Starting in January 2021 we will be studying the Gospel according to Matthew. Each week, we study and apply the Scripture verse by verse, in the context of the whole.
Matthew is a special book. It acts as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. It was clearly written primarily to people with a Jewish background and announces to them the arrival of their Messiah and King. It contains more quotations, references and allusions to the Old Testament than any of the other three Gospels. Around 60% of the verses in the book contain the words of Jesus Christ. This is a book to study in detail, for no other reason than that!
The writer, chosen by the Holy Spirit, was a collaborator with the Romans, despised by the Jewish people – a tax collector. Nevertheless, when Matthew heard Christ’s words “Follow me” he did that, without question, bringing along with him his writing skills.
While the focus of this book is on the Jewish Messiah and King, Matthew wastes little time noting the lukewarm and even hostile reception he received. In Chapter 2 he recounts how foreign gentiles, the Magi, journeyed to pay homage to the new king. Those in his court who found the prophecy that the king would be born in Bethlehem (just a few kilometers south of Jerusalem), could not bother to take a short walk to look for themselves. Herod, the King, then tried to kill him. This event is a portent to the reaction of most of the Jewish leaders at that time.
The book ends with Jesus giving his disciples the “great commission” to “go and make disciples of all nations“.
Date |
Topic |
References |
| 03-Jan-21 | Introduction & the King’s Welcome | Matt. 1:1-2:12 |
| 10-Jan-21 | The King’s Rival | Matt. 1:13-23 |
| 17-Jan-21 | The King’s Herald | Matt. 3:1-17 |
| 24-Jan-21 | The King’s Test | Matt. 4:1-11 |
| 31-Jan-21 | The King’s Call | Matt. 4:12-25 |
| 07-Feb-21 | The King’s Blessing | Matt. 5:1-16 |
| 14-Feb-21 | Clarifying Anger and Lust | Matt. 5:17-30 |
| 21-Feb-21 | Clarifying Divorce and Vows | Matt. 5:31-37, 19:1-12 |
| 28-Feb-21 | Clarifying Love and Retaliation | Matt. 5:38-48 |
| 07-Mar-21 | The Primacy of Humility in Spiritual Disciplines | Matt, 6:1-17 |
| 14-Mar-21 | The King’s Prayer | Matt. 6:5-15 |
| 21-Mar-21 | Kingdom Riches | Matt. 6:19-24 |
| 28-Mar-21 | The King’s Provisions | Matt. 6:25-34 |
| 04-Apr-21 | Principles of Discernment | Matt. 7:1-23 |
| 11-Apr-21 | Foundational Living | Matt. 7:24-27 |
| 18-Apr-21 | Over Illness and Creation | Matt. 8:1-27, 9:27-31 |
| 25-Apr-21 | Over Spiritual Realms | Matt. 8:28-34, 9:32-34 |
| 02-May-21 | Over Forgive Sins | Matt. 9:1-17 |
| 09-May-21 | Over Death | Matt. 9:18-26 |
| 16-May-21 | The King’s Commission | Matt. 9:35-10:15 |
| 23-May-21 | The Cost of Mission | Matt. 10:16-42 |
| 30-May-21 | The Example of Mission Accomplished | Matt. 11:1-19 |
| 06-Jun-21 | The King’s Woes | Matt. 11:20-30 |
| 13-Jun-21 | The King of the Sabbath | Matt. 12:1-14 |
| 20-Jun-21 | The King’s Warnings | Matt. 12:15-50 |
| 27-Jun-21 | Kingdom Sowers | Matt. 13:1-23 |
| 04-Jul-21 | Kingdom Reapers | Matt. 13:24-43 |
| 11-Jul-21 | Kingdom Treasure | Matt. 13:44-58 |
| 18-Jul-21 | The King’s Grief and Compassion | Matt. 14:1-21 |
| 25-Jul-21 | The King of Storms | Matt. 14:22-36 |
| 01-Aug-21 | The King’s Rebuke of the Heart | Matt. 15:1-20 |
| 08-Aug-21 | The King’s Grace | Matt. 15:21-34 |
| 15-Aug-21 | Religious Hypocrisy condemned | Matt. 16:1-12 |
| 22-Aug-21 | The King’s Identity | Matt. 16:13-20, 22:41-46 |
| 29-Aug-21 | The King’s Purpose | Matt. 16:21-28, 17:22-23 |
| 05-Sep-21 | The King’s Glory | Matt. 17:1-23 |
| 12-Sep-21 | Kingdom Greatness | Matt. 18:1-13, 19:13-15, 20:20-28 |
| 19-Sep-21 | Kingdom Forgiveness | Matt. 18:14-35 |
| 26-Sep-21 | Kingdom Service | Matt. 19:16-30 |
| 03-Oct-21 | Kingdom Reward | Matt. 20:1-16 |
| 10-Oct-21 | The King’s Coronation | Matt. 21:1-11 |
| 17-Oct-21 | The King’s Authority | Matt. 21:12-27 |
| 24-Oct-21 | The King’s Rejection | Matt. 21:28-45 |
| 31-Oct-21 | The King’s Invitation | Matt. 22:1-14 |
| 07-Nov-21 | The King and Taxes | Matt. 22:15-22, 17:24-27 |
| 14-Nov-21 | The King of the Living | Matt. 22:23-33 |
| 21-Nov-21 | The King’s Principle Command | Matt. 22:34-40 |
| 28-Nov-21 | The King’s Lament | Matt. 23:1-39 |