Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew
Big Idea
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised Messiah and rightful King who fulfills God’s promises, saves His people from their sins, and invites all nations into His kingdom.
Introduction: Why Matthew Matters
If the New Testament had a front door, Matthew would be it.
It stands at the crossroads of the Bible.
Looking backward to the promises of the Old Testament.
And looking forward to the fulfillment of those promises in Jesus Christ.
Matthew is more than a biography of Jesus.
It is an announcement.
A declaration.
A royal proclamation that the long-awaited King has arrived.
For centuries, God’s people waited.
Prophets spoke of Him.
Kings pointed toward Him.
Promises anticipated Him.
Then Matthew opens his Gospel with a simple but powerful claim:
The Messiah has come.
The King is here.
And His name is Jesus.
To understand Matthew is to better understand the entire Bible.
Because Matthew shows us how God’s story finds its fulfillment in Christ.
The Bridge Between the Testaments
When the Old Testament ends, God’s people are still waiting.
The promised King has not come.
The kingdom has not been restored.
The Messiah has not appeared.
Then Matthew begins.
Immediately connecting Jesus to Abraham.
To David.
To the prophets.
To God’s covenants.
Again and again, Matthew shows how Jesus fulfills what God promised long ago.
More than any other Gospel writer, Matthew points readers back to the Old Testament.
His repeated message is simple:
God keeps His promises.
The story that began in Genesis reaches its fulfillment in Jesus.
The Bible Is One Unified Story
The Old Testament points forward.
The New Testament reveals the fulfillment.
And Jesus stands at the center of it all.
Why Four Gospels?
Some people wonder why God gave us four Gospel accounts instead of one.
The answer is similar to viewing a mountain from four different directions.
Each perspective helps us see the whole picture more clearly.
Matthew emphasizes Jesus as King.
Mark highlights Jesus as Servant.
Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man.
John reveals Jesus as the Son of God.
Together they provide a rich and complete portrait of Christ.
Each writer focuses on different details.
Yet all tell the same story.
Jesus is the Savior of the world.
Four Voices, One Savior
The Gospels do not compete with one another.
They complement one another.
Together they help us see Jesus more fully.
Matthew’s Purpose: Presenting the King
Matthew wrote primarily for a Jewish audience.
Many Jewish people struggled with Jesus’ identity.
If Jesus was the Messiah, why was He rejected?
Why was He crucified?
What happened to God’s promised kingdom?
Matthew answers these questions by building a careful case.
He shows Jesus’ royal lineage.
His fulfillment of prophecy.
His miracles.
His teaching.
His authority.
His death.
And His resurrection.
Everything points to one conclusion:
Jesus is the promised Messiah-King.
Not the kind of king many expected.
But exactly the King God promised.
Jesus Is the King We Need
People often expected political rescue.
Jesus came to bring spiritual salvation.
And one day He will return to fully establish His kingdom.
Matthew: From Tax Collector to Disciple
The author of this Gospel had his own remarkable story.
Matthew, also called Levi, worked as a tax collector.
To many Jews, tax collectors were viewed as traitors.
They worked for Rome.
Collected money from their own people.
And were often associated with dishonesty.
Yet Jesus saw something others missed.
He called Matthew to follow Him.
And Matthew left everything behind.
His life was transformed by grace.
The former tax collector became a disciple.
And eventually became the author of the first Gospel.
His background uniquely prepared him for the task.
As a tax collector, Matthew would have been skilled at keeping records and paying attention to details.
Now those abilities were used for God’s kingdom.
God’s Grace Changes Stories
Matthew’s life reminds us that no one is beyond Christ’s reach.
The Savior who called a tax collector still transforms lives today.
The Kingdom of Heaven
One theme appears again and again throughout Matthew’s Gospel.
The kingdom.
Matthew uses the phrase “kingdom of heaven” more than any other biblical writer.
Why?
Because Matthew wants readers to understand that Jesus is a King.
But His kingdom is unlike earthly kingdoms.
Earthly kingdoms rise and fall.
Governments change.
Empires collapse.
God’s kingdom endures forever.
Jesus came announcing that God’s kingdom had arrived.
Not in its final form.
But in its beginning.
Wherever Jesus reigns, the kingdom advances.
And one day, when Christ returns, His kingdom will be fully established.
The King Has Come
The central question throughout Matthew is simple:
Will people submit to His rule?
The Promises Fulfilled in Christ
Matthew begins his Gospel with two names:
David.
Abraham.
Those names point to two major promises God made.
The Abrahamic Covenant promised blessing for all nations.
The Davidic Covenant promised an eternal King.
Jesus fulfills both.
He is the Son of Abraham who brings salvation to the world.
And He is the Son of David who reigns forever.
This is why Matthew’s genealogy matters.
Before Jesus performs a miracle.
Before He preaches a sermon.
Before He calls disciples.
Matthew establishes His identity.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises.
God’s Plan Has Always Pointed to Christ
From Genesis onward, the Bible moves toward Jesus.
He is not an afterthought.
He is the center of God’s redemptive plan.
The Structure of Matthew
Matthew carefully organizes his Gospel around five major teaching sections.
Many scholars see an intentional connection to the five books of Moses.
These teachings reveal what life looks like under the King’s rule.
The Five Major Discourses
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7)
Life in God’s kingdom.
The Mission Discourse (Matthew 10)
Instructions for kingdom messengers.
The Parables of the Kingdom (Matthew 13)
The mysteries of God’s kingdom.
The Community Discourse (Matthew 18)
Relationships among kingdom citizens.
The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24–25)
The future return of the King.
Throughout the Gospel, Matthew alternates between Jesus’ actions and Jesus’ teachings.
The result is a powerful portrait of the Messiah.
Matthew Wants Us to Know Both What Jesus Did and What Jesus Taught
The King not only performs mighty works.
He also teaches us how to live.
Matthew and the Gospel
Matthew’s Gospel begins with a King.
And it ends with a King.
It opens by declaring Jesus’ royal identity.
It closes with His resurrection and authority over heaven and earth.
Along the way, Matthew shows us who Jesus is and why He came.
The King came to save sinners.
The Messiah came to establish God’s kingdom.
The Son of David came to fulfill God’s promises.
The Son of Abraham came to bless the nations.
The cross and resurrection stand at the center of Matthew’s message.
The King who was rejected became the Savior who redeems.
And the risen King now sends His followers into the world with His authority and presence.
Theological Themes
Jesus as the Messiah
Matthew consistently presents Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and expectation.
The Kingdom of God
Jesus announces, demonstrates, and will ultimately establish God’s kingdom.
Fulfillment of Scripture
God faithfully accomplishes every promise through Christ.
Discipleship
Followers of Jesus are called to live under His authority and participate in His mission.
The Kingship of Christ
Jesus is the rightful King who reigns now and will reign forever.
Truths and Lessons for Today
1. God Always Keeps His Promises
Matthew demonstrates that centuries of prophecy find fulfillment in Jesus.
🡲 Application: Trust God’s promises even when fulfillment seems delayed.
📖 “The Lord always keeps his promises.” (Psalm 145:13)
2. Jesus Is the King We Need
Christ came not merely to improve circumstances but to save sinners.
🡲 Application: Submit every area of your life to the authority of King Jesus.
📖 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)
3. God’s Kingdom Includes All Nations
The blessings promised to Abraham extend far beyond Israel.
🡲 Application: Celebrate God’s heart for all people and participate in His mission.
📖 “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
4. Following Jesus Changes Everything
Matthew left his old life behind when Jesus called him.
🡲 Application: Ask yourself what Christ may be calling you to surrender in order to follow Him more fully.
📖 “Come, follow me.” (Matthew 9:9)
Conclusion
Matthew’s Gospel is an invitation.
An invitation to meet the King.
To trust the Messiah.
To enter the kingdom.
And to follow Jesus.
The promises of the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Him.
The hope of the future rests in Him.
And the mission of God’s people centers on Him.
As we journey through Matthew’s Gospel, we will encounter miracles, parables, confrontations, suffering, death, and resurrection.
But through every chapter, Matthew wants us to see one central truth:
Jesus is the promised King.
And He is worthy of our faith, worship, obedience, and devotion.
Memorable Summary Statement
“Matthew opens the New Testament with a royal announcement: the promised King has come, God’s promises have been fulfilled, and His kingdom is advancing through Jesus Christ.”
← Previous: The Bible Project’s Animated Overview of Matthew
→ Next: Matthew 1:1-25 Foundations Commentary – The Promised King
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