Context of Matthew
Author:
The work is anonymous.
Traditionally Matthew (also called Levi), one of the Twelve.
Because the writer uses Mark as his primary source, scholars believe it unlikely that he was an apostolic witness to the events he describes.
Date:
The 80s CE, at least a decade after the destruction of Jerusalem
Time of high tensions between postwar Jewish leaders and early Christians
Place of composition:
Probably Antioch in Syria, site of a large Jewish and Jewish-Christian community.
Sources:
Mark, Q, and special Matthean material (M).
Audience:
Greek-speaking Jewish Christians and Gentiles who were, at least partly, Torah observant.
Structure of Matthew
Introduction to the Messiah (1:1–2:23)
The Beginning of Jesus’ Proclamation (3:1–4:25)
First Major Discourse: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)
First Narrative Section: Ten Miracles (8:1–9:38)
Second Major Discourse: Instructions to the Twelve Apostles (10:1-42)
Second Narrative Section (11:1–12:50)
Third Major Discourse: Parables on the Kingdom (13:1-52)
Third Narrative Section: From the Rejection in Nazareth to the Transfiguration (13:53–17:27)
Fourth Major Discourse: Instructions to the Church (18)
Fourth Narrative Section: The Jerusalem Ministry (19:1–22:46)
Fifth Major Discourse: Warnings of Final Judgment (23–25)
Fifth and Final Narrative Section (26:1–28:20)
Themes of Matthew
Emphasis on the miraculous and supernatural
Jesus as the inaugurator of a New Covenant
Jesus as fulfillment of specific prophecies of the Hebrew Bible
Jesus as Messiah
Matthew’s Gospel is the Gospel that is most explicitly concerned with the nature and function of the church.
Introduction to the Messiah (1:1–2:23)
Genealogy (1:1-17)
Unique to Matthew’s Gospel
Very Jewish, laid out in sevens
Divided into three sections of fourteen
Numbers of words divisible by seven
Number of male names divisible by seven
Five women mentioned in the genealogy, unusual to mention women
All of these women paint a picture of how God can use even the most horrible of situations to bring about something beautiful – in this case, the Messiah, God in the flesh, and the salvation of the entire world.
Tamar
Had children with her father-in-law
Rahab
A Canaanite prostitute
Ruth
A Moabitess, descendent of incest between Lot and his daughter
Bathsheba
The wife David stole from Uriah
Mary
Accused of adultery
Infancy Narratives (1:18–2:23)
The Birth of Jesus Christ (1:18-25)
Unique to Matthew’s Gospel
Joseph is pledged to be married to Mary, but he finds out she’s pregnant
He plans to divorce her quietly so as not to cause embarrassment
An angel appears to him in a dream and tells him to go ahead with the marriage because the Holy Spirit is the one who impregnated her
Angel says, ”She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
The name “Jesus” is just the Greek version of the Hebrew name “Joshua” which means “the LORD saves.”
Matthew then says, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ’The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).”
Here, Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 7:10-25, where Isaiah is predicting the timing of the destruction of two foreign kings, Rezin and Pekah. Matthew is either drawing upon a messianic d’rash in the first century B.C. predicting that the messiah would be born of a virgin, or some would say that he is drawing out a deeper meaning from Isaiah that was not originally understood from that text
The Magi Visit the Messiah (2:1-12)
Unique to Matthew’s Gospel
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Herod and the whole city of Jerusalem freak out when they hear this
Herod gathers the teachers of the Law and asks them where the Messiah was supposed to be born.
They say he will come from Bethlehem.
Bethlehem, (Beit Lehem) in Hebrew, means “House of Bread”. In terms of prophecy, this was to be the place where the Messiah was born, per the prophecy in Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Additionally, only lambs raised in the flocks of Bethlehem were acceptable as sacrifices in the Temple during the first century – primarily because the Sadducees owned these flocks and they were a source of wealth for this religious party. And so it is that we have Jesus, the Bread of Life, born in the “House of Bread” – the Lamb of God, born in the flocks of Bethlehem, the only sheep allowed for sacrifice. Do you see the picture being painted here?
Herod instructs the Magi to go find this newborn king and report back to him so that he may come and worship him as well
The Magi follow the star to a house where they find Mary and her child.
They bow to him and present him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
They are warned in a dream not to return to Herod so they go back to their own country by a different route.
The Escape to Egypt (2:13-18)
Unique to Matthew’s Gospel
After the Magi leave, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, telling him to flea the country and take Mary and Jesus to Egypt because Herod will try to kill Jesus
So Joseph gets up in the night and they flee to Egypt
Matthew then says that this event fulfilled the prophesy of Hosea, who said, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Herod is filled with rage when he learns that the Magi outwitted him, so he gives orders to kill all the boys of Bethlehem and its vicinity who were age two or younger
Matthew adds:
“Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A
voice is heard in
Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be
comforted,
because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth (2:19-23)
Unique to Matthew’s Gospel
After Herod dies, an angel tells Joseph in a dream to take his family back to Israel.
Joseph takes them back, but when he finds out that Herod’s son Archelaus was reigning in Judea, he was afraid to go there.
He has another dream and is told to go north to the region of Galilee where he settles in the town of Nazareth.
Matthew adds, “So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.”
Wait a minute… what’s Matthew talking about here? What prophet said the Messiah would be a Nazarene?
In Isaiah 11, we read
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”
In the Hebrew, a “shoot” from an olive stump is called a netzer. The religious Jews of the first century saw this passage in Isaiah as a prediction of the coming Messiah – a “shoot” from the stump of Jesse. Because of this, it was believed that he would be called netzer in some fashion, as a symbol of this. This led to debate as to whether he would be from netzeret (Nazareth – “shoot-ville”), whether he would be nazir (a Nazarite), or possibly both.
As a result of this, the people from Nazareth, known to be fanatically religious, were convinced that the former possibility was true, and that their town would be the home of the future Messiah. The name by which these people called themselves would be translated into English as “Branch Davidians” (yes, you read that correctly), because the branch/shoot from the stump of Jesse (David) would come from their town. Because of this, the people in Nazareth were thought of as being “cultish” and suspect. We even read from one of Jesus’ disciples:
“Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
And so it was that the coming of the Messiah was announced by John the Baptizer, a nazir, and this Messiah, Yeshua, was a netzer – a shoot – from netzeret.
The Beginning of Jesus’ Proclamation (3:1–4:25)
Baptism by John (3:1-17)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way (3:1-12)
Covered more thoroughly in Mark 1:1-8
The Baptism of Jesus (3:13-17)
Jesus comes up from Nazareth and is baptized.
John objecting to Jesus being baptized (3:14-15) unique to Matthew’s Gospel
John declares that Jesus ought to be the one baptizing him.
Jesus says, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
“Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”
The voice from heaven is quoting two passages of scripture.
Psalm 2:7
“I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
–Isaiah 42:1
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Salt and Light (5:13-16)
Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
During the first century, the people of Galilee used dome-shaped ovens made of hardened mud. Salt was mixed with dried animal droppings: a common fuel, because the chemical reaction made the animal droppings burn hotter and longer. Over time, however, the salt lost the qualities that made it effective. So, when it was no longer fit even for being mixed with manure, the "saltless" salt was thrown out.
Jesus continues, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The Fulfillment of the Law (5:17-20)
Jesus 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.”
In some Jewish seminaries, professors return papers with either of two grades: lekayem, meaning fulfill, or batel, meaning abolish, in rabbinic terminology.
In other words, to fulfill the Law means to interpret the Law correctly so that it can be lived correctly. To abolish the Law is to incorrectly interpret it — or to interpret it without giving the student what he needs to know to live it.
Jesus continues, “…until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Murder (5:21-26)
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Adultery (5:27-30)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Divorce (5:31-32)
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Oaths (5:33-37)
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Eye for Eye (5:38-42)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Love for Enemies (5:43-48)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Giving to the Needy (6:1-4)
Christianity has a long prejudice against involvement in theater and film. But the Gospels show that Jesus was very familiar with the theater.
The plays were likely offensive, if not pornographic. However, Jesus knew about actors, due to his use of the Greek word we translate “hypocrite.” “Hypocrite” means “actor.” No one else in the Bible even uses the word.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Leading actors going on stage were announced with a trumpet. Thus, there is a double meaning — with the hypocrites in the synagogues acting like the actors in the theaters. The comparison was not just a moral judgment, but a comparison of the hypocrites to pagans.
Prayer (6:5-15)
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
_-_James_Tissot.jpg)
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Fasting (6:16-18)
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Jesus speaks of actors receiving applause. The “actors” painted their faces to look like they were fasting. Again, Jesus compares the hypocrites with (pagan) actors, not just by the use of the word, but by the images chosen.
Treasures in Heaven (6:19-24)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Do Not Worry (6:25-34)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Judging Others (7:1-6)
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
Ask, Seek, Knock (7:7-12)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
The Narrow and Wide Gates (7:13-14)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit (7:15-23)
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
The Wise and Foolish Builders (7:24-27)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Context of this parable is seen in where the sand pits are located…in wadis, or flood valleys.
The wadis are a great place to build a house. Sand isn’t the issue. The issue is when it rains up in the mountains 50 miles away, the wadis suddenly are filled with a torrent of water from the run-off up in the mountains.
So Jesus says to spiritually “build your house” in a place where you won’t be easily washed away, like up on the rocks… And who does the psalmist say our “rock” is? God!
Only a stupid person would build their house in a Wadi.
Conclusion (7:28-29)
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
The Return to Nazareth (2:19-23)
Unique to Matthew’s Gospel
After Herod dies, an angel tells Joseph in a dream to take his family back to Israel.
Joseph takes them back, but when he finds out that Herod’s son Archelaus was reigning in Judea, he was afraid to go there.
He has another dream and is told to go north to the region of Galilee where he settles in the town of Nazareth.
Matthew adds, “So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.”
Wait a minute… what’s Matthew talking about here? What prophet said the Messiah would be a Nazarene?
In Isaiah 11, we read
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”
In the Hebrew, a “shoot” from an olive stump is called a netzer. The religious Jews of the first century saw this passage in Isaiah as a prediction of the coming Messiah – a “shoot” from the stump of Jesse. Because of this, it was believed that he would be called netzer in some fashion, as a symbol of this. This led to debate as to whether he would be from netzeret (Nazareth – “shoot-ville”), whether he would be nazir (a Nazarite), or possibly both.
As a result of this, the people from Nazareth, known to be fanatically religious, were convinced that the former possibility was true, and that their town would be the home of the future Messiah. The name by which these people called themselves would be translated into English as “Branch Davidians” (yes, you read that correctly), because the branch/shoot from the stump of Jesse (David) would come from their town. Because of this, the people in Nazareth were thought of as being “cultish” and suspect. We even read from one of Jesus’ disciples:
“Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
And so it was that the coming of the Messiah was announced by John the Baptizer, a nazir, and this Messiah, Yeshua, was a netzer – a shoot – from netzeret.
The Beginning of Jesus’ Proclamation (3:1–4:25)
Baptism by John (3:1-17)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way (3:1-12)
Covered more thoroughly in Mark 1:1-8
The Baptism of Jesus (3:13-17)
Jesus comes up from Nazareth and is baptized.
John objecting to Jesus being baptized (3:14-15) unique to Matthew’s Gospel
John declares that Jesus ought to be the one baptizing him.
Jesus says, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
“Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”
The voice from heaven is quoting two passages of scripture.
Psalm 2:7
“I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He
said to me, “You are
my son;
today I have become your father.”
–Isaiah 42:1
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.”
This passage as well as others led a number of early Christians to believe that Jesus was a man who became the Son of God when he was baptized. However, the church eventually agreed that Jesus was always the Son of God and that he was setting an example for us in his own baptism that we could all become the children of God through the cleansing of sin and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
The Temptation by Satan (4:1-11)
“The Spirit” immediately sends Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for forty days and nights.
In the Bible, the number 40 is almost always associated with times of trial and testing (e.g., Moses as a shepherd for 40 years, Israel wandering the wilderness for 40 years, Elijah in the wilderness for 40 days, etc.)
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Matthew says that Jesus fasted this whole time and was very hungry by the end of it.
The devil says to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy, saying, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
This passage of scripture talks about how God led Israel into the desert in order to make them hungry and to teach them to rely on him for everything.
Then the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
This passage as well as others led a number of early Christians to believe that Jesus was a man who became the Son of God when he was baptized. However, the church eventually agreed that Jesus was always the Son of God and that he was setting an example for us in his own baptism that we could all become the children of God through the cleansing of sin and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
The Temptation by Satan (4:1-11)
“The Spirit” immediately sends Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for forty days and nights.
In the Bible, the number 40 is almost always associated with times of trial and testing (e.g., Moses as a shepherd for 40 years, Israel wandering the wilderness for 40 years, Elijah in the wilderness for 40 days, etc.)
Matthew says that Jesus fasted this whole time and was very hungry by the end of it.
The devil says to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy, saying, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
This passage of scripture talks about how God led Israel into the desert in order to make them hungry and to teach them to rely on him for everything.
Then the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
He said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.”
He then justified this command by quoting from Psalm 91, saying:
“‘He will command his
angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their
hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
This was actually a really stupid thing for the devil to say, because if he had gone on to read the rest of that verse he was quoting, he would have read, "You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent." The devil is often described as a lion and a serpent, so he was actually quoting from a psalm that was speaking of his own destruction by the Messiah.
Jesus quotes Deuteronomy, saying, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
He said, “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus again quotes Deuteronomy, saying, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Inauguration of the Galilean Ministry (4:12-25)
Jesus Begins to Preach (4:12-17)
Jesus learns that John the Baptist has been put in prison, so he goes back to Galilee.
He relocates from Nazareth to Capernaum by the shore of the Sea of Galilee and begins to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew says that this took place to fulfill the prophet Isaiah, who said:
“Land
of Zebulun and land of
Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the
Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of
death
a light has dawned.”
Ministry in Galilee fulfilling prediction of Isaiah (4:13-16) unique to Matthew’s Gospel
Jesus Calls His First Disciples (4:18-22)
The fishermen Peter, Andrew, James and John begin to follow Jesus.
Covered more thoroughly in Luke 5:1-11
Jesus Heals the Sick (4:23-25)
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”
“News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.”
Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis (the 10 pagan cities), Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
First Major Discourse: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)
Introduction (5:1-2)
Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29) unique to Matthew’s Gospel
When God established the covenant with his people, Moses climbed a mountain to receive the covenant law. Jesus, who came to fulfill that covenant, gave the new covenant guidelines on a mountain as well. But instead of the wilderness mountain at Sinai, Jesus taught on a hill near Korazin.
The Beatitudes largely come from the Psalms and the Prophets. Jesus’ audience would have recognized much of what Jesus said as coming from Isaiah and David. This was not revolutionary teaching. Rather, the revolution was that Jesus actually expected his disciples to do it, that is, he centered his teachings on such things rather than sacrifice, ritual, and pattern keeping.
Remember, he taught during an age when revolution against Rome was in the air. The Messiah was supposed to be a king who’d overthrow Roman rule. And yet this Messiah taught meekness, humility, poverty of spirit, turning the other cheek, and walking the extra mile with Roman soldiers!
The Beatitudes (5:3-12)
Some parallel in Luke 6, “The Sermon on the Plain.”
Each Beatitude consists of two phrases: the condition and the result. In almost every case the condition is from familiar Old Testament context, but Jesus teaches a new interpretation.
This passage also relies heavily upon Isaiah 61, which is about the coming Messiah
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Ministry in Galilee fulfilling prediction of Isaiah (4:13-16) unique to Matthew’s Gospel
Jesus Calls His First Disciples (4:18-22)
The fishermen Peter, Andrew, James and John begin to follow Jesus.
Covered more thoroughly in Luke 5:1-11
Jesus Heals the Sick (4:23-25)
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”
“News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.”
Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis (the 10 pagan cities), Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
First Major Discourse: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)
Introduction (5:1-2)
Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29) unique to Matthew’s Gospel
When God established the covenant with his people, Moses climbed a mountain to receive the covenant law. Jesus, who came to fulfill that covenant, gave the new covenant guidelines on a mountain as well. But instead of the wilderness mountain at Sinai, Jesus taught on a hill near Korazin.
The Beatitudes largely come from the Psalms and the Prophets. Jesus’ audience would have recognized much of what Jesus said as coming from Isaiah and David. This was not revolutionary teaching. Rather, the revolution was that Jesus actually expected his disciples to do it, that is, he centered his teachings on such things rather than sacrifice, ritual, and pattern keeping.
Remember, he taught during an age when revolution against Rome was in the air. The Messiah was supposed to be a king who’d overthrow Roman rule. And yet this Messiah taught meekness, humility, poverty of spirit, turning the other cheek, and walking the extra mile with Roman soldiers!
The Beatitudes (5:3-12)
Some parallel in Luke 6, “The Sermon on the Plain.”
Each Beatitude consists of two phrases: the condition and the result. In almost every case the condition is from familiar Old Testament context, but Jesus teaches a new interpretation.
This passage also relies heavily upon Isaiah 61, which is about the coming Messiah
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Salt and Light (5:13-16)
Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
During the first century, the people of Galilee used dome-shaped ovens made of hardened mud. Salt was mixed with dried animal droppings: a common fuel, because the chemical reaction made the animal droppings burn hotter and longer. Over time, however, the salt lost the qualities that made it effective. So, when it was no longer fit even for being mixed with manure, the "saltless" salt was thrown out.
Jesus continues, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The Fulfillment of the Law (5:17-20)
Jesus 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.”
In some Jewish seminaries, professors return papers with either of two grades: lekayem, meaning fulfill, or batel, meaning abolish, in rabbinic terminology.
In other words, to fulfill the Law means to interpret the Law correctly so that it can be lived correctly. To abolish the Law is to incorrectly interpret it — or to interpret it without giving the student what he needs to know to live it.
Jesus continues, “…until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Murder (5:21-26)
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Adultery (5:27-30)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Divorce (5:31-32)
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Oaths (5:33-37)
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Eye for Eye (5:38-42)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Love for Enemies (5:43-48)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Giving to the Needy (6:1-4)
Christianity has a long prejudice against involvement in theater and film. But the Gospels show that Jesus was very familiar with the theater.
The plays were likely offensive, if not pornographic. However, Jesus knew about actors, due to his use of the Greek word we translate “hypocrite.” “Hypocrite” means “actor.” No one else in the Bible even uses the word.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Leading actors going on stage were announced with a trumpet. Thus, there is a double meaning — with the hypocrites in the synagogues acting like the actors in the theaters. The comparison was not just a moral judgment, but a comparison of the hypocrites to pagans.
Prayer (6:5-15)
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Fasting (6:16-18)
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Jesus speaks of actors receiving applause. The “actors” painted their faces to look like they were fasting. Again, Jesus compares the hypocrites with (pagan) actors, not just by the use of the word, but by the images chosen.
Treasures in Heaven (6:19-24)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Do Not Worry (6:25-34)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Judging Others (7:1-6)
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
Ask, Seek, Knock (7:7-12)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
The Narrow and Wide Gates (7:13-14)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit (7:15-23)
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
The Wise and Foolish Builders (7:24-27)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Context of this parable is seen in where the sand pits are located…in wadis, or flood valleys.
The wadis are a great place to build a house. Sand isn’t the issue. The issue is when it rains up in the mountains 50 miles away, the wadis suddenly are filled with a torrent of water from the run-off up in the mountains.
So Jesus says to spiritually “build your house” in a place where you won’t be easily washed away, like up on the rocks… And who does the psalmist say our “rock” is? God!
Only a stupid person would build their house in a Wadi.
Conclusion (7:28-29)
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
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