THE LIVING WORD OF GOD THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE - Chennai presents:
(Affiliated to American Theological University)
LWGTC 501 : THE NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY
LESSON ONE : THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST : THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST.MATTHEW

I. OUTLINE:

1.Introduction to The Messiah (1:1-4:11)

1. The Jewish Lineage of Jesus (1:1-17)
2. His Birth and Flight to Egypt (1:18- 2:23)
3. Prophetic Forerunner to the Messiah( 3:1-12)
4. Baptism of the Messiah (3:13-17)
5. Temptation of the Messiah (4:1-11)

2. Jesus’ Messianic Ministry in and around Galilee(4:12-18:35)

1. Summary of His Early Galilean Ministry ( 4:12-25)
2. Discourse about Discipleship in the Kingdom (5:1-7:29)
3. Narrative-I: Mighty deeds of the Kingdom (8:1-9:38)
4. Discourse about the Proclamation of the Kingdom (10:1-42)
5. Narrative-II: The Presence of the Kingdom (11:1-12:50)
6. Discourse about the Mystery of the Kingdom (13:1-58)
7. Narrative-III: Crisis of the Kingdom (14:1-17:29)
8. Discourse about Membership in the Kingdom (18:1-35)

3. The Climax of Jesus’ Messianic Mission in Judea/ Perea and Jerusalem (19:1-26:46)

1. Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem (19:1-20:34)
2. Jesus last week at Jerusalem (21:1-26:46)
   1. The triumphal entry and the cleansing of the Temple (21;1-22)
   2. Controversies with the Jews (21:23- 22:46)
   3. Denunciations of the Scribes and the Pharisees (23:1-39)
   4. Olivet Discourse about the future of the Kingdom (24:1-25:46)
   5. The plot to betray Jesus (26:1-16)
   6. The Last Supper (26:17-30)
   7. Gethsemane (26:31-46)

4. Jesus Arrest, Trial and Crucifixion ( 26:47-27:66)

1. The Arrest (26:47-56)
2. The Trial (26:57-27:26)
3. The Burial (27:57-66)

5. The Resurrection (28:1-20)

1. The Women’s Glorious Discovery(28:1-10)
2. False witnesses(28:11-15)
3. The Risen Lord’s Commission (28:16-20)

II. AUTHOR:

• Matthew, the son of Alphaeus,Mk.2:14 + He occupied the post of Tax Collector in Capernaum for the Roman Government.
• Jesus Called him to Discipleship (9:9-13; Mk.2:14: Lk.5:27,28)
• He quickly obeyed the divine call of Jesus to Discipleship and Apostleship + Matthew gave a large reception for Jesus in his house so that his associates could meet Jesus + He was chosen as one of the twelve Apostles + His name is mentioned in Acts 1:13

III. THEME:

IV. DATE OF WRITING:

• It may have been written in Palestine or Syrian Antioch.

V. BACKGROUND:

This Gospel is approximately placed first as an introduction to the NT and to “The Christ, The Son of The Living God”(16:16). This Gospel was written by Matthew, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples. Matthew Gospel was written for Jewish believers. The Jewish background of this gospel is evident in many ways, including:

1. It relies on O.T. REVELATION, PROMISES AND PROPHECY TO PROVE THAT Jesus was the long awaited Messiah,
2. It traces Jesus lineage, starting from Abraham(1:1-17)
3. It repeatedly declares that Jesus is “The Son of David”(1:1;9:27;12:23;15:22;20:30-31;21:9,15; 22:41-45);
4. It uses preferred Jewish terminology such as “Kingdom of Heaven”( a synonym for “Kingdom of God”) because of the Jesus reverential reluctance to say the name of God directly; and 5. It refers to Jewish customs without any explanation.

However, this Gospel is not exclusively Jewish. Like the Message of Jesus Himself, Mathew’s Gospel was intended ultimately for the whole church, faithfully revealing the Universal scope of the Gospel(e.g.2:1-12; 8:11-12;13:38;21:43;28:18-20).

VI.PURPOSE:

1. To provide his readers with an eyewitness account to Jesus’ life,
2. To assure his readers that Jesus was God’s Son and the long awaited Messiah foretold by the OT Prophets, and 3.To show that God’s kingdom was manifested in and through Jesus in an unprecedented way.

Matthew is concerned 1. that his readers understand His kingdom, refusing to believe because He came as a spiritual rather than a political Messiah, and 2. That only at the end of the age will Jesus come in glory as the King of Kings to Judge and rule the nations.

VI.PURPOSE:

Matthew presents Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s Prophetic hope. Jesus fulfills OT Prophetic hope. Jesus fulfills OT Prophecy in His Birth(1:22-23), BIRTHPLACE(2:5-6), RETURN FROM Egypt(2:15) and residence in Nazareth(2:23); as the one for whom the Messianic forerunner was sent (3:1-3); in the primary location of His public ministry(4:14-16), His healing ministry(8:17), His role as God’s servant (12:17-21), His teaching in parables (13:34-35).His triumphal entry into Jerusalem(21:4-5) and His arrest(26:50).

Chapters 5-25 record Five major discourses about His might deeds as Messiah. The five major discourses are : 1.The sermon on the mount(chs.5-7);2.Instructions for itinerant proclaimers of the Kingdom (ch.10);3.Parables about the Kingdom (Ch.13); 4. The character of true disciples (Ch.18) and 5. The Olivet discourse about the ends of the age (chs.24-25).

The five major narratives in this Gospel are: 1. Jesus performs mighty deeds and miracles, which testify about the reality of the Kingdom(Chs.8-9);2.Jesus further demonstrates the presence of the Kingdom(chs.11-12); 3. Jesus proclamation of the Kingdom provokes various crisis (chs.14-17);4.Jesus journeys to Jerusalem and spends His last week there(19:1-26:46);5.Jesus is arrested, tried, crucified and raised from the dead(26:47-28:20). The last three verses of the Gospel record Jesus “ Great Commission”.

VIII. KEYS TO MATTHEW:

• Key word: Jesus the King
• Key verses: Matt.16:16-19 and 28:18-20
• Key Chapter: Matthew 12

IX. SPECIAL FEATURES:

Seven major features characterize this Gospel:

+1. It is the most Jewish of the NT Gospels.
+2.It contains the most systematic arrangement of Jesus’ teaching and ministry of healing and deliverance. This led the church in the second century to rely heavily on it for instructing New converts.
+3. The five major discourses contain the most extensive blocks of material in the Gospels on Jesus’ teaching9a) during His Galilean ministry and(b) on the subject of Eschatology ( the last things).
+4. This Gospel specifically identifies events in Jesus life as fulfilling the OT. More than any other NT book.
+5. It mentions the Kingdom of Heaven/Kingdom of God more than any other Gospel.
+6. Matthew emphases (a) the righteous standards of the Kingdom (Chs.5-7); 9b) the present power of the Kingdom over sin, sickness, demons and even death; and (c) the future triumph of the Kingdom in that final victory at the end of the age.
+7. It is the only Gospel to mention or predict the church as a future entity belonging to Jesus (16:18;18:17).

10. READING MATTHEW:

+1-4
+5-8
+9-12
+13-16
+17-20
+21-24
+25-28

Review Questions:

The second major cause of water waste is lack of 1. Write 5 sentences outline of Matthew Gospel. 2. Who is the Author of the First Gospel of N.T.? Write five lines about him. 3. What are the 5 ways in which, the Jewish background of the Matthew Gospel is evident? 4. What are the five purposes of Matthew Gospel?
5. What are the five major discourses in Matthew Gospel?
6. What are the five major narratives in this Gospel?
7. Write the following key verses from your memory:
+ Matthew 16:16-19 Great Confession
+ Matthew 28:18-20 Great Commission
8. Write down the Seven major features which characterize
Matthew Gospel.
9. Read Matthew Gospel, and write your major observations.
10. Write down the following important verses from your memory:
Matthew 4:19; 6:33; 7:7;11:28;26:41

Assignment No.I.

Write answers for the above Questions by your own handwriting and send it to me by regular mail through post, and I shall correct and send back to you after awarding Grade. You have to complete 21 lessons to complete your New Testament Survey Course.

There are 12 such courses to get your M.A. Degree in Biblical Studies!

Rev. C. Peter Chandran Ph.D.,
First Floor, Ravi Electronics, East Jones Road, Saidapet, Chennai- 600 015.Tamilnadu. India.

Cell: +91-9445113726
Email: peterchandran@hotmail.com
Website: www.thelivinggodministries.org