New Testament Study Guides - ElectronicGospel

THEMES
Matthew provides a very orderly gospel account, placing sections of his
teaching neatly in between narratives about his activities. He quotes
frequently from the Old Testament, making some sixty-five references to the
Law and the Prophets.
His message focuses on the fact that Jesus was more than an “alleged”
messiah or pretender to David’s throne. By weaving a thread through the life
of Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew makes his case for the validity of that claim,
giving his ethereal teaching, supernatural power and atoning death as
evidence. Jesus is portrayed as a man unafraid to confront the corrupt
religious establishment and prod the softer hearts toward restoration.
Matthew hangs upon the words of Jesus relating to the kingdom. The
Jews were not only looking for a king, but for a restoration of the kingdom,
which they supposed would occur when a second David or Gideon or Moses
burst on the scene, mustered his forces and repelled the Gentiles. The
prophetic plan for the kingdom, however, involved spiritual redemption and
a kingdom unlike the ones of this world. Jesus was that king and the church
he died to establish with his blood formed the population of that kingdom.
Even more unexpectedly, Jesus fulfills the Law of Moses and takes it
out of the way at his cross, opening a path for these Gentile neighbors to
join the Jewish readers in the kingdom of God. The sermon on the Mount
occupies three chapters of this book, following a series of philosophical
beatitudes with clear interpretations and extrapolations of the law. So many
were stopping short of true compliance, either because they were poorly
taught or just too casual about obedience.
Matthew traces the earthly life of Jesus from the dawn of creation to
beyond the cross, where he prepares the apostles for the real revolution after
his ascension. They would be commissioned to take the good news of
redemption into all the world, changing the course of history.
The gospel according to Matthew provides the Christian with ready
reminders of the source of his faith and teaching about the example and
doctrine of his savior.
It invites the reader to brush up on the Old Testament, so that he can
understand more fully the connection of Jesus to the messianic prophecies
that preceded him.
Matthew directs the disciple of Christ to let the gospel message sink
deeper into his heart, that his faith be not hypocritical or self-serving or
short-lived, but far-reaching and effective.
Its conclusion inspires the reader to get involved in the apostles’
commission to take the gospel into every community.