His death and resurrection |
| 17 | • Transfiguration; demon-possessed boy; tax money provided by miracle |
| 18 | • Little child; lost sheep; conduct in coming church; forgiveness parable |
| 19 | • God’s standard for marriage and divorce; little children blessed; rich young ruler; apostles’ position in coming kingdom |
| 20 | • Parable of laborers in vineyard; Jesus makes 4th and 5th announcements of His approaching death; mother requests places of honor for James and John; Jesus restores sight to two men |
| 21 | • King offers Himself publicly and finally to nation; cleanses temple; curses fig tree; condemns religious rulers with parables of two sons and householder |
| 22 | • Parable of marriage feast for king’s son; Jesus answers and silences Herodians, Sadducees, Pharisees |
| 23 | • Jesus warns against and pronounces woes upon scribes and Pharisees; weeps over Jerusalem |
| 24, 25 | • Olivet Discourse: Jesus answers questions about sign of end of age and sign of His coming; parable of ten virgins; parable of eight talents; judgment of sheep and goat nations |
| 26 | • Jesus plotted against; anointed by Mary of Bethany; sold by Judas; observes last Passover and first Lord’s Supper; agonizes in Gethsemane; arrested and tried by religious rulers; disowned by Peter |
| 27 | • Trial, death, and burial of the King |
| 28 | • Resurrection of the King; His great commission |
