Book of Matthew

Now we dive into the New Testament, roughly 400 to 450 years after the last words in Malachi. This gap, known as the Intertestamental period, was full of significant historical events—the rise and fall of empires like the Greeks and Romans, and the Maccabean revolt—which shaped the Jewish world into which Jesus was born.


Scholars say Mark was written first (around 65-70 AD), followed by Matthew (70-85 AD), Luke (80-90 AD), and lastly John (90-100 AD). However, Matthew is placed first because it’s the most "Jewish" of the Gospels, acting as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. You’ll often see the phrase: "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by..."—a statement designed to help the Jews connect with the text.


Matthew kicks things off with a powerful opener: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." To any Jew, this statement is huge! It ties Jesus to prophecies they’re familiar with—that the Messiah would come from the line of Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 22:18) and David (2 Samuel 7, Isaiah 9, Jeremiah 23).


So, we’ve got 10-11 days to read through this Gospel, authored by Matthew, a former tax collector despised by his fellow Jews. Isn't it funny how God chooses the unexpected to deliver His message?


In this write-up, you’ll note that Luke’s words about Jesus ring true: "He began to do and teach." In Matthew, you’ll encounter five key teachings by Jesus, followed by actions that affirm His words. Here’s where you’ll find these teachings:


- The Lifestyle of the Believer (Chapters 5-7) —This is the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus lays out what it means to live as a citizen of heaven.


- The Mission of the Believer (Chapters 9-10) —Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with specific instructions. It’s like Mission Impossible, except… possible.


- The Growth of the Kingdom (Chapter 13) —Parables that explain how the Kingdom of God grows and what our role in it is.


- The Community of Believers (Chapter 18) —Here, Jesus talks about how believers should relate to one another, including forgiveness and conflict resolution (because, let’s be real, church drama is not a new thing 😅).


- The Future of Believers (Chapters 24-25) —All about the end times and how we should live in light of Jesus’ return.

All this is a build up to the GREAT COMMISSION. Before he bids them Go Ye, he calls them in and builds them up through the five sermons.



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