Matthew

Jesus is the fulfillment of the scripture!

The Original Reader:                                                      

They are Jews living in Israel, most of them already believing in Jesus, and confessed Him as the Son of God (14.33, 16.16, 27.54). He writes as and assumes they know their scriptures – and he is quoting it 53 times. He also writes the genealogy from Abraham – this would probably be of big meaning for the Jews.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The Author:

Jesus disciple Matthew has historically been identified as the author. He was called to follow Jesus by Jesus himself in ch.9.9-13. Before that he was a tax collector in Capernaum for the Roman Government. In his Gospel we can se many details as from a man used to taking notes and following on details going on around him. Some dates it to been put together in around year 50 AD. He was the first to be quoted by the church father in 110 AD (NB p.300). Scholars think it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem.

Our teacher this week also said that he is the same person as Levi, mentioned in Luke 5.27.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Main Themes and repeated ideas:

He is quoting the Scripture and the prophecies, as to really show to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah they are waiting for. He is showing that Jesus is the fulfilling of the scripture. 53 times he is quoting the scripture. 42% of his material is unique (lectures in class)

Righteousness – the citizens in the Kingdom of God are called to be righteous  - do right or good deeds. (Is it translated to in SVB). So the ethical issues are important. 3.15, ch.6

In ch 23.23 Jesus is saying: “But you ignore the more important of the law – justice, mercy and faith. Just the same as has been emphasized in OT

One sentence summary:

This fulfilled what God said through the prophet 4,14.

(2.15,2.23,2.17,8.17,12.17,13.35,26.54,27.9)

The primary reason this book was written:

To emphasize that Jesus is the true Messiah and the object of Old testament prophecy and expectation. (NB 282) It is like a bridge fro OT to NT. Matthew is like a teacher – giving topical sermons, and it’s said to be written in to be easy to memorize. (Lecture in class)

Theme Tracing:

What does the book show about the character and nature of God?

I love the women mentioned in this Jesus genealogy

Tamar – young woman first married to a wicked man, that God took his life, then to his brother but he didn’t want to have a child for his brother so he spilt the semen. so God took his life to , then sent back to here fathers home – but then she trapped her father-in –law to have sex with here – and thus  got pregnant with twins on of them Perez who is in Jesus genealogy. (Gen 38)

Rahab –a prostitute, lived in occupied land, war, from Jericho and harbored Israel’s spies (Josh 2.3-1)

Ruth – refugee, stranger, widower, non-Jew, poor  (Ruth 4.13, 17)

Bathsheba – adultery, widower after her husband was killed, one of several of David’s wives, Salomon’s mother (2.Sam.11.3)

Mary – young unweed mother, refugee, and her son died early (even divine God, he also washer son)

They all have such an “ unholy” story, as we often tend to see – but God decided to have them grafted into Jesus genealogy. This is so encouraging  - I just love how God again and again shows he ways so far above our human strengths, possessions, doings or inheritance. Such a great word to share with the world.

Since we worked quite much with this in class – I will focus on the characters and nature in the parables special for Matthew:

The weed among the Wheat, 13.24-30 – The kingdom of God is like a good seed growing among weeds, but will eventually be identified at harvest time

Hidden treasure:

Pearl of great treasure, 13:45-46 – Kingdom of heaven is like somebody offers everything when something great is found.

The net, 13:47-50 Kingdom of God is like the seed that needs to find good soil.

The lost sheep, 18:10-14 – our heavenly father do not want any of his perish – he will keep looking for the ones who are lost.

The unforgiving Servant 18:23-35 – The kingdom of heaven is like an unforgiving servant whom not forgives someone in depth to them – even though they are forgiven much.

Labors in the vineyard 20:1-12 – the kingdom of God is opposite elsewhere – the last will be the first and visa versa.

The ten virgins, 25:1-13 – be aware – we don’t know when or how God will gather us finally – be prepared in the Holy Spirit.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

What does this book show about God´s redemptive plan for mankind?                                                                                               

Jesus is the fulfillment of the foreshadowing from OT. Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, 24.

In the closing verses Matthew reveals the plan for the expansion of the Kingdom of God by Jesus own words. “ Go out into all the world – make disciples, baptize, teach them to obey all commands I have given you – and remember I am with you always, even to the end of age. “28.16-20                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Application questions:                                                                                                                                                                                

Personal application:                                                                                                                                                                                  

I had so much been looking forward to the NT  - and it was so amazing for me to see on the chart that Debbie gave us – how again God in the gospel – shows his plan, first the Jews, then the near stranger, then all the nations – and then in John he again proclaim his divinity. ! Love it! All trough the book – close, closer and all! The same with Jesus – close to Him – Peter, James and John – then the twelve, then the 72, then the whole world of believers. And I was touched to tears when the genealogies in the 4 gospels again showed this picture. In Matthew The King of the Jews – back to Abraham the Jews forefather. In Mark right on Jesus the servant – the sacrifices in our place. In Luke, back to Adam, and Jesus the son of man – salvations to all nations, and In John, Jesus as the Son of God and his genealogy shown all the way back to God. It gave and gives me Goosebumps, and makes med aweful  -God is so in control.

Point of passion:

Sharing the new or confirmed revelations in this season with the Parents of teenagers/ Youth Workers in church.

I decided to change my POP for the assignments of New Testament  - because my other POP is such a political issue – hard to write about without really taking much effort in studying it more. It is still in my heart and I am praying about it, and God must show me how to get more involved if that’s his will.

These last week I will focus on my work as a coordinate of the Parents support group of all the teenagers in our home church – how I can draw from my new or confirmed revelation through this season in DBS.

From Matthew                                                                                                                                                                                                      

To show them how the God who created the word form the beginning – and through all the Bible – He want to provide, to bless, to teach, to serve – all is fulfilled as said in the scripture. The word is all that psalm 119 says – I long to see a hunger for God’s Word both in the parents, the youth workers and the teenagers themselves.  The word Scripture is mentioned 142 times in NT! It was so important for Matthew to show the Jews the fulfillment that Jesus was.

And the awareness it brings in us to pray these lines in the Lord’s Prayer:

6.13 “ And let them not yield into temptation but rescue us from the evil one”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Sources: Source View Bible (SVB), Nelsons Book (NB), notes from lecture’s in class by Debbie