“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.
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” — Part 2 of 2
(Open Part 1: Matthew 1–16)
The complete movie, starring . . .
Richard Kiley as Matthew, Bruce Marchiano as Jesus
The Visual Bible: Matthew is a 1993 film portraying the life of Jesus, as found in Matthew's gospel. His complete gospel is presented word for word, based on the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. Directed by South African filmmaker Regardt van den Bergh, this movie stars veteran actor Richard Kiley in the role of Matthew (who also narrates the movie), Bruce Marchiano as Jesus, and Gerrit Schoonhoven as Peter. Marchiano portrays Jesus as a joyous, earthy, personal man with a sense of humor.
In addition to this movie, you can watch a series of special “Matthew’s Gospel” videos on “The Beatitudes,” “Sermon on the Mount, ” Matthew Videos by Chapter,” and “Jesus’ Forty-Plus Parables.”
"The Parable of the Lost Sheep" and "The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven"
Video clip #15, focusing on Matthew 17:13 through 18:22
• See Warren's summary of the Parable of the Lost (or Wandering) Sheep (18:10–14), including a two-minute animated video clip
17:22–23 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
"The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant" and "The Little Children and Jesus"
Video clip #16, focusing on Matthew 18:22 through 20:15
• Warren's summary of the Parable of the Unforgiving (or Unmerciful) Servant (18:21–35), including a video
• Also see his summary of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (20:1–16), including a video narrated by Max McLean
18:35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
19:23–24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
"A Mother’s Request," "Two Blind Men Receive Sight," "Triumphal Entry"
Video clip #17, focusing on Matthew 20:16 through 21:13
20:34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
21:9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” . . . “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” . . . “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
"Jesus Curses a Fig Tree," and "The Authority of Jesus Questioned"
Video clip #18, focusing on Matthew 21:14 through 22:13
• Warren's parable summaries: Parable of the Two Sons (21:28–32), including a video
• The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (or Trustees) (21:33–46), including a five-minute video
• The Parable of the Wedding Banquet (or Marriage Feast) (22:1–14), including a three-minute video
21:19–20 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?“ they asked.
"Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar," "Marriage at the Resurrection," "The Greatest Commandment," and "A Warning Against Hypocrisy"
Video clip #19, focusing on Matthew 22:13 through 23:25
22:14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
22:36–37 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
"Seven Woes," "Destruction of the Temple," and "Signs of the End of the Age"
Video clip #20, focusing on Matthew 23:25 through 24:28
24:4–5 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.”
24:13 “. . . but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
"The Day and Hour Unknown" and Three Kingdom of Heaven Parables
Video clip #21, focusing on Matthew 24:29 through 25:40
• See Warren's parable summaries: The Parable of the Budding Fig Tree (24:32–35), including a three-minute video
• The Parable of the Ten (Wise and Foolish) Virgins (25:1–13), including a five-minute video
• The Parable of the Talents (or Bags of Gold) (25:14–30), including an animated four-minute video
25:1–2 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise.”
25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.”
"Sheep and Goats," "The Plot Against Jesus," and "Jesus Anointed at Bethany"
Video clip #22, focusing on Matthew 25:40 through 26:26
• See Warren's summary of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (25:31–46), including an animated three-minute video
25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
26:11 “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.”
"The Last Supper," "Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial," and "Gethsemane"
Video clip #23, focusing on Matthew 26:27 through 26:53
26:27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.”
26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
"Jesus, Before the Sanhedrin," and "Peter Disowns Jesus"
Video clip #24, focusing on Matthew 26:54 through 27:17
26:75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
27:5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
"Jesus Before Pilate," "Soldiers Mock Jesus," and "Jesus' Crucifixion"
Video clip #25, focusing on Matthew 27:18 through 27:58
27:22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
27:50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
"The Burial of Jesus," "The Guard at the Tomb," "The Resurrection," "The Guards’ Report," and "The Great Commission"
Video clip #26, focusing on Matthew 27:58 through 28:20
28:6 “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”
28:18–20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Open Part 1: Matthew 1–16)
To watch the full “Gospel of Matthew” movie (3 hours)
click here.
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Introduction to 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 |
