Pastor Carl D. Hall Ministries - Matthew Commentary

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Matthew 
Introduction

According to my notes, it looks like the last time we studied the book of Matthew
was 1998.  Perhaps you have noticed that (1) It takes me awhile to study through
a book like Matthew and (2) I like to keep the study of a gospel going, starting
the next within a year or two of finishing the last.  The reason for that is that
knowing the life and teachings of Jesus are crucial to the child of God.

A few introductory notes:

Author - Matthew
    1. Although the gospel itself does not tell us who wrote the book, tradition
        and history are settled upon Matthew as the author. The only challenge
        cast upon Matthew’s authorship has come from modern critics who reject
        the inspiration of the Bible altogether and seek for other means to
        explain the writings of Bible.
    2. Of course, Matthew was one of the twelve disciples.  He is called Levi
        twice by Luke \\#Luke 5:27,29\\ and Matthew four times
        \\#Matt 9:9, 10:5, Mk 3:18, Luke 6:15\\.  Matthew was a tax collector for
        Rome and records his own story of coming to Christ \\#Matt 9:9-13\\,
        although he refers to himself in the third person.
    3. As we consider Matthew, it comes to my mind how little we see of Jesus’
        disciples in the Scripture.  Except for Peter and John, we have very
        little in the way Bible information on the disciples.  Matthew is an
        example.  As far as I know, we don’t even have a record of Matthew, as an
        individual, speaking in the Scripture.  Once Jesus ascends to heaven,
        Matthew is not mentioned again in the Bible.  While we know that the Bible
        is not about men but Christ, it is an interesting observation.

Time - Most believe between 58-68 AD.
Because Matthew refers to events as still being practiced \\#Matt 27:8, 28:15\\,
most believe the book to have been written before the destruction of the temple
in 70 AD.

Theme - Jesus, King of the Jews
Each of the four gospel accounts, while presenting the same life of Jesus,
portrays the record of His life a little differently.
   Matthew presents Jesus as the Sovereign.
   Mark presents Jesus in the as a Servant.
   Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man.
   John presents Jesus as the Son of God.

Matthew is presenting Jesus as the Jewish King to the Jewish People.  That being
the case, Matthew will direct his book to the Jews; hence, we see it beginning
with a Jewish genealogy and have more Old Testament prophecies mentioned in this
book than in any other gospel.

Outline: The following are the main points of an outline adapted from Nelson
Publishers.
    I. \\#Matt 1:1-3:17\\ The Presentation of the King
   II. \\#4:1-7:29\\ The Person of the King
  III. \\#8:1-11:1\\ The Power of the King
   IV. \\#Matthew 11:2-14:13\\ Decisions Concerning the King
    V. \\#Matt 14:13-16:12\\ Training the Disciples
   VI. \\#Matt 16:13-20\\ Decision by the Disciples
  VII. \\#Matthew 16:21-20:34\\ Final Instructions of the King
 VIII. \\#Matt 21:1-28:15\\ The Holy Week
   IX. \\#Matt 28:16-20\\ The Last Command

Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1996). Nelson’s complete book of Bible maps & charts:
Old and New Testaments. "Completely revised and updated comfort print edition";
Includes indexes. (Rev. and updated ed.). Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson.