Each of the Gospels brings its own delights; in Matthew we
have the advantage of somebody's notes. Matthew, also known as
Levi, was called from his profession of being a tax collector to
follow Jesus. He took along his ability to write shorthand;
evidently, he was very good at it. The red letter quotations
in Matthew are free flowing.
The modern scholar considers that Mark was written first.
The ancients (who were there at the time) said Matthew's Gospel was
written first. There is some thought that he first wrote it in
Aramaic, then translated it into Greek. This might explain the
sequence, if Mark got in with his work in the middle.
This study will take some time. It's worth it, for there is
nothing which compares with meeting the Master. Let us enjoy
the company of disciples while we may.
A teacher's note: unknown to most teachers, there exists a
marvelous resource for the Gospel of St. Matthew. It is the
Catena Aurea, or "Golden Chain", of Thomas Aquinas. It
consists of a section by section set of comments by the greatest
minds of the early and medieval church, assembled together by the
man who was undoubtedly the finest theologian and philosopher
Christendom has ever seen. Some of the names are familiar,
most are not. But here you have the cream of teaching, and
sweet cream it is indeed.
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Family Album
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Matthew 1:1-16
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Matthew 1:1-16. The genealogy of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
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The Magi
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Matthew 2:1-12
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The adoration of the Magi for the incarnation of the word of God.
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John the Baptist
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Matthew 3
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John the Baptist, the voice in the wilderness. His preaching;
Christ's baptism: the Trinity revealed.
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The
Call
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Matthew
4:12-25
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The call of James and John, Peter and Andrew - fishers of men.
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Temptation in the Wilderness
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Matthew 4:1-11
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Matthew 4:1-11. Christ, led into the
wilderness by the Spirit, encounters the supreme temptations of the flesh, of
the world and of pride
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The Slaughter of the Innocents
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Matthew 2:13-23
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Matthew 2:13-23. The Slaughter of the
Innocents. An examination of the suffering of the innocent, as exemplified
by this slaughter. Why do the innocent suffer?
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The Birth of Jesus
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Matthew 1:18-25
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Matthew 1:18-25. The Birth of Jesus.
An examination of the character of Mary and Joseph, and an analysis of the
necessity of the virgin birth.
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Beatitudes
- I
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Matthew
5:1-5
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Matthew 5:1-5. Blessed are the poor in
spirit, blessed are they that mourn, blessed are the meek
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Beatitudes
- II
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Matthew
5:6-8
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Blessed are they who hunger and thirst
after righteousness; blessed are the merciful, the pure in heart
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Beatitudes
- III
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Matthew
5:9-12
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An examination of Matthew 5:9-12.
Blessed are the peacemakers - sometimes bloody, too. The certainty of persecution
and the joys that come with it.
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Salt,
Light & Law
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Matthew
5:13-20
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Matthew 5:13-20. An exposition of the
salt of the earth, the light of the world and fulfillment of the Law
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But I
Say…
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Matthew
5:21-48
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Matthew 5:21-48. An exposition between
the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer in which Christ extends the will of God
from Law to thought, words and action. He comments on the "vow" -
especially in marriage. Here also is the command to love your enemies.
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Stealth
Christianity
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Matthew
6:1-18
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The Sermon on the Mount - The Lord's
Prayer. Almsgiving, prayer and fasting to be done in secret.
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Social
Security
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Matthew
6:19-34
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A review of Jesus words on money and
security. Famous phrases include "You cannot serve both God and
money," "Consider the lilies of the field," and "Each day
has enough trouble of its own."
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The
Narrow Gate
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Matthew
7
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Matthew 7. The Golden Rule; pearls
before swine; ask, seek and knock; the narrow gate; wolves in sheep's
clothing; by their fruits you will know them; the house built on the rock;
the house built on the sand
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Two
Men’s Faith
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Matthew
9:1-17
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Three healings by Jesus; an analysis of
the use of authority. The leper, the Centurion and Peter's mother-in-law
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Authority
in Action
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Matthew
8:18-34
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The Scribe and the young man who would
follow Jesus; calming the sea; Demon possession and pigs.
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Raising
the Roof
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Matthew
9:1-8
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The healing of the paralytic lowered
through the roof.
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Grace
and Power
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Matthew
9:9-17
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The call of Matthew
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A
Woman’s Touch
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Matthew
9:18-35
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The healing of Jairus’ daughter; the
woman with the “issue of blood;” two blind men
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Compassion
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Matthew
9:35 – 10:23
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Workers for the harvest; the good shepherd, sending the twelve; the
shrewd and innocent.
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Trouble
is Constant
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Matthew
10:24 – 42
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The disciple is not above his teacher; told in darkness, repeat in
the light; not peace, but a sword
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Burden
is Light
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Matthew
11
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An examination of the role of John the
Baptist; contrasted with Jesus, showing how that generation was indeed very
sinful
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Lord of
the Sabbath
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Matthew
12:1-21
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Christ revealing Himself as one greater
than the Sabbath, greater than the Temple. The comparison between Law and
Spirit. The prophetic meekness of Christ.
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The
Unforgivable Sin
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Matthew
12:22-37
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The concept of the house divided (liar,
lunatic or Lord). Unforgivable sin, sin against the Holy Spirit, the
fundamental unity of the church, a tree by its fruit, every careless word.
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Seeking
a Sign
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Matthew
12:38-50
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An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. The worthlessness of
our own reformation; the family of God.
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Parables
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Matthew
13
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Several parables of Jesus - sower and the soils, wheat and the weeds,
and several short ones.
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Sex and
Murder
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Matthew
14:1-12
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Herod beheads John the Baptist
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Walks
on Water
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Matthew
14:13-36
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Feeding the Five Thousand; Jesus Walks on Water. Primary focus is on
the miraculous, both of old creation and new creation.
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Out of
the Heart
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Matthew
15:1-20
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An examination of hypocrisy when performed by experts.
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Dogs
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Matthew
15:21-28
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The woman of Tyre, the woman of "great faith."
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Sailor’s
Delight
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Matthew
15:29 – 16:12
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The Feeding of the Four Thousand; Signs of the Times; Beware the
Leaven
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No
Other Question
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Matthew
16:13-28
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An examination of Peter's Great Confession, followed by "Get
thee behind me, Satan." Final segment is "Take up your
cross."
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Power
and Glory
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Matthew
17:1-13
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The Transfiguration
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Down
From the Mountain
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Matthew
17:14-27
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Jesus and the three disciples come down from the Transfiguration to a
faithless generation, disciples of little faith and a tax paying fish.
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Greatness
and Humility
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Matthew
18
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Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? What must I do to
restore my brother to the faith? How often must I forgive?
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Breaking
Up
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Matthew
19:1-15
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Christ's teaching on divorce.
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What Do
I Still Lack?
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Matthew
19:16-30
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The Rich Young Ruler. Christ's encounter with a rich man of
"ordinary holiness" - the good guy with one little problem.
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Success
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Matthew 20
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The parable of the day laborers; the mother of James and John asks
for their preeminence; healing the blind
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Enter
the King
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Matthew 21:1-22
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The Triumphal Entry; Cleansing the Temple; Withering of the Fig Tree
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A Case
of Authority
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Matthew 21:23-46
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The Pharisees question Jesus' authority; He asks them about the
authority of John the Baptist. Also, the Parable of the Vineyard
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Old
Parable
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Matthew 22:1-14
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The Parable of the Wedding Feast.
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Caesar’s
Silver
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Matthew 22:16-22
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Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the
things that are God's.
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The
Core
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Matthew 22:23-46
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Three discourses in which our Lord outlines the doctrines of the
resurrection of the dead, the great commandments, and the Lordship of the
Messiah
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Seven
Woes
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Matthew 23
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Christ condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
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Mt.
Olive – Prophecy
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Matthew 24:1-44
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The Olivet Discourse - Prophecy
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Three
Parables
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Matthew 24:45 – 25:30
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The parables of the good and evil servants; the wise and foolish
virgins and the parables of the talents.
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Sweet
and Terrifying
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Matthew 25:31-46
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The Separation of the Sheep and the Goats. Either "the most
terrifying section of the New Testament" (C. S. Lewis) or "that
most sweet section of Scripture" (Chrysostom).
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Devotion
and Betrayal
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Matthew 26:1-16
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Passover; Mary anoints Jesus for His burial; the betrayal by Judas
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Last
Passover
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Matthew 26:17-29
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Institution of the Lord's Supper
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Garden
Scene
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Matthew 26:30-36
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In the garden of Gethsemane.
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Trials
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Matthew 26:57 – 27:26
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The trials of Christ - and Peter and Judas
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The
Crucifixion
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Matthew 27:27-56
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The crucifixion of Christ.
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The
Resurrection
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Matthew 27:57 – 28:20
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The Resurrection of Christ, examining the theories that point away
from it - and returning the Christian to live in the power of the
Resurrection.
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These lessons were originally delivered in 2005 - 2007.