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.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew

The first paragraph introduces the Gospel of Matthew as one of the earliest accounts of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection. It is traditionally attributed to Matthew, a tax collector and apostle. The paragraph explains that the apostles orally passed on their eyewitness accounts of Jesus for 30 to 40 years before Matthew compiled them into a written narrative. The Gospel is designed to show Jesus as the fulfillment of the biblical story about God in Israel, emphasizing three key themes: Jesus as the Messiah from David's line, a new authoritative teacher like Moses, and 'Immanuel' or 'God with us.' The structure of the Gospel is outlined, with an introduction and conclusion framing five sections, each ending with a block of Jesus's teachings. The first section, chapters 1 to 3, connects Jesus's story to the Old Testament, fulfilling prophecies and establishing his divine nature.

05:01

🌐 Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Old Testament and the Kingdom's Manifestation

The second paragraph delves into the Gospel's portrayal of Jesus as the continuation of the Old Testament narratives, focusing on his role as a new Moses and the embodiment of God's kingdom on earth. It discusses the structure of the Gospel's central sections, which parallel the five books of Moses, and Jesus's mission to deliver divine teachings and save people from sin. The paragraph highlights the Sermon on the Mount as a key teaching moment, where Jesus outlines the principles of living in God's kingdom, emphasizing love for God, neighbors, and even enemies. It also describes the subsequent section, where Jesus demonstrates the kingdom's power through healings and miracles, grouped in threes with stories of calling disciples to follow him. The paragraph concludes with a discussion of Jesus sending out his disciples to spread the kingdom's message and the mixed responses to his teachings, including rejection by Israel's leaders due to their vested interests.

Keywords

💡Matthew

Matthew is traditionally considered the author of the Gospel of Matthew, one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament. In the video, Matthew is identified as a tax collector and one of the twelve apostles appointed by Jesus. He is portrayed as the compiler of the oral teachings and eyewitness accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, which he arranged into a written narrative to highlight specific themes about Jesus.

💡Messiah

The term 'Messiah' refers to the prophesied savior in Jewish tradition, who is expected to come from the line of King David. In the video, Jesus is presented as the Messiah, fulfilling this messianic lineage and the Old Testament's prophecies, emphasizing his royal and divine role in the salvation of humanity.

💡Immanuel

Immanuel is a Hebrew term meaning 'God with us.' In the context of the video, it is used to describe Jesus' nature as both divine and human, highlighting the concept of the incarnation where God becomes present in human form to redeem humanity.

💡Moses

Moses is a central figure in the Old Testament, known for leading the Israelites out of Egypt and receiving the Ten Commandments from God. The video draws parallels between Moses and Jesus, suggesting that Jesus is a new, authoritative teacher like Moses, who brings new divine teachings and liberates his people from spiritual bondage.

💡Old Testament

The Old Testament is the first part of the Christian Bible, which contains the sacred scriptures of Judaism. The video discusses how Matthew's Gospel connects Jesus' story to the Old Testament narratives, using it to validate Jesus' identity and mission, and to show the continuity of God's plan for humanity.

💡Genealogy

A genealogy is a record of a person's ancestry. In the script, Matthew's Gospel begins with Jesus' genealogy, which traces his lineage back to Abraham and King David, thereby establishing his credentials as the promised Messiah.

💡Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of Jesus' teachings found in the Gospel of Matthew, which includes the Beatitudes and teachings on loving one's enemies and living righteously. The video describes it as Jesus' first major block of teaching, which outlines the principles for living in God's kingdom.

💡Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is a central theme in the Gospel of Matthew, referring to the reign of God over all creation, which is both a present reality and a future hope. The video explains that Jesus' mission is to confront evil and establish God's rule by creating a new community of believers.

💡Prophetic promises

Prophetic promises are the predictions made by Old Testament prophets about the coming of the Messiah and the restoration of Israel. The video mentions that the events of Jesus' birth fulfilled these promises, such as his birth in Bethlehem, which signifies his messianic role.

💡Disciples

Disciples are followers or students of a religious teacher. In the video, Jesus sends out his twelve disciples to continue his mission of proclaiming the kingdom of God and performing acts of healing and deliverance, thus extending the reach of his ministry.

💡Parables

Parables are simple stories with a moral or spiritual lesson, often used by Jesus to teach complex spiritual truths. The video describes a collection of Jesus' parables in Matthew 13, which serve as commentary on the diverse responses to his ministry and the nature of the kingdom of God.

Highlights

The Gospel according to Matthew is one of the earliest accounts of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection.

The book is anonymous but traditionally attributed to Matthew, a tax collector and one of the twelve apostles.

Apostles orally taught and passed on their eyewitness accounts of Jesus for about 30 to 40 years before Matthew compiled them.

Matthew's Gospel is designed to highlight Jesus as the fulfillment of the biblical story about God in Israel.

Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah from the line of David, a new authoritative teacher like Moses, and 'Immanuel', God with us.

The Gospel is structured with an introduction, conclusion, and five central sections, each ending with Jesus's teachings.

Jesus's genealogy in Matthew emphasizes his messianic lineage from David and Abraham, indicating a mission to bless all nations.

Events of Jesus's birth, including his conception by the Holy Spirit, fulfill Old Testament prophecies and signify his divine nature.

Matthew draws parallels between Jesus and Moses, such as Jesus's exodus from Egypt and his time in the wilderness, to show he is a new Moses figure.

Jesus's teachings on the mountain are likened to the five books of Moses, positioning him as the new authoritative covenant teacher.

Jesus announces the arrival of God's Kingdom, which is about God's rescue operation for the world through him.

The Sermon on the Mount explores what it means to live in God's Kingdom, emphasizing an upside-down kingdom with no privileged members.

Jesus's teachings are not to replace the Old Testament commands but to fulfill and transform them through his life and teachings.

Matthew narrates nine stories of Jesus healing or saving individuals, demonstrating the power of God's Kingdom in everyday life.

Jesus calls for discipleship, emphasizing that experiencing God's grace requires following him and becoming his disciple.

Jesus sends out the twelve disciples to announce the kingdom, leading to a second block of teachings on how to do so and what to expect.

Responses to Jesus are mixed, with some accepting him as the Messiah, while others, like Israel's leaders, reject him as a false teacher.

Jesus's parables in chapter 13 serve as a commentary on the diverse responses to his message, illustrating the ultimate value of God's kingdom.

Matthew encourages readers to look for Old Testament references that explain more about Jesus's identity at strategic points in the story.

The Gospel shows that those who accept and follow Jesus are often the unimportant or irreligious, while the religious and prideful are offended by him.

Transcripts

The Gospel according to Matthew

It's one of the earliest official accounts about Jesus of Nazareth: his life,

his death and his resurrection.

The book itself is anonymous

but the earliest reliable tradition links it to Matthew,

the tax collector, who was one of the twelve apostles

that Jesus appointed

and he actually appears within

the book itself.

For about 30 to 40 years, the apostles orally taught

and passed on their eyewitness' account about Jesus

along with his teachings that they had all memorized.

Matthew has then collected and arranged all these into this amazing tapestry

and designed the book to highlight certain themes about Jesus.

In this video, we're just going to cover the first half of the book.

Specifically, Matthew wants to show how Jesus is

the continuation and fulfillment

of the whole biblical story about God in Israel:

1. that Jesus is the Messiah from the line of David;

2. that he is a new authoritative teacher like Moses;

3. and not only that Jesus is: "God with us"

or in Hebrew "Immanuel".

Matthew's designed this book with an introduction

and a conclusion. These act like a frame

around five clear sections right here in the center

each of which concludes with a long

block of Jesus's teaching.

Now this design is very intentional and it's amazing.

Just watch how this works!

Chapters 1 through 3: they set the stage by

attaching Jesus's story right on

to the story line of the Old Testament scriptures.

So Matthew opens with the genealogy about Jesus

that highlights how he is from the messianic line of

the son of David and he's a son of Abraham.

That means he's going to bring God's blessing to all of the nations.

After that we get the famous story about Jesus's birth

and how all of the events fulfilled the Old Testament prophetic promises:

that the nations would come and honor the Messiah;

that the messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

But even more than that, Jesus's conception by the Holy Spirit,

his name Immanuel, all these work together to show that

Jesus is no mere human. He is God with us.

God becomes human.

So you can see two of Matthew's key themes right here in the introduction:

1. He's from the line of David

2. He's Immanuel.

But Matthew also wants to show how Jesus is a new Moses.

So like Moses, Jesus came up out of Egypt.

He passed through the waters of Baptism

and he entered into the wilderness for 40 days.

Then Jesus goes up onto a mountain

to deliver his new teaching.

So through all of this, Matthew was claiming that

Jesus is the promised greater than Moses figure

who's going to deliver Israel from slavery,

he's going to give them new divine teaching.

he's going to save them from their sins.

and bring about a new covenant relationship between God and his people.

This Moses and Jesus parallel also explains

why Matthew has structured the center of the book the way that he did.

These five main parts highlight

Jesus as a teacher and he's created a parallel.

Jesus as a teacher, parallels the five books of Moses.

Jesus is the new authoritative covenant teacher

who's going to fulfill the story line of the Torah.

Now in the first section, chapters 4 to 7,

Jesus steps onto the scene announcing the arrival of God's Kingdom.

And this is really key:

the kingdom is in essence about God's rescue operation

for his whole world and it's taking place through King Jesus.

Jesus has come to confront evil, especially,

spiritual evil and its whole legacy of demon oppression and disease and death.

Jesus has come to restore

God's Rule and reign over the whole world

by creating a new

family of people who will

follow him obey his teachings

and live under his rule.

So after Jesus begins healing people and forming

a movement, a community, he takes his followers out to a

mountain or a hillside and he delivers his first big block

of teaching traditionally called the Sermon on the Mount.

Here Jesus explores what it looks like to follow him

and live in God's kingdom.

It's an upside-down kingdom where there are no privileged members.

So the poor, the nobodies, the wealthy, the religious,

everybody is invited and is called to turn to repent

and to follow Jesus and join his family.

Jesus says that he's not here to set aside

the commands of the Torah or the Old Testament,

rather he's here to fulfill all of that

through his life, through his teachings.

He's here to transform the hearts of his people

so that they can truly love God and love their neighbor,

including their enemy.

After concluding his great teaching on the kingdom,

the next section shows Jesus bringing

the kingdom into reality in the day-to-day lives of people.

So Matthew's arranged here nine stories about Jesus

bringing the power of God's Kingdom

into the lives of hurting broken people.

There are three groups of three stories.

They're all about people who are sick or

have broken bodies or they're in danger.

Jesus heals or saves them by these acts of grace and power.

Then right, in between these triads,

we find two parallel stories about Jesus's call

that people should follow him.

Matthew's making a point here: one can only experience

the power of Jesus's Grace by following him and

becoming his disciple.

Now, after Matthew has shown

the power of the kingdom through Jesus,

Jesus then extends his reach by sending out

the twelve disciples who are going to go do what he's been doing.

This leads to the second large block of teaching chapter 10.

Here, Jesus teaches his disciples how to announce the

kingdom and what to expect once they do.

Many among Israel are accepting Jesus in his offer

of the kingdom, but Israel's leaders

they aren't. They stand to lose a lot

if they repent and become disciples of Jesus.

So Jesus knows they're going to reject him and

persecute his followers, which is exactly

what happens. In the next section chapters 11 through 13,

Matthew has collected a group of stories about how people are responding to Jesus and his message.

It's a mixed bag.

So some stories are positive.

People love Jesus and they think he's the Messiah.

Others are more neutral like John the Baptist

or even the members of Jesus's own family.

They make it clear that Jesus is not what they expected

Then you have Israel's leaders.

They're entirely negative.

You have the Pharisees and the Bible scholars.

They all reject Jesus together.

They think he is a false teacher,

he's leading the people astray.

They think he's blasphemous,

in these exalted claims he's making about himself.

But Jesus isn't surprised or thrown by all these diverse

responses. In fact, he focuses on it in the third block of teaching in chapter 13.

Here Matthews collected together a bunch of Jesus's

parables about the kingdom: like about a farmer

throwing seed on four types of soil;

or about a mustard seed;

or a pearl or buried treasure.

These parables are like a commentary on the stories

that you've just read in chapters 11 and 12.

Some people are accepting Jesus with enthusiasm,

others are rejecting him.

But God's kingdom is of ultimate value, and it will not

stop spreading despite all of these obstacles.

So, that's the first half of the gospel according to Matthew.

Now, here's a few more things to look for as you read through these chapters.

Matthew's presenting Jesus, remember,

as the continuation and fulfillment of the Old Testament story lines.

So, look for how he weaves in quotations from the Old Testament scriptures and what you'll find is that

they're placed at strategic points in the story explaining more about

Jesus and his identity. So, stop take time to go look up these

references and read them in their Old Testament context

and most often you'll discover really cool interesting connections.

Lastly, pay attention to the types of people who accept

Jesus and follow him.

You'll see that it's most often people who are

unimportant, they're or they're irreligious.

These are the people who are

transformed by their trust or faith in Jesus and follow him.

It's the religious and the prideful who are offended by him

So how is this tension between Jesus and Israel's

leaders going to play itself out? That's what the second half of Matthew is all about.