What Have We Learned in Matthew So Far?

What have we learned in Matthew so far?

1) We have learned that Jesus is the Messiah.

a) Jesus is the last of three sets of fourteen generations. Matt. 1:2-17

This would be significant to the Jews because each set of 14 is 2 X 7= twice perfect.

And the three (3) sets = the complete number.

To a Jew the last person in this series of 2X7X3 would complete the series. Matthew is saying that Jesus is the completion. He is the one to whom all the generations point. Jesus had no children, so he is literally the completion and end of his family line. BUT Paul tells us that he is the first of another family line that is spiritual.

b) Jesus and his birth fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament pointing to the Messiah

b.i) His mother was a virgin (miracle birth) Matt. 1:23

b.ii)He was born in Bethlehem Matt. 2:6

b.iii) The star Matt. 2:2, 9

b.iv) Herod’s killing of the babies Matt. 2:18

c) God affirms that Jesus is the Messiah. Matt. 3:17

d) Jesus qualifies by being totally the servant of the Father. Matt. 4:1-11

2) We have learned that Jesus speaks with authority about the Kingdom of Heaven. Matt. 5:1-7:27

a) He describes the attitudes and character of a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven Matt. 5:3-16

These are the attitudes and character that are blessed. Beatitudes.

b) He describes the rules that the Kingdom citizen lives by. Matt. 5:17-48

b.i) Live in harmony with people (No anger or hatred) Matt. 5:12-26

b.ii)Live in faithfulness. (No adultery, no divorce) Matt. 5:27-32

b.iii) Be honest and reliable. (No swearing oaths) Matt. 5:33-36

b.iv) Be generous. Matt. 5:37-42

b.v)Love, even love your enemies. Matt. 5:38-48

b.vi) Be genuine. (No charity for show.) Matt. 6:1-4

b.vii) Be genuine. (No praying for show.) Matt. 6: 5-15

b.viii) Be genuine. (No fasting for show.) Matt. 6:16-18 c) He describes what is important and what is not. Matt. 6:19-34

c.i) Live for God. (Don’t live for treasures on earth.) Matt. 6:19-24

c.ii) Trust in God’s care for you. (Don’t worry.) Matt. 6:25-34

c.iii) Trust God to take care of the problems. (Don’t judge others.) Matt. 7:1-5

c.iv) Look to God for your needs. (Ask, seek, knock) Matt. 7:6-12

3) We have learned that living as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven is important. Matt. 7:13-27

a) Living as Kingdom citizens leads to life. Matt. 7:13-14

b) So don’t be led astray by false teachers. Matt. 7:15-23

c) So be wise and do what Jesus says. (Don’t be foolish and live like everyone else in the culture lives.) Matt. 7:24-27

NOW WE WILL LEARN WHO THE MESSIAH REALLY IS.