QUOTES:
Gotquestions.org: "The Gospel of Matthew is an excellent introduction to the core teachings of Christianity. The logical outline style makes it easy to locate discussions of various topics. Matthew is especially useful for understanding how the life of Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies."
David Guzick: "As a former tax collector (also called “Levi”), Matthew was qualified to write an account of Jesus’ life and teachings. A tax collector of that day must know Greek and be a literate, well-organized man."
Dr.J. Vernon Mcgee: "Matthew presents the program of God. The 'kingdom of heaven' is an expression peculiar to this Gospel. It occurs 32 times. The word 'kingdom' occurs 50 times. A proper understanding of the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is essential to any interpretation of the Bible."
Gotquestions.org: "The Gospel of Matthew is an excellent introduction to the core teachings of Christianity. The logical outline style makes it easy to locate discussions of various topics. Matthew is especially useful for understanding how the life of Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies."
David Guzick: "As a former tax collector (also called “Levi”), Matthew was qualified to write an account of Jesus’ life and teachings. A tax collector of that day must know Greek and be a literate, well-organized man."
Dr.J. Vernon Mcgee: "Matthew presents the program of God. The 'kingdom of heaven' is an expression peculiar to this Gospel. It occurs 32 times. The word 'kingdom' occurs 50 times. A proper understanding of the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is essential to any interpretation of the Bible."
This powerful first of the Gospel had the phrase "According to Matthew" (KATA MAQQAION) found in the earliest manuscripts, so the earliest church leaders were assured that the man Matthew was the author of this manuscript.
The Gospel of Mark was written first about 50 AD, and many scholars believed that both Matthew reproduced about ninety percent of Mark, so it is best guessed that Matthew was written about 55 AD in good detail as a person who would have attention to detail such as a former tax collector would.
Now, imagine that you were Matthew Levi at the time of Christ. You would have a very sketchy job: You are a tax collector stationed on a main trade route outside of Capernaum collecting tolls for Herod Antipas from the travelers going by commercially. You have obtained this well-paying job at the expense of friendships to your fellow Hebrew brethren.. Something deeply disturbs you spiritually and you ponder the course your life should take.
Then comes Jesus.
You have heard about this Deliverer ("Messiah", "Anointed One") and even though His locality was a backwater town called Nazareth, you have heard incredible stories about Him. He heals like no other doctor has ever done. He speaks as no rabbi has ever spoken. He goes beyond mortality. He is God.
And Jesus reaches out to you. You respond.
Your life is changed.
Part of your ministry is to use your talents as a detail-oriented writer to jornal who this Jesus really is, and your audience is now your Jewish brethren.
Matthew does all of this. He show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs.
The Gospel of Mark was written first about 50 AD, and many scholars believed that both Matthew reproduced about ninety percent of Mark, so it is best guessed that Matthew was written about 55 AD in good detail as a person who would have attention to detail such as a former tax collector would.
Now, imagine that you were Matthew Levi at the time of Christ. You would have a very sketchy job: You are a tax collector stationed on a main trade route outside of Capernaum collecting tolls for Herod Antipas from the travelers going by commercially. You have obtained this well-paying job at the expense of friendships to your fellow Hebrew brethren.. Something deeply disturbs you spiritually and you ponder the course your life should take.
Then comes Jesus.
You have heard about this Deliverer ("Messiah", "Anointed One") and even though His locality was a backwater town called Nazareth, you have heard incredible stories about Him. He heals like no other doctor has ever done. He speaks as no rabbi has ever spoken. He goes beyond mortality. He is God.
And Jesus reaches out to you. You respond.
Your life is changed.
Part of your ministry is to use your talents as a detail-oriented writer to jornal who this Jesus really is, and your audience is now your Jewish brethren.
Matthew does all of this. He show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs.
MATTHEW OUTLINE
by researchers Anise Axmacher, Morgan McMullen, and Katlyn Ray
1. The genealogy and birth of Jesus (Chapter 1)
2. Start of Ministry (Chapters 2-4)
3. Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7)
4. Jesus performs lots of miracles (Chapters 8-9)
5. Jesus teaches around many towns (Chapters 9-12)
6. Jesus talks about God's Kingdom (Chapter 13)
7. Jesus teaches around many other cities (Chapters 14-20)
8. Jesus teaches in Jerusalem (Chapters 21-23)
9. Jesus talks about the Temple and about the end times (Chapters 24-25)
10. Jesus is betrayed, crucified, and buried (Chapters 26-27)
11. Three days later, Jesus resurrects from the grave and commissions the disciples (Chapter 28)
by researchers Anise Axmacher, Morgan McMullen, and Katlyn Ray
1. The genealogy and birth of Jesus (Chapter 1)
2. Start of Ministry (Chapters 2-4)
3. Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7)
4. Jesus performs lots of miracles (Chapters 8-9)
5. Jesus teaches around many towns (Chapters 9-12)
6. Jesus talks about God's Kingdom (Chapter 13)
7. Jesus teaches around many other cities (Chapters 14-20)
8. Jesus teaches in Jerusalem (Chapters 21-23)
9. Jesus talks about the Temple and about the end times (Chapters 24-25)
10. Jesus is betrayed, crucified, and buried (Chapters 26-27)
11. Three days later, Jesus resurrects from the grave and commissions the disciples (Chapter 28)