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New Testament

Matthew

28 chapters

Start reading: Matthew 1

About this book

Matthew presents Jesus as the promised Messiah, the son of David and of Abraham, in whom the hopes of Israel come to fulfillment. The Gospel opens with his genealogy and birth, then follows his baptism, temptation and the start of his ministry in Galilee. Matthew gathers Jesus' teaching into five great discourses, the first being the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus describes the life of the kingdom of heaven. Between them are stories of healing, authority over nature and growing opposition. Again and again Matthew shows how events in Jesus' life fit the Scriptures of Israel. Peter's confession marks a turning point, after which Jesus heads toward Jerusalem, teaches about humility and the last things, and is arrested, crucified and raised. The Gospel ends with the risen Jesus commissioning his followers to make disciples of all nations, promising to be with them always. Matthew is especially concerned with what it means to follow Jesus in a community of faith.

Author
Early church tradition names Matthew (Levi), the tax collector and apostle; some scholars question this and see an anonymous author.
Date
Views differ: often c. AD 60s–80s, depending on whether Mark was written first, as most scholars hold, or Matthew, as some ancient tradition held.
Audience
Likely a largely Jewish-Christian community, with a message open to all nations.

Themes

Jesus the Messiah and Son of DavidThe kingdom of heavenFulfillment of ScriptureDiscipleship and righteousnessMission to all nations

Outline

  1. 1:1–2:23Birth and infancy
  2. 3:1–4:25Baptism, testing and first call
  3. 5:1–7:29The Sermon on the Mount
  4. 8:1–10:42Deeds of power and the mission of the Twelve
  5. 11:1–13:58Growing opposition and parables of the kingdom
  6. 14:1–18:34Identity revealed and life in the community
  7. 19:1–25:46Jerusalem: conflict and judgment
  8. 26:1–28:20Passion, resurrection and commission

Key verses

Matthew 5:3-10Matthew 6:9-13Matthew 28:18-20

Chapters of Matthew

  1. 1Matthew 1Matthew opens with the genealogy of Jesus, tracing the line from Abraham through King David to Joseph.
  2. 2Matthew 2Wise men from the east follow a star to Jerusalem, asking where the newborn king of the Jews is.
  3. 3Matthew 3John the Baptist appears in the wilderness of Judea, calling people to repent because the kingdom of heaven is near.
  4. 4Matthew 4After his baptism, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, where he fasts and the devil tests him three times: to turn stones into bread, to test God by jumping from the temple, and to gain the kingdoms of the world through worship.
  5. 5Matthew 5Jesus goes up a mountain and begins the Sermon on the Mount.
  6. 6Matthew 6Continuing the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against practicing faith to be admired by others.
  7. 7Matthew 7Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount with practical instruction.
  8. 8Matthew 8Coming down from the mountain, Jesus shows his authority through a series of healings.
  9. 9Matthew 9Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man, provoking scribes who say only God can forgive sins.
  10. 10Matthew 10Jesus names the twelve apostles and sends them to the lost sheep of Israel, giving them authority to heal and to proclaim that the kingdom is near.
  11. 11Matthew 11John the Baptist, now in prison, sends disciples to ask whether Jesus is the coming one.
  12. 12Matthew 12Conflict with the Pharisees grows over the Sabbath.
  13. 13Matthew 13Jesus teaches the crowds in parables about the kingdom of heaven.
  14. 14Matthew 14The chapter opens with the death of John the Baptist, executed at Herod's birthday feast after a rash promise.
  15. 15Matthew 15Pharisees challenge Jesus because his disciples skip a ritual handwashing.
  16. 16Matthew 16Religious leaders demand a sign, and Jesus warns his disciples against the corrupting influence of their teaching.
  17. 17Matthew 17Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain, where he is transfigured: his face shines, and Moses and Elijah appear speaking with him.
  18. 18Matthew 18The disciples ask who is greatest in the kingdom, and Jesus sets a child before them, teaching that greatness belongs to the humble and that causing little ones to stumble is grave.
  19. 19Matthew 19Jesus leaves Galilee for Judea, where Pharisees test him about divorce.
  20. 20Matthew 20Jesus tells the parable of workers hired at different hours of the day who all receive the same wage, showing that God's generosity is not measured by human fairness.
  21. 21Matthew 21Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey while crowds spread cloaks and branches and shout praise to the Son of David.
  22. 22Matthew 22Jesus tells the parable of a king's wedding banquet: invited guests refuse to come, so the invitation goes out to everyone, though one guest lacks proper garments.
  23. 23Matthew 23Jesus speaks to the crowds and disciples about the scribes and Pharisees, who teach well but do not practice what they teach and love titles and places of honor.
  24. 24Matthew 24As Jesus leaves the temple, he says its stones will be thrown down.
  25. 25Matthew 25Jesus continues teaching about readiness through three parables.
  26. 26Matthew 26The religious leaders plot to arrest Jesus, while a woman anoints him with costly perfume, an act he says prepares him for burial.
  27. 27Matthew 27Jesus is brought before Pilate, the Roman governor.
  28. 28Matthew 28At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb and find the stone rolled away.
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