Introduction       Matthew Part 1 (chapters 1-13)

From earliest times Matthew was credited with writing the Gospel that opens the New Testament.  He was one of Jesus' twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1-4), although public opinion would have considered him a most unlikely choice.

Matthew the tax collector
Matthew was a tax collector (9:9), and therefore a collaborator with the Roman Empire.  Herod Antipas, Rome's ruler at that time in Galilee, was responsible for raising revenue in his territory.  Fixed taxes were collected annually, but Herod Antipas gave the right to collect customs to the highest bidder.  The agreed amount was paid to the government in advance, and then the tax agent collected what he could.  Booths were set up at ports, city gates and along main roads, and goods could be taxed several times before they reached their destination.

Tax collectors were notoriously greedy.  Officially, their commissions were regulated but, since the collectors decided what the taxable goods were worth, their tendency to over-inflate valuations meant huge personal profits.  It is no wonder they were regarded as traitors, robbers and frauds (see Luke 19:1-10).  Only the one who did "not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:12-13) would choose a 'Matthew' to walk with him, and be willing to ignore the criticism and disdain that would result.

Matthew the disciple and writer
We should not underestimate the amazing presence of Jesus that caused Matthew to leave his booth to follow him (9:9).  Neither should we underestimate how much Jesus was asking of his other disciples by expecting them to accept this former cheat.  But nor should we underestimate how much Matthew valued the opportunity to begin again as a disciple of Messiah.

None of the Gospels set out to give us a 'life of Jesus'.  Rather, they aim to show us who Jesus is.  To this end, Matthew does not follow a strict time sequence.  Instead he structures his material carefully.  Action is interspersed with teaching.  Discipleship is a major theme, and Matthew emphasises its privilege and responsibility.  It was to his disciples that Jesus make know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven (13:10-13,16-17).  The core group was the Twelve, who travelled everywhere with Jesus.  But Matthew also uses "disciple" to include a larger, loosely-connected group who believed in Jesus and followed him along the way.

Matthew's gospel contains five blocks of Jesus' teaching (chapters 5-7, 10, 13, 18, 24-25).  Chapters 1-13, which this study book covers, include three of those discourses.  Jesus had come to inaugurate the kingdom of God.  The first two discourses contain teaching for those who are kingdom citizens.  In the third Jesus tells the crowd parables of the kingdom.

The kingdom's King
The message proclaimed first by John the Baptiser, and then Jesus was: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (3:1-2, 4:17).  the word 'gospel' means good news - the good news of the coming of Jesus, God's promised King.  It is history with meaning and history that demands a response:  repentance and faith in Jesus evidenced by faithful living.

The coming of the kingdom of heaven in the person and work of Jesus is Matthew's central theme.  This expression is a respectful Jewish way of referring to the rule of God without using his holy name.  As creator of the world, God has always been its king, but humankind rebelled against his rule.  The Old Testament Scriptures foretold the coming of one who would defeat Satan and establish God's kingdom on earth (Genesis 3:15).  This one would be a descendant of King David, and his throne would be eternal (2 Samuel 7:11b-13).

This person was known as Messiah (in Greek: Christ, the Lord's Anointed One, Psalm 2:1-6).  Through this Messiah God would bring salvation to his people.  Matthew sets the coming of Jesus in this context:  Jesus is this prophesied Messiah, Son of God.

The kingdom's history
Jesus said that the Scriptures spoke of him (Luke 24:44).  Matthew repeatedly emphasises this truth with his formula:  This was to fulfil what was written by the prophet (1:22, 2:5, 3:3, for example).  Jesus is the Messiah promised in the Scriptures.  This is vitally important for all believers, because if he is not the Christ of the Scriptures, he is not Christ at all.  Matthew is careful to show us that Jesus is the one God promised to send.  Indeed, every aspect of Jesus' coming and ministry were foretold in the Scriptures (our Old Testament).

The way Matthew refers to Old Testament prophecy about Jesus varies.  Sometimes he points to a particular verse, or he may quote part of a passage to represent the whole in which it is found.  Sometimes he interprets a passage of Scripture, rather than quoting it directly.

Public expectation of Messiah's coming, however, was narrowly focused.  The Jews thought Messiah would be Israel's warrior king, expelling their enemies and establishing God's worldwide rule from Israel.  They failed to see that the coming Son of David would be the servant king who would die for the sins of the people. (Isaiah 52:13-53:12).

The kingdom's future purpose
Two other groups feature in Matthew's gospel besides the disciples:  the religious leaders (Pharisees and teachers of the law) and the crowd.  The religious leaders reject Jesus as Messiah and, as the Gospel progresses, their opposition becomes settled and dangerous.  At the same time, Jesus and his disciples are constantly accompanied by the curious, demanding multitude who are "ever hearing but never understanding" (13:14).  They are no mere backdrop.  They are always in Jesus' sight, always the beneficiaries of his love, his attention, his time.  His disciples were once part of them.  He is going to die for them.

This study will help us see the crowd as Jesus did.  As we track through Matthew's gospel, we will be taught how to live faithfully among the crowd and challenged to engage in mission to them.  The theme of God's missionary purpose runs seamlessly through this Gospel.  The kingdom of heaven would begin with Israel (10:1-6), but every nation was in view.  All must be invited to put their trust in Jesus Messiah, God's promised servant King and Saviour (28:16-20).

Study 1                                                      Matthew 1:1-2:23

DAY 1:  Introduction; Matthew 1:1-6
1.    From the introduction name some of the themes that are important in Matthew's gospel.

2.    What titles does Matthew give to Jesus in verse 1?

3.   What promises did God make to Abraham and Judah concerning one of their descendants and the nations of the       world? 
        Abraham (See Genesis 22:18.)

        Judah (See Genesis 49:10.)

4.    Name the four women mentioned in this list of Jesus' ancestors.

DAY 2: Matthew 1:6-17,20
5.    What promises did God make to David concerning one of his descendants?  (1 Chronicles 17:11-14)

6.    Following the return of Israel from exile, Jesus' ancestor Zerubbabel (Matthew 1:12) was Governor of Judah.  Zechariah prophesied at that time.
        What did the Lord promise Israel?  (Zechariah 2:10-11)

7.    Why do you think Matthew names Joseph as "the husband of Mary"(v16) but not the father of Jesus? (v20)

DAY 3:  Matthew 1:18-25
8.    Why do you think it was necessary for an angel (a messenger from God) to explain to Joseph what was happening?

9.  The common Hebrew name, Y'shua (Jesus) means "the Lord saves".  Why was this name of significance for this particular child?

In verse 23 Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14.  The prophet foretold that Israel would be given a sign (that is, an event which is itself a message from God):  a virgin would conceive and bear a son.  He would be called "Immanuel" because his birth meant that "God is with us".
10.    Read Isaiah 9:6-7.  What further information did Isaiah give
        a)    about who this child would be?  (v6)

        b)    about the nature of his kingly rule?  (v7)

DAY 4:  Matthew 2:1-12
11.    Who were the Magi looking for?

12.    What clues do you find that all Jerusalem, including King Herod, knew that "the Christ" was going to come one day?

13.    How do you see God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:18) beginning to be put into effect in the coming of the Magi to Jesus?

DAY 5:  Matthew 2:12-23
14.    a)    How did God ensure the safety of his Son?

        b)    What effect does this have on your confidence in God?

15.    What impresses you most about the way Joseph played his part?

DAY 6: Matthew 2:16-18
16.    What impression do you have of King Herod?

17.    What did his furious anger and awful violence fail to achieve?

The prophet Jeremiah pictured Rachel as Israel's mother, despairing as if all hope was lost for her "children" who were going into exile (Jeremiah 31:15-17).
18.    a)    Read Jeremiah 31:15-17.  What comfort did the Lord give Rachel concerning her "children" as they went into exile?

        b)    Why do you think Matthew used this Old Testament illustration of sorrow and hope in this context?  (See also Matthew 1:21.)

DAY 7:  Matthew 2:19-23
19.    Why didn't Joseph take his family back to Judea to live?

20.    Read Psalm 2, which speaks about the Messiah King (Jesus).
        a)    How would the kings of the earth always react to the Lord and his Anointed One?  (Psalm 2:1-3)

        b)    What is God's response to their plots?  (Psalm 2:4-6)

21.    How does Psalm 2 encourage you as a Christian?

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Last modified: 14 August 2008