If You're Reading the Gospel of Matthew, Watch This.

Summary

The video script explores the Gospel of Matthew, highlighting its significance as an early account of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection. It emphasizes Matthew's role as a tax collector and apostle, and his arrangement of oral teachings into a narrative that presents Jesus as the Messiah, a new Moses, and 'Immanuel'—'God with us.' The script delves into the structure of the Gospel, detailing its five sections, each ending with Jesus's teachings, and discusses how it portrays Jesus's fulfillment of the Old Testament, his role as a divine teacher, and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Gospel of Matthew is one of the earliest accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, traditionally attributed to Matthew, a tax collector and one of the twelve apostles.
• 🗣️ The apostles orally taught Jesus' teachings and life events for 30-40 years before Matthew compiled them into a written narrative.
• 📖 Matthew's Gospel is structured with an introduction and conclusion framing five sections, each ending with a block of Jesus's teachings.
• 👑 Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the Messiah from the line of David and Abraham, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and bringing God's blessings to all nations.
• 🌟 Jesus is presented as 'Immanuel' or 'God with us,' highlighting his divine nature and human incarnation.
• 🔍 The Gospel draws parallels between Jesus and Moses, showing Jesus as a new, authoritative teacher who delivers divine teachings and saves from sin.
• 🗻 The Sermon on the Mount in chapters 4-7 introduces Jesus' teachings on living in God's Kingdom, emphasizing love for God, neighbor, and even enemies.
• 🌱 The Gospel presents Jesus as the embodiment of the Kingdom of God, confronting evil and restoring God's rule through healing and forming a new community.
• 🔗 Jesus' teachings are not meant to replace the Old Testament laws but to fulfill and transform them, aiming to change people's hearts.
• 👥 The Gospel includes stories of diverse responses to Jesus, ranging from acceptance to rejection, reflecting the tension between Jesus and religious leaders.
• 📚 Matthew uses parables and Old Testament references to illustrate the value and unstoppable spread of God's Kingdom, despite obstacles.

Q & A

Who is traditionally believed to have written the Gospel according to Matthew?

The Gospel according to Matthew is anonymous, but the earliest reliable tradition attributes it to Matthew, the tax collector, who was one of the twelve apostles appointed by Jesus and appears within the book itself.

What was the method of teaching used by the apostles for about 30 to 40 years before the Gospel of Matthew was written?

The apostles orally taught and passed on their eyewitness accounts about Jesus, along with his teachings that they had memorized.

What are the three main themes Matthew highlights about Jesus in his Gospel?

Matthew highlights that Jesus is the Messiah from the line of David, a new authoritative teacher like Moses, and 'God with us' or 'Immanuel' in Hebrew.

How is the Gospel of Matthew structured in terms of its content?

Matthew's Gospel is designed with an introduction and a conclusion that frame five clear sections, each concluding with a long block of Jesus's teaching.

What is the significance of Jesus's genealogy in Matthew's Gospel?

The genealogy highlights that Jesus is from the messianic line of David and Abraham, indicating that he will bring God's blessing to all nations.

How does Matthew portray Jesus's birth as fulfilling Old Testament prophecies?

Matthew describes Jesus's birth as fulfilling prophecies such as the Messiah being born in Bethlehem and Jesus's conception by the Holy Spirit, reinforcing the idea that Jesus is more than a mere human.

In what way does Matthew present Jesus as a new Moses?

Matthew presents Jesus as a new Moses by showing parallels such as Jesus coming out of Egypt, being baptized, entering the wilderness for 40 days, and delivering new teachings from a mountain.

What is the central theme of Jesus's teachings in the first section of Matthew's Gospel (chapters 4 to 7)?

The central theme is the arrival of God's Kingdom, with Jesus confronting evil, restoring God's rule, and creating a new family of people who follow and obey his teachings.

What does the Sermon on the Mount, as delivered by Jesus in Matthew's Gospel, explore?

The Sermon on the Mount explores what it looks like to follow Jesus and live in God's kingdom, emphasizing an upside-down kingdom with no privileged members and a call to repentance and transformation of hearts.

How does Matthew structure the stories about Jesus bringing the kingdom into reality?

Matthew structures these stories in three groups of three, focusing on healing or saving people who are sick, have broken bodies, or are in danger, with two parallel stories about Jesus's call to discipleship in between.

What is the purpose of the parables in the third block of Jesus's teaching in chapter 13 of Matthew's Gospel?

The parables serve as a commentary on the diverse responses to Jesus and his message, illustrating that God's kingdom is of ultimate value and will continue to spread despite obstacles.

What advice does the script give for reading the Gospel of Matthew to gain deeper insights?

The script advises readers to look for how Matthew weaves in Old Testament quotations at strategic points and to pay attention to the types of people who accept and follow Jesus, noting that it's often those considered unimportant or irreligious who are transformed by faith in Jesus.