Laws Publishing

MATTHEW: AN OVERVIEW

(Part I)

Jim Laws

We have often heard that one must approach the study of the Bible with an open mind. This, of course, is true if one understands that we should remove from our minds those preconceived ideas and prejudices that we should not have and take the teaching of the Bible for what it is, the truth. However, this does not mean that we are to come to a study of the Bible with a blank mind. We will not understand the Bible properly if we do. We need to understand a number of things about the Bible and the New Testament, in particular, if we are to understand it properly. One important principle is the fact that all the way through the pages of the Old Testament God has been bringing about His divine plan to reconcile man to Himself. The many prophecies you will find in the Old Testament pertain to God’s dealings with His Old Testament people, Israel, both then and for the future. This is certainly the case with the book of Matthew. As you read Matthew you will be impressed with the many references that refer to Jesus of Nazareth being the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew clearly wants us to know that our faith in Jesus as the Christ is well grounded from the pages of the Old Testament. The phrase, "that it might be fulfilled," is used over and over again (Matthew 1:22; 2:15, 17, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 25:56; 27:9 and 35). Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy is certainly one of the key concepts of the book.

Another key concept from the book of Matthew that must be kept in mind is the discussion of the kingdom that Matthew gives us. The phrase "kingdom of Heaven" is used by Matthew some 32 times. It is clear that this was an important part of the preaching of Jesus and Matthew’s presentation of him. "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people" (Matt. 4:23). The kingdom of Heaven is the rule of God in the hearts and lives of human beings and the blessings that are to be associated with it. Christ has defeated the rule of Satan in lives of man, he has brought it to an end (Matt. 12:25-30; Luke 11:20). This reign of God in the hearts of mankind is realized in the church one reads about in the New Testament (Dan. 2:44; Acts 2). Christians are God’s people who have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son (Col. 1:13). This is the kingdom that can not be shaken (Heb. 12:28).

Closely connected with this is the fact that Matthew presents Jesus as the king, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It would then be accurate to say that Matthew’s basic message to us would be that the king has come and his kingdom is coming. Jesus Christ being the king and the church established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) being his kingdom. Matthew can be better understood from this perspective. For instance, Matthew presents the lineage of Jesus in chapter one proving that Jesus is a legal heir to the throne of David. In essence he has given us the background of the King (Matt. 1:1-17). Matthew’s presentation of the facts of His virgin birth (1:18-25), the visit of the wisemen (2:1-12), the flight to Egypt (2:13-18), and his return to Palestine (2:19-23) helps better understand His background. Much is said in the Old Testament concerning the coming of the king. The Old Testament ends in Malachi 4:5-6, telling of the coming of Elijah, who would prepare the way for the king. We learn that the Elijah of Malachi 4, was John the Baptist (Matt. 11:7-10, 14; 17:10-13; Luke 1:17 and Luke 7:27). He was the forerunner of the king, preparing the way for the king and his kingdom (Matt. 3:1-2). The sign above the head of Jesus at the crucifixion read, "This is Jesus, the king of the Jews" (Matt. 27:37). Matthew presents Jesus, as being the king who was prophesied from the Old Testament.

Then, it would be helpful to keep in mind that Matthew presents this information about Jesus in a type of topical fashion. It has been suggested by some that this is the reason why Matthew has been placed first in our English Bibles because Matthew would be very helpful in teaching one about Christ in this fashion. Whether this is actually the case is not certain, however, it is true that Matthew presents his material from the standpoint of five basic sections. A helpful outline would include an introduction (Chapters 1-2). The one might consider chapters 26-28 as a type of conclusion. Within this one will find five sections which group certain events in the life of the Lord. Section one (ch. 3-7) would include such events as the Baptism of Christ by John, his temptations, as well as part of his Galilean ministry including the sermon on the mount (Matt. 5-7). Section two would include some of the miracles of the Lord (ch. 8-10) as well as his mission and suffering. By the time the reader gets to chapter 11 he learns some of the stories about the kingdom and the way of the world (ch. 11-12). Included in this section would be the parables on the nature of the kingdom (ch. 13). The fourth section of Matthew (ch. 14-18) includes the debates and conflicts that arise from the preaching of Jesus. That would leave the fifth section (chs. 19-25) to include the clashes between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day. It is in this section that he denounces the Pharisees so strongly, that he teaches of the destruction of the Temple and His second coming (ch. 24 and 25).

Matthew’s account of the life of Christ is unique. It helps us to see that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Its great popularity is testimony to the fact of its ability to create faith in our hearts in Him.

 MATTHEW continued

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