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Bible Overview is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in Bible study. Each month we feature a book of the Bible (in order) by Bible scholar and lecturer, Mary Jane Chaignot.
This month we begin our exploration of the New Testament, starting with the gospel of Matthew. Just as Malachi provided the final words of the Old Testament with a view towards the future of God’s people, Matthew provides a pivotal link from the New Testament reaching back to connect the promises of the Old Testament to the character and ministry of Jesus. He begins with a messianic genealogy of Jesus’ ancestry and goes on to demonstrate how Jesus’ life and ministry fulfilled various Old Testament prophecies. If you want to read some of the history previous to this selection, you can find the earlier books in our archives.
The Bible Time-Line is another quick reference for locating individuals or specific books. We encourage readers to share their Bible Study success stories on this site. Email us at overview@biblewise.com to be included on next month's site.
Matthew
Matthew, Mark, and Luke comprise what are usually referred to as the Synoptic gospels. Synoptic is derived from two Greek words: to see and together. It means, literally, to be able to see together. This corresponds with its dictionary definition: presenting or taking the same common view. For all intents and purposes, this means that all three of these gospels tell essentially the same story. They all relate events that happened in Jesus’ life and hold many of these events in common. Yet they all add or delete certain facts, or present them a little differently so that each gospel tells the story in a unique way.
When it comes to Matthew, perhaps the most pressing question on people’s minds is just who was this writer named Matthew? Scholars wonder about that, too. From the earliest times, people have assumed it was the disciple named Matthew, called by Jesus in 9:9 as he was sitting at his post in the tax collector’s booth. However, Mark refers to this individual as Levi, the son of Alphaeus (2:14) and Luke just calls him Levi (5:27). Scholars assume this is all the same person, and maybe his name was Matthew Levi, meaning Matthew from the tribe of Levi.
On the other hand, more and more modern scholars are less and less comfortable asserting that this gospel was, in fact, written by the apostle, Matthew. Why, they ask, would an apostle rely so heavily on material written by Mark, who was not even an apostle (since most scholars also agree that Mark was the first gospel to be written)? If Matthew had been an eyewitness to those events, it makes no sense for him to rely upon Mark’s writings. Surely Matthew’s firsthand memories would have overshadowed Mark’s secondhand information. On the other hand, those who believe the author was Matthew deflect this criticism by pointing out that Mark was an interpreter of Peter, who was the affirmed leader at that time. Since Mark was using Peter’s words, this might have been authoritative for Matthew. In truth, we will never know for sure who the author really was, but perhaps knowing his address and background is considerably less important than understanding his message.
Because of the five discourses (or sermons) peppered throughout his gospel, Matthew has oftentimes been called the “teaching gospel.” The teaching blocks are separated by narrative sections, identified by the formula, “When Jesus had finished saying these things…” Some have likened these five sections to the five books of Moses or the five divisions of the Psalms. Scholars who look for themes have identified one in each of the different sections: ethics of the Kingdom (5:1-7:27); mission (10:1-42); redemptive history (13:1-52); church discipline (18:1-35); and eschatology (23:1-25:46).1 These would all have been important points for consideration among the early Christians as well as encouragement for the burgeoning church.
Additionally, scholars have tried to imagine Matthew’s audience. Most have taken note of its Jewishness. Matthew, more than any other of the gospels, seems to have a great interest in demonstrating that Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, as illustrated by his repeating phrase: “this was to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet…” Nearly every detail of Jesus’ life was foreshadowed by the prophets, including his birth, his name, his use of parables, his betrayal, and even the casting of lots for his garment as he hung on the cross. His genealogy is structured to prove that Jesus was the Son of David. Matthew’s Jewish interests also come through in his understanding of the Law. In this gospel, Jesus specifically states that he did not come to destroy but to fulfill the Law. The writer of this gospel wanted to convince the Jews that Jesus was, indeed, the long-awaited Messiah.
Yet, Matthew didn’t hesitate to hold the religious authorities to a high standard. He alone has John the Baptist denounce the Pharisees and scribes (right in the beginning) as a “brood of vipers.” Time after time, Matthew presents the authorities as standing over against Jesus -- they call him possessed, plot to destroy him, and are unable to read the signs of the times. Jesus calls them murderers of the prophets. He condemns them for falling short on their responsibilities, not only in their teachings but also for who they are. It is no wonder that the tension between them stood out.
Matthew is also the only gospel that uses the word church – and he uses it twice! One passage occurs in the context of Peter’s confession at Caesarea, the other in what has become known as the Matthew Code (the three-step procedure for treatment of a sinning brother). This probably reflects the priority of the church at the time this gospel was written. Most scholars estimate this might have been around 80 CE when the church had already attained considerable prominence and stature in the life of a Christian.
Scholars have multiple ways of organizing this gospel. One common way is to divide it according to the five discourses; others relate it to segments regarding Jesus’ life. We will use three divisions: Introduction to Jesus – 1:1-4:11; Jesus’ Ministry to Israel – 4:12-16:12; and Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection – 16:13-28:20. |
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| I – 1:1-4:11 – Introduction to Jesus |
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| 1:1-25 |
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Genealogy |
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1:1 Introduction – Son of David
1:2-17 Family record
Organized in three divisions of fourteen generations
each
1:18-21 Announcement of the conception of Jesus
Mary was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit
Joseph was a righteous man and took her to him
1:22-25 Birth of Jesus
This all happened in fulfillment of prophecy |
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| 2:1-23 |
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Wise Men and Herod |
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2:1-11 Visit by Wise Men to Herod
They followed star, inquired of “King of the Jews”
(Herod was the “king” at that time)
Herod sent them to look for the child and told them
to “report back to him”
2:12 Worship of Jesus and presentation of gifts by Magi
They were warned not to return to Herod
2:13-15 Joseph is told in a dream to go to Egypt
2:16-18 Herod’s fury
Massacre of baby boys
2:19-23 Death of Herod and family’s return
Joseph was told to bring family back to Nazareth
Another reference to prophecy |
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| 3:1-17 |
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John the Baptist |
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3:1-6 Introduction to John the Baptist
3:7-12 Warning to the religious leaders
Accuses them of hypocrisy (You brood of vipers!)
Day of Messiah is at hand
3:13-17 Baptism of Jesus
Jesus lays claim to being Messiah
Descent of the Holy Spirit, opening of the heavens |
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| 4:1-11 |
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Temptation in the Wilderness
Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit
Tempted three times, quoted Deuteronomy three times
After 40 days, angels ministered to him |
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| II – 4:12-16:12 – Jesus’ Ministry to Israel |
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| 4:12-25 |
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Galilean Ministry |
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4:12-16 Imprisonment of John the Baptist
Jesus returned to Capernaum (fulfillment of
prophecy)
4:17 Jesus began to preach
4:18-22 Commissioning of the disciples
4:23-25 Summary of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee |
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| 5:1-7:27 |
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First major discourse – Sermon on the Mount |
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5:1-2 Jesus taught them
5:3-12 Eight Beatitudes
Blessed from God’s perspective
The poor in spirit, sorrowing, meek, and
hungering
Those who are merciful, pure in heart,
peacemakers, and persecuted
5:13-16 Salt and light
The commission to the disciples
Let your light shine
5:17-20 Fulfilling the law and the prophets
Jesus’ commitment to the teachings of Old
Testament
5:21-48 Jesus’ six commands (Sometimes called Jesus’ antitheses)
“You have heard it said….but I say to you…”
5:21-26 Words on murder/anger
5:27-30 Words on adultery/lust
5:31-32 Words on divorce
5:33-37 On the taking of oaths/truthfulness of
every word
5:38-42 An eye for an eye/nonviolent resistance
5:43-48 Loving one’s enemies
6:1-34 Acts of righteousness
6:1-4 On giving alms
Do it in secret, be rewarded openly
6:5-15 Prayer
6:5-6 Pray in secret, be rewarded
openly
6:7-13 The Lord’s Prayer
6:14-15 Solemn statement on
forgiveness
You will be forgiven as you
forgive
6:15-18 On fasting
Fast in secret, be rewarded openly
6:19-21 Store up treasures in heaven, not on
earth
6:22-23 The eye is the lamp of the body
6:24 The inability to serve two masters
6:25-34 Reasons not to worry
6:25-30 Trusting God for provisions
Birds neither reap nor sow
God cares for them, yet are
not people more important
than birds?
God clothes the lilies, yet are
not people more important
than lilies?
6:31-34 Heavenly Father knows our needs
Seek first the kingdom of God
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow
7:1-5 Do not judge
Moats and beams/sawdust and logs
7:6 Need for discernment – no pearls to
pigs
7:7-11 Ask and it shall be given
7:12 Summation of Law and the Prophets
7:13-27 Conclusion and commitment
7:13-14 Small and wide gates
7:15-20 Good and bad trees that can
only bear good or bad fruit
7:21-23 Rejection of false prophets
7:24-27 Houses built on sand or rocks
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| 7:28-29 |
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Crowds marveled at Jesus’ authority |
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| 8:1-10:4 |
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Stories of healing |
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8:1-4 Healing of a leper
8:5-13 Healing of a centurion’s servant
8:14-15 Healing of Peter’s mother-in-law
8:16-17 Multitudes came for healing
“And he healed them all.”
8:18-22 Cost of discipleship
8:23-27 Stilling of a storm
8:28-34 Exorcising two men in the region of the Gadarenes
9:1-8 Healing the paralytic and forgiving his sins
9:9 The call of Matthew from his tax collector’s booth
Because he was working on behalf of the Romans,
the Jews hated him
9:10-13 On eating with sinners
9:14-17 A query and a response on fasting
Old and new garments/wineskins
9:18-34 Healings
9:18-26 Raising of Jairus’ daughter and healing
of the woman with hemorrhage
9:27-31 Healing of two blind men
9:32-34 Exorcism of a dumb man
9:35-38 Summary statement of healing and preaching
Sees the need for more workers (the harvest is great)
Asks disciples to pray
10:1-4 Commissioning of the Twelve
(They were the answer to their own prayers)
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| 10:5-11:1 |
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Second Discourse -- Mission |
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10:5-16 Instructions regarding their ministry
Commission to go to the “lost house of Israel”
(Gentiles and Samaritans were excluded at this point)
10:17-20 Spirit will guide them, speak through them
10:21-25 Disciples will suffer persecutions, betrayal even from their own families
They will suffer just as Jesus has already suffered
10:26-31 Disciples have no reason to fear
Those who fear God have no need to fear men
God will provide for their care
10:32-39 Qualities of being a disciple
They must adhere to the gospel message
They must be committed to Jesus
10:40-11:1 Encouragement and expansion
Anyone who receives you receives me
Jesus went on from there to the towns of Galilee |
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| 11:2-13:53 |
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Rising opposition to Jesus |
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11:2-19 Jesus and John the Baptist
John questions whether Jesus is the “one who
was to come”
Jesus responded with “the blind see; the lame
walk…”
Jesus endorsed John’s work
Jesus recognized that people were still hesitant to follow either him or John
11:20-24 Woes on all the unrepentant cities
11:25-30 Jesus praised the Father for his acceptance of
“these little ones”
Jesus had come to reveal the Father
Jesus invited all to come to him
12:1-14 Sabbath concerns
12:1-8 Jesus’ disciples picked grain on a
Sabbath
Pharisees complain
Jesus responded that “the Son of Man
is Lord of the Sabbath”
12:9-14 Healing of man with withered hand (on
a Sabbath)
Pharisees went out to plot his death
12:15-21 Jesus is the servant that had been prophesied
12:22-37 Accusations against Jesus
12:22-24 Healing of demon-possessed man
12:25-29 Pharisees accuse Jesus of being in league with Beelzebub
12:30-32 Those who blaspheme against the
Spirit cannot be forgiven
12:33-37 There is a connection between words
and actions
Good trees give good fruit
12:38-42 Continued confrontations
Pharisees request a sign
Jesus gives “sign of Jonah”
12:43-50 Random sayings on doing the Father’s will
13:1-53 Third Discourse – Parables of the Kingdom
13:1-9 Parable of the farmer who sowed seed
13:10-17 Reasons for speaking in parables
13:18-23 Jesus explains the parable of the
sower and seeds
13:24-30 Parable of the tares and wheat
13:31-33 Parable of the mustard seed and
leaven
13:34-35 Purpose of parables is in fulfillment
of prophecy
13:36-43 Explanation of parable of the weeds
13:44-48 More parables about what is truly of
value
13:50-53 More explanations of parables
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| 13:54-19:2 |
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Continued opposition and polarization |
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13:54-58 Rejection at Nazareth
14:1-12 Herod’s execution of John the Baptist
14:13-21 Feeding of the five thousand
This was for the Jews
14:22-33 Jesus walks on the water
14:34-36 A summary statement of Jesus’ healing ability
15:1-20 Pharisaical opposition
Pharisees accuse Jesus of breaking tradition of
the elders
Jesus declared all foods clean
15:21-31 Jesus’ encounter with the Gentile woman
Jesus declared it was not right to take bread from children
Woman said even the dogs get crumbs from the
table
15:32-39 Feeding of the four thousand
This feeding is thought to have been for the
Gentiles
16:1-4 Pharisees ask for a sign
Jesus told them none would be given
(Let us not forget this request follows the two feedings)
16:5-12 Warning to the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees |
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| III -- 16:13-28:20 – Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection |
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| 16:13-20 |
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Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God |
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| 16:21-28 |
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The first passion prediction
Peter rebuked Jesus for saying such a thing
Jesus responded with more instructions re discipleship |
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| 17:1-8 |
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Jesus is transfigured on the mountain
Peter, James, and John witnessed this |
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| 17:9-13 |
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Jesus instructed them on the importance of Elijah |
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| 17:14-21 |
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Disciples were unable to heal the epileptic boy
Jesus told his disciples they needed “faith as small as a mustard seed” |
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| 17:22-23 |
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The second passion prediction
The disciples were filled with grief |
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| 17:24-27 |
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Jesus was asked about paying temple tax
Jesus told Peter to get tax from fish’s mouth |
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| 18:1-35 |
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Fourth Discourse – Discipline in the Church
Disciples must become like little children
They can never cause anyone to sin
Parable of the lost sheep
How to treat a sinning brother
Institution of “Matthew code”
Disciples must forgive “seventy-times seven”
Parable of the ungrateful servant
Master forgave his debt, but he refused to forgive a debt from another
Servant was required to pay full amount |
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| 19:1-2 |
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Transition statement |
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| 19:3-23:39 |
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More stories |
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19:3-12 Teachings on marriage and divorce
19:13-15 The blessing of little children
19:16-22 Story of the rich young man
The young man went away sad because he
had many possessions
19:23-30 Teachings on rewards of the kingdom
Disciples had left everything to follow Jesus
20:1-16 Parable of the daily workers
All received the same amount, regardless of
length of time worked
20:17-19 Third passion prediction
20:20-28 Two of Jesus’ disciples wanted special
privileges
Other ten were quite upset when they found
out
Jesus told them whoever wanted to be first
must
be last
20:29-34 Healing of two blind men
They followed Jesus
21:1-11 The triumphal entry into Jerusalem
People shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David”
21:12-17 Jesus drove out the money-changers at the
temple
21:18-22 Cursing of the fig tree
21:23-22:46 Controversies at the temple
21:23-27 Chief priests question Jesus’ authority
Jesus asked who had given authority to John the Baptist
Chief priests could not answer
21:28-32 Parable of the two sons (I won’t
and I will)
Tax collectors and prostitutes
will avail themselves of the
kingdom
21:33-46 Parable of the wicked tenants
They killed the landowner's son
Chief priests began to look for a
way to arrest him
22:1-14 Parable of the wedding banquet
Invited guests had excuses;
servants gathered all from
outside
22:15-22 Pharisees asked about paying taxes to Caesar
Jesus answered, “Give to
Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s
22:23-33 Sadducees asked about
marriage after the resurrection
The crowds were astonished at
his teachings
22:34-40 The two greatest
commandments
Love the Lord with all your heart; love your neighbor as yourself
22:41-46 Jesus asked the Pharisees
about the Son of David
From that day on, no one dared
to ask him any more questions
23:1-36 Woes against the teachers of the law and the Pharisees
23:1-12 Teachers cannot just speak the
law, they must live the law
23:13-32 Seven Woes
Pharisees had failed to respond
to Jesus as the Messiah
They emphasized the letter rather than the spirit of the law
They had misinterpreted Scripture
23:33-39 Concluding lament over
Jerusalem
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| 24:1-25:46 |
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Fifth Discourse – Eschatology |
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24:1-14 Premonitions of great catastrophes to come
24:15-21 Prediction of the fall of Jerusalem (this had
happened in 70CE)
24:22-28 Warnings against false Christs during these
troubled times
24:29-31 The coming of the Son of Man
24:32-41 The significance of the turbulence (Birth pangs)
24:42-25:46 Teachings on watchfulness
24:42-44 The homeowner does not know when the thief will break in
24:45-51 The servant does not know what
day his master will return
25:1-13 The virgins do not know when the bridegroom will come
Five were prepared; five were not
25:14-30 The story of the talents as an illustration of
activity while disciples are awaiting the end of the kingdom
One was given five, another two, and another one
The first two doubled their money; the third did not
and lost what little he had been given
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| 26:1-28:20 |
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Jesus’ passion and resurrection |
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26:1-4 Fourth passion prediction
While Jesus was speaking, the chief priests
were plotting how to arrest him
26:5-13 Anointing at Bethany
Disciples were upset, but Jesus said, “Do this in memory of her”
26:14-16 Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins
26:17-19 Jesus instructed disciples to prepare for the Passover
26:20-25 Jesus predicted the betrayal
Judas said, “Surely, not I?” Jesus replied, “Yes, it
is you!”
26:26-30 Jesus took the bread and the cup
Told his disciples to eat and drink of it
Then they sang hymns and went to the Mount of Olives
26:31-35 Jesus predicted they would all abandon him and Peter would deny him
They all promised to “die” with him and to “never disown” him
26:36-46 Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane
He prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done”
The disciples could not stay awake to watch with
him
26:47-56 Jesus was arrested
This was necessary so that Scripture would be fulfilled
All the disciples deserted him, just as he had prophesied
26:57-68 Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin
False witnesses were produced
The high priest declared him to have
blasphemed
Then they spit in his face and struck him with
their fists
26:69-75 Peter followed at a distance
Peter denied knowing him three times
When the rooster crowed, Peter remembered
Jesus’ prediction and wept
27:1-2 Sanhedrin sentenced Jesus to death, sent him
to Pilate
27:3-10 Judas, filled with regret, hanged himself
27:11-26 Jesus stood before Pilate
Pilate asked if he was “King of the Jews”
Jesus replied, “It is as you say”
Pilate offered to free one prisoner – Jesus or Barabbas
Crowd chose Barabbas
Pilate had Jesus flogged, and handed him over
to be crucified
27:27-31 Soldiers mocked and spit on Jesus
27:32-44 Crucifixion
People mocked Jesus while he was hanging
on the cross
“He saved others, but he can’t save himself”
Two robbers were crucified with Jesus
Robbers also heaped insults on him
27:45-50 Jesus dies on the cross
From the sixth to the ninth hour, darkness
came over the land
Then Jesus cried out…and gave up his spirit
27:51-56 Cosmic response to Jesus’ death
Curtain of the temple was torn in two
Huge earthquake, tombs were opened; people were raised
Women were watching from a distance
27:57-61 Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for
permission to bury Jesus
Mary Magdalene and others were watching
27:62-66 A guard was placed at the tomb
28:1-7 After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene (and others) went to the tomb
They saw an angel sitting there
He told them to go quickly and tell the disciples
“Jesus has gone before you into Galilee. There
you will see him.”
28:8-10 Jesus met the women on their way to the
disciples
They worshiped him
28:11-15 Guards reported resurrection to chief priests
They bribed them to say that disciples stole the
body during the night
28:16-17 The eleven remaining disciples go to Galilee
and see Jesus
28:18-20 Jesus commissioned them to go into all the
world
He promised to be with them until the end of
the age |
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Obviously these closing words have been the goal of the entire gospel. In this final commissioning, Jesus assured them of his power and of his presence. On that basis they were to go and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to obey everything Jesus had commanded. To do what Jesus had commanded is to do the will of the Father. It is through that final promise that we participate in that blessing of power and presence. Next month, we will continue our exploration with the earliest gospel, Mark. |
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Bibliography
1Mounce, Robert. “Matthew.” New International Biblical Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. 1991, p3.
Barclay, William. “Matthew.” Daily Study Bible. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1975.
Hare, Douglas. “Matthew.” Interpretation. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1993.
Gaebelein, Frank. “Matthew.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 1985.
Mills, Watson and Richard Wilson. Mercer Commentary on the Bible. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1995.
Smith, Robert. “Matthew.” Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1989.
Wilkins, Michael. “Matthew.” The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan, 2004. |
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