Matthew

Reading Scripture Together

The book of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament and of the three synoptic Gospels. While each Gospel tells the story of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ they each present unique themes and different focuses. This article will overview the major themes talked about during our Bible Studies, particularly how Matthew is concerned with the fulfillment of Scripture in the Old Testament and how Jesus is the promised Messiah who ushers in the Kingdom of God.

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Genealogies are important in the context of Scripture. Recall the introduction of important characters like Abraham and Joseph in the Books of Genesis and Exodus; they were preceded by a genealogy. A genealogy can serve many purposes such as supporting the Bible’s historical accuracy through the physical existence of characters. An actual man named Adam had actual descendants and, therefore, his actual sin had actual consequences.

The genealogies also confirm prophecy. The Messiah that was prophesied in the Old Testament was said to come from the line of David (Isaiah 11:1). The documentation of Jesus Christ’s genealogy confirms that Jesus is descended from the line of David. It attests to Christ’s fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and shows the exact line from which He came, traced back all the way to Adam and Eve.

The genealogy of Jesus Christ is unique in that it includes five women (Tamar, Ruth, Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary). This was unusual for the time, as typically only paternal lines were traced. Each woman, however, shows the sovereignty of God by asking the audience to consider their stories. Take, for instance, the story of Tamar and Judah. We would expect the twin sons of Judah’s incestuous union with his daughter-in-law to be outcasts, hidden away, or perhaps not even mentioned in the Bible. Yet surprisingly, the Messianic line continues through Tamar’s son Perez. God did not need to provide a “cleaner” way in order to continue the line that would eventually include His Son. Perez would be the ancestor of Jesus of Nazereth.

The inclusion of these women is not meant to elevate their status in redemptive history, but rather to showcase how God moves sovereignly and according to his own plan. The genealogy of Jesus Christ is not filled with perfect saints who always lived morally upright lives. Rather the lineage is comprised of men, women, adulterers, prostitutes, heroes, and Gentiles, all of whom owe their salvation to Jesus.

The Sermon on the Mount

In His earthly ministry, Jesus provided many key teachings that challenged the people of His day to think more about their hearts and about God the Father. The most famous collection of these is typically referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. In this, Jesus expounds the realities of discipleship lived in the presence and power of the Kingdom of God, informing how we live within the everyday world. He conveys the powerful blessings that are bestowed upon those who have a hunger and thirst for God, those who recognize their depraved hearts and seek after the Lord’s righteousness.

In this sermon, Jesus confirms his authority of the Old Testament Scriptures. He says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). As he declares this, he then clarifies misinterpretations of the Old Testament by the religious leaders. A consistent theme seen throughout this message is that outward shows of righteousness do not pierce to the heart of God’s law, which itself probes and cuts to the inner man. Perfection is the standard of our thrice holy God, and it’s to this glorious standard that all men fall drastically short.

Jesus demonstrates this with many of the Ten Commandments. He not only clarifies them, but elevates them to their true standard. On the topic of lust, He says, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27). On the topic of murder, He says, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21–22). Jesus affirms the Old Testament and confronts his audience with the reality that sins are not only performed in physical action but also in the mind and heart. The entire Old Testament is an expression of God’s will—and now in the New, we hear it through the crystal clear voice of Jesus himself.

Jesus is greatly concerned that his audience understand the true nature of God’s law, for without this, how are they to understand the true nature of his gospel? From prayer to pridefulness, and from fasting to faithfulness, Jesus encourages His audience to examine their hearts, and not succumb to the intimidating legalism which was rampant in their day. While keeping the law is good, it does not have the power to redeem, nor the effect of earning merit before God. Jesus would have his disciples come to the end of themselves, and turn to him as their only Savior.

The Parables

As Jesus continues to teach and preach in His earthly ministry, he frequently speaks in parables. A parable is a short narrative or analogy that is meant to deliver a key spiritual lesson or truth. Jesus spoke in parables to reveal secrets of the Kingdom of God to His disciples, but also keep them hidden from those that were spiritually unresponsive. As Jesus explains his purpose, he cites the following text from Isaiah:

“And he said, "Go, and say to this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed"(Isaiah 6:9–10).

This scripture is in reference to the sin of the people that has led to judgment from the Lord upon them. They will physically hear, but they will not truly hear so as to understand. This is yet another prophecy that Jesus fulfills. It is because of their sinfulness that they do not understand the meaning of his teaching. Parables are used to either harden a person’s heart, or to elicit the positive response of turning to Jesus and embracing his message. In this way, the parable is a blessing to those with willing ears but to those with dull hearts and ears that will not hear, the parable is an instrument of judgment.

It should be noted that when reading a parable, there is one key truth or lesson Christ is communicating. There may be other details that are used to paint the imagery, but there is one main point at the heart of the parable. For instance, the majority of the parables in Matthew 13 begin with “the kingdom of heaven may be compared to…” signifying that it is the kingdom of heaven he wants his audience to understand. As he compares the kingdom to that of a hidden treasure or a pearl, he is not intending for his audience to go sell everything that they have right in that instance. He is instead portraying the surpassing value that is the kingdom of heaven, and what a joy it will be when it comes. To those with a genuine hunger for God, the parable is both an effective and memorable vehicle for the conveyance of divine truths.

Death and Resurrection

Christ’s earthly ministry comes to a great climax at the Crucifixion, a pivotal moment in redemptive history. Matthew’s account has numerous references to other Old Testament passages, while also communicating key doctrinal truths for the Christian faith.

The entire crucifixion of Jesus in the Book of Matthew has many references and allusions to Psalm 22, which is a Psalm of lamentation. In the face of suffering, attack from the enemy, and mockery from people, the Psalmist looks forward to vindication and worship with the rest of God’s people.

“And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots” (Matthew 27:35)

“They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22:18)

“He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the son of God’” (Matthew 27:43)

“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him” (Psalm 22:8)

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying. “Eli Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” (Psalm 22:1)

The last reference to Psalm 22, with Christ on the Cross crying out to God the Father, has great theological significance. This is Jesus experiencing the wrath of God for the sins of the world. He is taking on the punishment for our wickedness and rebellion because the holiness of God demands perfect justice. Holy, harmless, and undefiled, Jesus Christ bore the sins of his people and has robed us with his own righteousness. Through this sacrifice, we do not pay that harsh penalty, for Jesus paid it all. God's plan for deliverance all along is at the heart of Psalm 22, and even when feeling forsaken, "he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him" (Ps 22:24).

This was a satisfactory atonement as seen by “the curtain of the temple [being] torn in two, from top to bottom” (Matthew 27: 51). This in reference to the veil that separated the temple from the Holy of Holies as outlined in the Book of Exodus. The Holy of Holies was the earthly dwelling place of God, and was uniquely sanctified within the rest of the temple complex, symbolizing man’s separation from God by sin. The tearing of the veil at the moment of Jesus’s death conveys that His sacrifice was a sufficient atonement, and that he himself exists as the only way to God for both Jew and Gentile. The fact that the sin offering was offered annually, and countless other sacrifices were repeated daily, showed graphically that sin could not truly be atoned for or erased by mere animal sacrifices. Jesus Christ, through His death, has satisfied the wrath of God, purified his people, and removed the barrier between Jew and Gentile. In Christ, we may approach God with confidence and boldness.

What is important in Christ’s death is equally important in his resurrection as it vindicates all that he said and did, and ushers in new creation. Jesus has dominion over death and he reverses the brokenness that comes through sin. Death entered the world through the original sin of Adam, and in the resurrection, God declares victory over death and the grave. He is sovereign and reigns over both life and death, and he vindicates the person and work of his Son. The resurrection also fulfills Old Testament prophecies and scriptures that foretold the Messiah’s coming, death, and resurrection. It even attests to what Christ Himself claimed would happen early in his ministry by being raised on the third day. Without the resurrection, there is no hope, no salvation, and no power in the Gospel.

The Book of Matthew provides us with an overview of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and does so with frequent allusions, references, echoes, and direct quotations from the Old Testament scriptures. This is to show that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, that he is the fulfillment of the scriptures, that the entire Old Testament points to His life and work, and that they are all absolutely true. It conveys how the Scriptures connect to one another, telling one overarching narrative that begins in the garden of Eden and finds a wonderful peak in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While many theological and doctrinal truths are contained within the Gospels, Matthew certainly demonstrates that the Old and New Testament are connected to one another and are both edifying to the saints.