Matthew Summary

Matthew is one of the synoptic gospels (along with Mark and Luke) in the New Testament (NT). Mark traditionally was felt to be the first written, and Matthew (possibly written in 60’s A.D.) and Luke used his material (90% of Mark is contained in Matthew). Matthew was one of the twelve apostles and was a tax collector. The synoptic gospels have the same basic geographical outline: Jesus’ Galilee ministry; on the way to Jerusalem; in Jerusalem. Matthew was written mostly to a Jewish Christian audience, and his many OT quotes point to Jesus as the Davidic Messiah. Matthew shares fifteen OT prophecies fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry (over forty OT quotes). He records fifteen parables and twenty miracles. The literary structure of Matthew has six blocks of narrative material followed by five blocks of discourses.

After his opening genealogy, Matthew touches on the birth and early life of Jesus. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in chapter 3 and then is tempted in the wilderness by Satan in chapter 4. The Sermon on the Mount is covered in chapters 5-7. Jesus heals many in chapters 8-9 and sends out the twelve to do ministry in chapter 10. Chapter 13 contains about half of Matthew’s parables. Peter confesses Jesus is the Christ in 16: 16. Jesus is transfigured in chapter 17. Chapters 18-20 expound Jesus’ teaching. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem is in chapter 21. The Olivet discourse is in chapters 24-25. Chapter 26 highlights his last supper, arrest in Gethsemane and his trials. In chapter 27, Jesus is crucified and buried. The Resurrection occurs in chapter 28, and the book ends with his Great Commission.

The genealogy in Matthew 1 connects Jesus, through Joseph (his stepfather), back to Abraham. The number fourteen is emphasized because in Hebrew that number (by gematria) represented the name David. Jesus was the Davidic Messiah promised by God in 2 Samuel 7. Jesus was born of a virgin (Matthew 1: 22) by the Holy Spirit (1: 18, 20). He was born in Bethlehem (2: 1) and he and his family escaped to Egypt before Herod killed the baby boys in Bethlehem. The prophesy of Hosea was fulfilled.

When Jesus was baptized, the trinity was manifested. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by Satan after fasting for forty days. Jesus used the Scriptures to overcome the temptations. This second Adam was victorious where Adam had failed. Jesus called disciples to himself and began his ministry of healing and teaching. The Sermon on the Mount showed his authority and winsomeness (7: 28-29). The Beatitudes became a classic teaching (5: 3-12). The Lord’s prayer also became extremely popular. In chapters 8-9, Jesus heals many including the centurion’s servant, a paralytic, the bleeding woman, the blind and mute, and a dead girl (9: 23-25).

In chapter 13, the parable of the sower was foundational for understanding his parables. He explained it to his disciples and told them why he spoke in parables (13: 11-17). In chapter 14, Jesus fed the five thousand (this miracle was in all four gospels) and walked on water. When Peter confessed Jesus is the Christ in 16: 16, it is a turning point in the gospel. Jesus mentions his church (16: 18) as a result (this is the only gospel where the church is mentioned). From then on, Jesus began to predict his death and resurrection (16: 21).

When Jesus arrives in Jerusalem during the triumphal entry, he is fulfilling Zechariah’s prophesy in Zechariah 9: 9. Then Jesus pronounces seven woes on the religious system including the Pharisees and teachers of the law in chapter 23. In the Olivet discourse in chapters 24-25 he discusses the fall of Jerusalem (which occurs in 70 A.D.), his return, and the judgment.

During his last supper with the disciples, Jesus predicted he would be betrayed and denied. He prayed and agonized in Gethsemane, knowing his time had come. He was arrested, crucified, and buried. The book ends with his resurrection in the last chapter and his Great Commission. Jesus commanded his apostles to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey. He promised to be with his people always, to the end of the age.