Book 40 - Matthew

The Old Testament ends with Israel back in its land, but under foreign rule, with unresolved promises and a long memory of warnings, exile, and return. The prophets speak of restoration and hope, but history does not pause to explain how or when it will happen.

Between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, several centuries pass. Political powers change. Empires rise and fall. Jewish life continues under foreign authority. The questions raised by the Law and the Prophets remain open.

The Gospels don't restart the story. They assume it.

The word gospel means “good news.” And that is exactly what these books are. They tell how Jesus came into a broken world not to condemn it, but to heal it. They show His words, His miracles, His friendships, His anger at injustice, and His compassion for people who were hurting or forgotten.

The Gospels are not four separate stories but four portraits of the same person. Matthew writes to show that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the one the prophets spoke of. Mark writes with urgency, showing Jesus as a man of action and power. Luke focuses on Jesus’ compassion, His care for outsiders, and His role as the Savior of all people. John writes like a poet, helping us see that Jesus is both fully human and fully God.

We'll start with Matthew.

What kind of book is this?

Matthew is a narrative account of Jesus’ life, teaching, death, and resurrection. It combines storytelling with long blocks of teaching, quotations from earlier Scripture, and scenes of public conflict. It is not written as a diary or a modern biography. Events are grouped and arranged to highlight themes rather than to provide a strict timeline.

Matthew assumes familiarity with the Old Testament. It frequently references earlier laws, prophets, and promises without stopping to explain them.

Who is this written for?

Matthew appears to be written primarily for a Jewish audience. It pays close attention to:

• Israel’s history

• The Law of Moses

• Prophetic expectations

• Questions about authority, obedience, and fulfillment

Matthew consistently frames Jesus in relation to what came before. The book spends a lot of time showing continuity between Israel’s story and Jesus’ life.

How the book is structured

Matthew alternates between narrative sections and extended teaching sections. A common pattern looks like this:

• A series of events

• Followed by a long teaching block

• Followed by reactions, conflict, or movement to a new location

This structure gives the book a deliberate, organized feel. It reads less like a fast-moving story and more like a carefully arranged presentation.

What Matthew focuses on

Across the book, several themes repeat:

• Teaching about the “kingdom of heaven”

• Ethical instruction about daily life, behavior, and intention

• Conflicts with religious leaders

• Fulfillment of earlier Scripture

• Authority, both questioned and asserted

• Preparation for what comes after Jesus’ death

Matthew spends more time on teaching than any other Gospel. Large portions of the book are devoted to speeches rather than action.

How Matthew ends

Matthew concludes with the resurrection and a forward-looking charge rather than a sense of resolution. The story does not wrap everything up neatly. It points outward, suggesting continuation rather than closure.

Why Matthew is often read first

Matthew appears first in the New Testament because it bridges the gap between the Old Testament and the story of Jesus more explicitly than the other Gospels. It helps explain why Jesus mattered in a world shaped by earlier Scripture, expectations, and law. For readers coming directly from the Old Testament, Matthew provides the most direct line forward.

Spotlight: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7)

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most recognizable stories in the entire Bible. Jesus sits on a hillside and begins to teach a crowd that came from every direction to hear Him. What He says came as quite the surprise to the people of that time.

He starts with a list of blessings — not for the rich, powerful, or important, but for the poor in spirit, the humble, and those who show mercy. He says the people who mourn will be comforted, and those who hunger for righteousness will be satisfied. These words, called the Beatitudes, turn the world’s idea of success upside down.

Then He teaches how to live differently. He tells people to love their enemies, forgive those who hurt them, and give quietly instead of for attention. He warns against judging others and encourages trust in God’s care for every need.

In the middle of it all, Jesus gives a simple model for prayer. The Lord’s Prayer. It begins, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” and it still shapes how people pray today.

The Sermon on the Mount shows that faith is not just about belief but about living in a way that reflects God’s heart. It calls people to be salt and light in a world that often forgets kindness and grace.

Spotlight: Jesus Walks on Water (Matthew 14)

It was late at night on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples were in a boat, rowing hard against the wind. Earlier that day, they had watched Jesus feed more than five thousand people with only a few loaves of bread and fish. Afterward, He sent them ahead while He stayed behind to pray.

Hours later, the wind picked up and the waves grew rough. Suddenly, through the mist, they saw something moving across the water. It looked like a person. Terrified, they cried out, thinking it was a ghost.

Then they heard His voice: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Peter called out, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus said, “Come.”

Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk toward Him. For a few steps, the impossible became real. But when Peter saw the waves crashing around him, fear took over and he began to sink. “Lord, save me!” he shouted.

Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and pulled him up. “You of little faith,” He said. “Why did you doubt?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. The others fell to their knees and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

This story isn’t just about a miracle. It’s about what happens when faith meets fear. Peter didn’t fail because he stepped out of the boat. He learned something no one else in that boat would ever forget: faith grows when we take a step toward Jesus, even when the storm is raging.

Spotlight: The Great Commission (Matthew 28)

After the resurrection, Jesus meets His disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Some of them worship, and some still doubt. But Jesus doesn’t scold them. Instead, He gives them a mission that would change history.

He says, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Then He promises, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This moment is called the Great Commission, and it marks the beginning of the global Church. Ordinary people, once afraid and uncertain, are sent out to share the good news of God’s love with the whole world.

The Great Commission is not just for the disciples who were there that day. It’s for everyone who follows Jesus. It’s a reminder that faith is meant to be shared through words, actions, and compassion.