MATTHEW’S GOSPEL by Daniel J. Lewis © copyright 2008 by Diakonos, Inc. Troy, Michigan United States of America 2 Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Who was Matthew? .................................................................................................................................... 5 How, When and Where was the 1st Gospel Composed?............................................................................. 6 Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Central Theological Motifs......................................................................................................................... 9 The Text of Matthew ................................................................................................................................ 11 The Birth Narratives (1-2) ............................................................................................................................ 11 The Genealogy of Jesus (1:1-17).............................................................................................................. 11 The Virginal Conception of Jesus (Mt. 1:18-25)...................................................................................... 13 The Visit of the Magi (Mt. 2:1-12)........................................................................................................... 15 The Flight to Egypt (2:13-18)................................................................................................................... 16 The Return to Nazareth (2:19-23)............................................................................................................. 17 The Beginnings of Ministry (3-4)................................................................................................................. 19 John the Baptist (3:1-12) .......................................................................................................................... 19 Jesus’ Baptism (3:13-17).......................................................................................................................... 21 The Temptations (4:1-11) ......................................................................................................................... 21 Early Ministry in Galilee (4:12-25).......................................................................................................... 23 The Great Sermon (5-7)................................................................................................................................ 24 The Beatitudes and Inward Character (5:1-16)......................................................................................... 25 Jesus and the Torah (5:17-48) .................................................................................................................. 26 The Practice of Religion (6:1-34) ............................................................................................................. 28 Attitudes (7:1-12) ..................................................................................................................................... 30 The Conclusion (7:13-29)......................................................................................................................... 31 The Early Ministry in Galilee (8-10)............................................................................................................ 32 Ten Miracles (8:1—9:38) ......................................................................................................................... 32 The Commission of the Twelve (10:1—11:1).......................................................................................... 36 Teaching, Controversy and Parables (11-13) ............................................................................................... 39 Jesus and John the Baptist (11:2-19) ........................................................................................................ 39 Woe on the Unrepentant and Rest for the Weary (11:20-24) ................................................................... 41 Jesus and the Sabbath (12:1-14) ............................................................................................................... 41 Jesus, the Ebed-Yahweh (12:15-21) ......................................................................................................... 43 Jesus and Beelzebub (12:22-37) ............................................................................................................... 43 The Verdict on a Wicked Generation (12:38-45) ..................................................................................... 44 Jesus’ Family (12:46-50).......................................................................................................................... 45 The Third Great Discourse: The Parables of the Kingdom (13)............................................................... 45 The Crisis Approaches (14-16)..................................................................................................................... 48 John’s Execution (14:1-12) ...................................................................................................................... 48 Feeding the 5000 (14:13-21) .................................................................................................................... 49 Walking on the Water (14:22-36)............................................................................................................. 49 Purity and Purity Laws (15:1-20) ............................................................................................................. 50 Healing for a Desperate Gentile (15:21-28) ............................................................................................. 51 Feeding the 4000 (15:29-39) .................................................................................................................... 52 Demand for a Sign by the Pharisees and Sadducees (16:1-12)................................................................. 52 Peter’s Great Confession (16:13-20) ........................................................................................................ 53 Jesus’ Prediction of Death (16:21-28) ...................................................................................................... 55 More Training and the Final Withdrawal from Galilee (17-20) ................................................................... 57 The Transfiguration (17:1-13).................................................................................................................. 57 The Healing of an Epileptic Demoniac (17:14-21) .................................................................................. 58 The Temple Tax (17:24-27) ..................................................................................................................... 59 Who is Greatest in God’s Kingdom (18:1-14).......................................................................................... 59 3 Restoring a Brother who Sins (18:15-20)................................................................................................. 61 Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (18:21-35) ......................................................................................... 62 The Question About “Any Cause” Divorce (19:1-12).............................................................................. 62 Jesus and the Children (19:13-15)............................................................................................................ 64 The Wealthy Young Man (19:16-30) ....................................................................................................... 64 Parable of the Workers (20:1-16) ............................................................................................................. 66 Another Prediction of Death (20:17-19)................................................................................................... 67 A Request by the Mother of James and John (20:20-28).......................................................................... 67 Two Healings Near Jericho (20:29-34) .................................................................................................... 68 On to Jerusalem (21-23) ............................................................................................................................... 68 Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem (21:1-22)........................................................................................................ 68 The Controversy Over Authority (21:23-27)............................................................................................ 70 Three Parables About Whom God Accepts (21:28—22:14) .................................................................... 71 Paying the Imperial Tax (22:15-22) ......................................................................................................... 73 Marriage in the Resurrection (22:23-33) .................................................................................................. 73 The Greatest Commandment (22:34-40) .................................................................................................