1. Matthew

   
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1. MATTHEW

I. OUTLINE-BRIEF

1. The Messiah Introduced. 1:1-4:16.

2. Ministry in Galilee. 4:17-16:28.

3. The New Messiah. 17:1-20:34.

4. Jesus in Jerusalem. 21:1-25:46.

5. Death and Resurrection. 26:1-28:20.

II. OUTLINE-COMPLETE

1. Beginning of the Narrative. 1:1-7:29.

A. Genealogy of Jesus. 1:1-17.

B. Birth and Childhood. 1:18-2:23.

C. John the Baptist. 3:1-12.

D. Beginning of Jesus' Ministry. 3:13-4:25.

E. First Discourse. 5:1-7:27.

F. Summary. 7:28,29.

2. Resumption of Narrative. 8:1-9:34.

A. Descent from Mountain. 8:1-17.

B. Interlude. 8:18-22.

C. Miracles. 8:23-9:8.

D. Difference in Disciples. 9:9-17.

E. Other Miracles. 9:18-34.

3. Second Discourse. 9:35-11:1.

A. Introduction. 9:35-10:4.

B. The Discourse. 10:5-42.

C. Summary. 11:1.

4. Resumption of Narrative. 11:2-12:50.

A. Relation of John. 11:2-19.

B. Contrasts. 11:20-30.

C. Examples of Rejection. 12:1-50.

5. Third Discourse. 13:1-58.

A. Introduction. 13:1-3.

B. A Parable. 13:4-23.

C. Group of Parables. 13:24-43.

D. Another Group. 13:44-58.

6. Resumption of Narrative. 14:1-17:27.

A. Herod Antipas. 14:1-12.

B. Miracles. 14:13-36.

C. Rituals. 15:1-20.

D. The Gentiles. 15:21-39.

E. Pharisees and Sadducees. 16:1-12.

F. Second Self-revelation. 16:13-17:13.

G. The Epileptic Boy. 17:14-20.

H. Prediction of Suffering. 17:22,23.

I. The Temple Tax. 17:14-27.

7. Fourth Discourse. 18:1-19:2.

A. The "Little Ones." 18:1-14.

B. When They Sin. 18:15-35.

C. Summary. 19:1,2.

8. Jesus Goes to Jerusalem. 19:3-23:39.

A. Demand on Followers. 19:3-20:28.

B. Healing Two Blind Men. 20:29-34.

C. Events in Jerusalem. 21;1-23:39.

9. Fifth Discourse. 24:1-26:2.

A. Prophecy of the End. 24:1-8.

B. Being Prepared. 24:9-25:13.

C. Parable on Capabilities. 25:14-30.

D. Last Judgment. 25:31-46.

E. Prophecy of Arrest. 26:1,2.

10. Events Leading up to Death. 26:3-27:66.

A. Preliminary Events. 26:3-27:26.

B. The Crucifixion. 27:27-56.

C. Burial of Jesus. 27:57-66.

11. The Resurrection. 28:1-20.

A. Angel and the Women. 28:1-8.

B. Jesus and the Women. 28:9,10.

C. The Lying Guards. 28:11-15.

D. Appearances to the Eleven. 28:16-20.

III. AUTHORSHIP

1. Matthew was written by Isador, a disciple of Matthew.

2. Isador wrote in Greek, but he had an Aramaic record of the "sayings of Jesus" compiled by Matthew.

3. Isador wrote Matthew in A.D. 71 at Pella. He had Matthew's notes which had been revised in A.D. 40.

4. Isador also had four-fifths of Mark's record.

5. The last copy of Matthew's notes was destroyed in the burning of a Syrian monastery in A.D. 416.

(The above facts regarding authorship of Matthew are from the Urantia Book, (1341.2) 121:8.1.)

6. Scholars have doubted that Matthew wrote this Gospel because it does not seem that the author was an eyewitness. They believe it was written about A.D. 75 to 80.

7. It is the Jewish viewpoint of Christ's life and work.

IV. CHARACTER

1. In the early times, Matthew was the "best seller" among Christian documents.

2. For several centuries it was the most quoted of the four Gospels.

3. The Roman Catholics like Matthew because it exalts Peter. They have called it the "most important book in the world."

4. Constantly Jesus' work is presented as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy-"that it might be fulfilled," as spoken by the prophet.

5. Matthew is a complete and well organized version of Jesus' life and teaching.

6. Isador took the Sermon on the Mount-Jesus' ordination charge to the twelve-and made it into a "new law and gospel" for the Christian church.

7. Matthew presents the law of the church-deals with divorce and other church regulations.

8. This is the only Gospel that uses the term "church"-two times.

9. It provides for church government and lays down the rules for excommunication of disorderly members.

10. Isador was especially interested in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

11. Isador goes out of his way to prove that Jesus was truly the Messiah.

12. Isador was at great pains to safeguard the doctrine of Jesus' divinity.

13. Jesus is no longer just a carpenter-but the "son of a carpenter."

14. Isador pays special attention to the genealogy of Jesus-to prove that he was a descendant of David.

15. Isador equates the "church" with the "kingdom of heaven."

16. This Gospel pays little attention to chronology. Many talks of Jesus are brought together as one long sermon.

V. FRAMEWORK

1. Matthew is a literary reorganization of Mark's chronological narrative.

2. Isador frequently expands Mark's editorial comments.

3. Matthew is an artistic combination of the topical and the chronological arrangement.

4. Matthew reproduces 90 per cent of Mark's material.

5. Most of the 55 verses of Mark which Matthew omitted were left out for doctrinal reasons.

6. The Matthew gospel is a great literary improvement upon the rather rough style of Mark.

7. In Matthew Jesus pays special attention to the Jews and always is respectful of the "Law of Moses."

8. Some features of Matthew are original-not found in Mark or elsewhere in earlier records:

Story of Jesus' birth.

Peter walking on the water.

The temple tax.

Fate of Judas.

Dream of Pilate's wife.

Pilate's washing of his hands.

Earthquake at Jesus' death.

Sealing of the tomb.

Appearance to women, etc.

9. Isador puts all of Jesus' teachings into five master discourses.

10. The five great discourses might be captioned as follows:

A. Sermon on the Mount.

B. The Great Evangelistic Charge.

C. Parables of the Kingdom.

D. Humility and Forgiveness.

E. The End of the Age.

11. Matthew tends to group all his work into threes, fives, and sevens.

VI. SELECTED TEXTS

1. The virgin birth. "'Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Enmanuel.'" 1:23. (Isa. 7:14)

2. The star of Bethlehem. "The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was." 2:9.

3. John's preaching. "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching...'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" 3:1,2.

4. Jesus' baptism. "And when Jesus was baptized...he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove...and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'" 3:16.

5. Ministry of angels. "Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him." 4:11.

6. Fishers of men. "And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" 4:19.

7. The Beatitudes. "'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'" 5:3.

8. Light of the world. "'You are the light of the world.'" 5:14.

9. The perfection mandate. "'You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'" 5:48.

10. Secret charity. "'When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret.'" 6:3,4.

11. Verbose praying. "'And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words.'" 6:7.

12. The Lord's Prayer. 6:9-13.

13. Two masters. "'No one can serve two masters.'" 6:24.

14. Seek first the kingdom. "'Seek first his kingdom...and all these things shall be yours as well.'" 6:33.

15. Judge not. "'Judge not, that you be not judged.'" 7:1.

16. Pearls before swine. "'Do not throw your pearls before swine.'" 7:6.

17. Nowhere to lay his head "'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.'" 8:20.

18. Authority to forgive. "'But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins-he then said to the paralytic-'Rise, take up your bed and go home.'" 9:6

19. Calling sinners. "'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'" 9:13.

20. Wisdom of the serpent. "'Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.'" 10:16.

21. Becoming like a child. "'Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" 18:3.

22. Paying taxes. "'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'" 22:21.

23. Being consistent. "'You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel.'" 23:24.

24. The second advent. "'But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.'" 24:36.

25. Stewardship. "'But from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.'" 25:29.

26. To one of the least. "'"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."'" 25:40.

27. Passing of the cup. "He fell on his face and prayed, 'My father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.'" 26:39.

28. Twelve legions of angels. "'Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?'" 26:53.

29. Supreme sovereignty. "And Jesus...said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'" 28:18.

30. Always with us. "'And lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.'" 28:20.

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