MATTHEW Lesson #01 INTRODUCTION

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

MATTHEW
Lesson #01
INTRODUCTION

• After the book of Malachi in the Old Testament God was silent for 400 years. Then the book of Matthew begins with the New Testament age of grace.
• God did not speak to the Jewish people for those 400 years of silence either directly or through His prophets until the book of Matthew.
• Date written: 60-65 AD
• Written by:
  • Matthew was written by Matthew (Levi). He wrote from first-hand experience as one of the 12 disciples. Before he came to Jesus, he was a Jewish tax collector. Tax collectors in the New Testament are called publicans.
  • The Jewish tax collector worked for the Roman government, collecting taxes for Rome.
    • However, he was not paid by Rome.
    • Any money he collected over and above the Roman tax, he could keep for himself.
    • Therefore, the tax collector was hated for two reasons:
      • =1= For collecting excess taxes to enrich himself.
      • =2= For being a traitor who supported the hated Roman Empire.
• To whom was the book written?
  • It was written to the Jews.
  • Therefore there is much information relating to Jewish tradition and the religion of Judaism.
• The author’s purpose:
  • The author wanted to prove that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. (The Anointed One).
  • In order to do this, Matthew had to prove that the prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
• The emphasis of the book:
  • There is more emphasis on the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy than the other gospels.
  • For this reason we will always examine the prophetic statements in the Old Testament to see how they were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
• Main theme:
  • The main theme is Jesus Christ, the eternal King of kings.
  • We will examine who He is and what He came to do.
• Another theme:
  • The Kingdom of God.
  • The King and the Kingdom were present in God’s mind from the beginning of creation. (Joh 1:1)
  • This concept requires more explanation which will be given through the book of Matthew.

• Historical background:
  • Politics and government of the time:
    • The Roman Empire controlled the area of Israel with an iron fist.
    • However, it was common for Roman emperors to permit local governors to carry out the daily running of local government under the direction of Rome.
    • Political rulers of the time: Local governors:
      • Herod the Great 37-4 BC
        • He was governor of Judea, Galilee, and Perea.
        • He was a master builder, organizer, and developer.
        • He rebuilt the Jewish temple in Jerusalem taking 50 years to complete it.
        • He also rebuilt and enlarged the city of Caesarea. It became a large Mediterranean sea port and the Roman provincial capital for Palestine.
        • He was a cruel and ruthless leader who hated the Jews even though he was half Jewish.
        • Jesus was probably born just before Herod died. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Egypt because of Herod and returned when King Harod died.
      • Herod Antipas 4 BC – 39 AD
        • He was governor of Galilee and Perea.
        • He succeeded his father, Herod the Great.
        • Herod Antipas was responsible for the death of John the Baptist. (Luk 3:19-20 Mat 14:1-12) He was governor during the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.
      • Pontius Pilate 26 – 36 AD
        • He was governor of Judea during the time of the crucifixion of Jesus.
        • He had the difficult job of keeping the peace between the Jews and the Roman Emperor.
  • Roman emperors:
    • Caesar Augustus 31 BC – 14 AD
      • He was emperor when Jesus was born.
    • Tiberius Caesar 14 AD – 37 AD
      • He was emperor during the time of the crucifixion of Jesus.
• Key phrases:
  • “that was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled”
    • This phrase is used 9 times but not once in the other gospels.
  • “kingdom of heaven”
    • This phrase is used 32 times but nowhere else in the New Testament.
• Structure of the book:
  • There is a 5 fold structure which is common in Jewish literature.
  • For example the first 5 books of the Bible are called the Pentateuch.
  • The phrase, “when Jesus had ended”, divides the 5 sections: (7:28, 11:1, 13:53, 19:1, 26:1)
    • Sermon on the Mount 5:3-7:27
    • Instruction of the disciples 10:5-42
    • Parables of the kingdom 13:3-52
    • Terms of discipleship 18:3-35
    • Olivet discourse 24:4 – 25:46
• Outline of the book:
  • Presentation of the King 1:1 – 4:11
    • Advent of the King 1:1 – 2:23
    • The announcer of the King 3:1-12
    • The approval of the King 3:13 – 4:11
  • Proclamation of the King 4:12 – 7:29
    • The background for the sermon 4:12-25
    • The Sermon on the Mount 5:1 – 7:29
  • The power of the King 8:1 – 11:1
    • Demonstration of the King’s power 8:1 – 9:34
    • Delegation of the King’s power 9:35 – 11:1
  • Progressive rejection of the King 11:2 – 16:12
    • The beginning of rejection 11:2-30
    • Rejection by the Pharisees 12:1-50
    • Consequences of rejection 13:1-53
    • Continuing rejection of the King 13:54 – 16:12
  • Preparation of the King’s disciples 16:13 – 20:28
    • The revelation in view of rejection 16:13 – 17:13
    • The instruction in view of rejection 17:14 – 20:28
  • Presentation and rejection of the King 20:29 – 27:66
    • The blind men recognize the King 20:29-34
    • The public presentation of the King 21:1-17
    • The nation rejects the King 21:18 – 22:46
    • The King rejects the nation 23:1-39
    • The predictions of the King’s second coming 24:1-25:46
    • The passion of the King 26:1 – 27:66
  • The proof of the King 28:1-20
• Introduction:
  • Why are there 4 gospels?
    • Number four in the Bible is the number of the earth.
    • There are 4 gospels to reach all of the people in the four corners of the earth. (North, South, East, West)
  • There are 3 synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
    • The word “synoptic” means that three of the gospels present Jesus’ life from a common perspective.
    • However, they each have a different emphasis and different viewpoints:
      • Matthew – Jesus is the King => written to the Jews
      • Mark – Jesus is the Servant => written to the Romans
      • Luke – Jesus is Son of Man => written to the Greeks
  • The fourth gospel of John presents Jesus’ life from a theological perspective:
    • John – Jesus is Son of God => written to all men
  • Dates for Jesus’ birth and death:
    • The historical calendar we use (The Gregorian calendar created in 1580) was divided according to what was thought to be the date of Jesus’ birth (The year 1).
      • All events before His birth are counted backward and listed as BC. (Before Christ).
      • All events after his birth are counted forward and listed as AD. (Anno Domini = year of our Lord or commonly termed After his Death.)
      • Currently the secular world wants to get away from using Christ to divide history so they use CE instead meaning “the common era”. In our study we will continue to use BC and AD.
    • Many calendars and methods of reckoning time were in use during the time of Jesus’ birth and ministry.
    • Therefore, there is much confusion and disagreement regarding historical dates.
      • Birth:
        • Modern scholarship disagrees with the Gregorian calendar’s date of Jesus birth as being in the year 1.
        • Most generally accepted dates range between the year 6 and 1 BC. The most probable is 4, 5, or 6 BC.
      • Death:
        • Because the year of Jesus’ exact birth is difficult to determine, his death, as well, is difficult to determine.
        • The most generally accepted range of dates is between 27 and 33 AD where 30 AD is the most probable.
        • If Jesus was born in 4 BC and died in 30 AD., He would have been about 33 years old when he was crucified.
• Source material for this study:
  • • Matthew – Life Application Bible Studies – Tyndale House
    • Matthew by George Wood
    • All the Miracles of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer
    • All the Parables of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer
    • All the Apostles of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer
    • The Greatest Book on Dispensational Truth in the World by Clarence Larkin
    • Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts – Thomas Nelson publishers
    • Eerdman’s Handbook to the Bible – D. & P. Alexander
    • Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament by H. Wayne House
    • The Gospel of Matthew by William Barclay
    • Chronology of the Old Testament by Floyd Nolen Jones (used to date the birth of Christ)
    • Misc. Notes

Homework

Matthew 1

• Preparation for Mat 1
  • Read Mat 1:1-25 Genealogy and birth of the King
    • Why do you think this list of names would be of special interest to the Jewish reader?
    • Read Luk 3:23-38
      • Compare this genealogy to the one in Matthew. What differences do you see?
    • What names are given to Jesus in Matthew chapter 1?
    • What do you learn about the character of Joseph, Mary’s husband?
    • What do you learn about why Jesus came?
• Memory verse: Mat 1:21