Overview of Gospels

and
Gospel of Matthew
 Overview of the Gospels
■ The term gospel means “good news.”
■ For a number of years after Jesus’ earthly ministry, the
gospel m e s s a g e w a s spread orally.
■ Written accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry were necessary a s
eyewitnesses b e ga n to die off and the spread of Christianity
required more than oral witnesses.
■ Each gospel writer, under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, chose from all that Jesus taught and did and
constructed his account with a particular audience in
mind and for a particular purpose.
■ Matthew – writing to Jews a s an apostolic eyewitness of the
ministry of Jesus; emphasizes Jesus a s Messiah, the kingdom.
■ Mark – a close associate of the Apostle Peter, his gospel
account to Gentiles summarizes Peter’s preaching;
emphasizes Jesus a s Servant and S o n of God who is to be
followed.
■ Luke – a close associate of Paul and a careful historian, writing
to Gentiles; only non-Jewish writer in the NT; emphasizes
Jesus a s S o n of Man. Wrote largest percentage of NT.
■ John – Like Matthew, an apostolic eyewitness of the ministry
of Jesus. His is an evangelistic gospel written to unbelieving
Jews and Godfearers and emphasizing Jesus a s the S o n of
God.
 Synoptic Gospel Source
The o r■riMeMeasastthean
■ Two-
Source Priority
Hypothesis andPeLiterary
E y e w itn e s s rsonal Eyewitnesses
Sources Independence
N o ta tio n s Oral Tradition
Q MARK
A.D. 5 0 A.D. 6 5
M AT T H E W LUKE
(Eyewitness) A.D. 60-61
A.D. 55-60

M ATTH E W LU K E

MARK
A.D. 6 8

Peter
(E y ew itn e s s )
Gospel of Matthew
 Introductory Matters
■ Author
■ Though the writer does not identify himself,
both church tradition and early
manuscripts ascribe this gospel to the
Apostle Matthew.
■ Matthew (aka Levi) a former tax collector for
the Rom an government, called a s an Apostle of
■ Jesus Christ (Matt. 9:9).
Date: Written before 7 0 AD. Scholars
differ on how early, with a range from 4 0
■ to 6 0 AD.
Audience: Jews, a s is clear from Matthew’s
purpose in writing and frequent appeals
to the OT.
 Major Themes in Matthew
■ God – this term appears s ome 4 8
times; all 3 members of the trinity are
referred to.
■ Kingdom of Heaven/Kingdom of
God/King
■ “Fulfillment” of the OT
■ The Teaching (including parables) and
Miracles of Jesus
 Purpose Statement for
Matthew
■ Matthew writes to demonstrate to his
fellow Jews that Jesus of Nazareth is
the promised Messiah of the Old
Testament, and that He will return to
rule in power and glory despite
Israel’s rejection of Him.
 Structure of Matthew
■ Six Major Discourses
■ Se rmo n on the Mount (5:1 – 7:29) – Jesus
contrasts the teaching of the scribes and
Pharisees with His own, revealing the true intent
of the Law.
■ Sending out the Twelve (10:1 – 11:1) – Jesus sent
His disciples to proclaim the s a m e m e s s a g e
He had, g a v e them power to perform the s a m e
authenticating works, and warned them of the
opposition they would face.
■ Mysteries of the Kingdom (13:1-53) – Jesus turns
to a parabolic ministry in light of His rejection
by Israel’s leaders. These parables provide new
revelation about the nature of the kingdom
until His second coming.
 Structure of Matthew
■ Six Major Discourses
■ Character of Kingdom Citizens (18:1 – 19:1) – Jesus
makes clear that those who wish to be great in His
kingdom must become like children. They must
also be willing to humbly confront others and to
forgive others.
■ Rebuke of Israel’s Leaders (23:1-39) – Jesus soundly
rebukes the hypocrisy of the scribes and
Pharisees, and predicts the desolation of Jerusalem
(23:37-39).
■ Olivet Discourse (24:1 – 26:1) – Jesus teaches His
disciples about events of Daniel’s 70 t h week,
culminating in His return to the earth and the
establishment of His kingdom. This discourse also
includes parables on faithfulness in the present age.
 Three Major Movements in
Matthew
■ Matthew 1 – 1 0
■ The presentation of Jesus of Nazareth as the indisputable
King of the Jews, including His Davidic lineage, prophesied
birth and forerunner, fitness to rule, and authoritative
teaching and works.
■ Matthew 1 1 – 1 2
■ In these two chapters Matthew shows how most of those to
whom Christ ministered rejected Him. While opposition
to Christ had begun as early as Herod’s attempt to have
Him killed as an infant, and continued throughout Jesus’
public ministry, it is here that it reaches critical mass.
■ Matthew 1 3 – 2 8
■ Chapter 1 3 begins the final section of Matthew’s gospel, in
which he describes the remainder of Jesus’ ministry in light
of His rejection by the nation’s leaders. Jesus provides
new instruction about the kingdom to His disciples in light
of this rejection, much of it in parables.
 Matthew’s Use of the Old
Testament
■ The formula: “that what wa s spoken through
the prophet might be fulfilled” or
something similar.
■ Not always a simple prediction and fulfillment
(see “Biblical Meaning of ‘Fulfillment’” by
Charles H. Dyer). Matthew’s meaning must
be determined by context both in the OT and
the NT.
■ Examples:
■ “Out of Egypt did I call m y Son” (Hos 11:1-2 in
Matt 2:15).
■ “Rachel weeping for her children” (Jer 31:15 in
Matt 2:17-18).
■ Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zech 9:9
in Matt 21:4-5).