The Book of Matthew

We started a sermon series at church on Sunday and the pastor gave us an overview of the Book of Matthew. Matthew was written around 50 A.D., about 15-20 years after Christ was crucified and rose again. Matthew was a wealthy tax collector who left the lucrative, often shady, business to follow Christ. There are many references to coins in this book also.

The Purpose of Matthew's book was to give an introduction to The Christ, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Matthew describes Jesus as Messiah and King. Mark describes him as Servant. Luke looks at Jesus as The Son of Man and John's Purpose was to present Jesus as The Son of God.

It was surprising to see that from Abraham to Christ's birth the genealogy includes both Jews and Gentiles, Kings and prostitutes and every one in between.

The book of Matthew also references old testament prophecies over 50 times, the most of any of the gospels.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases."

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Matthew 21:1-7 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' " 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.

Who is Jesus?

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Who do YOU say Jesus is?