Book of Matthew

QUESTION: What is an overview of the book of Matthew?

ANSWER:

An overview of the book of Matthew stresses the Lord's amazing repudiation of social and religious restrictions that the orthodox demanded for all Israelites. It included recruiting Matthew (Levi) himself as a disciple despite his despicable occupation if tax collector (Matthew 9:9-12). It included a lowly Canaanite woman, whose persevering appeal moved Jesus to help while it moved his disciples to seek her banishment (Matthew 15:21-28). And it included Gentile soldiers as the first witnesses of Jesus' resurrection (Matthew 28:1-4, 11-15). God silenced objections to Christ's resurrection before they could be expressed by making unbelievers the first to view it!

An overview of Matthew sees the Master's use of 23 parables as a major teaching method, including those in chapter 13. It also sees major discourses as a teaching method, such as seen in chapters 5-7, 13, 23, 24-25.

An overview of the book of Matthew sees Christ's conquest of Satan: being saved as an infant from Satan's wrath (Matthew 2:13-15); in personal confrontation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) despite the physical weakness to which Jesus had been reduced; in conquering the diseases, illnesses, and death Satan inflicted on humanity (Matthew 4:23-25, 9:18-26). He particularly connected His exorcisms as proof of His conquest of Satan, not of His league with Satan (Matthew 8:28-34, 12:22-37).

Lastly, an overview of the book of Matthew sees the great eschatological discourses in 24-25; the definitive role of Jewish leaders in pursuing Christ's death when Pilate wanted to release Him (Matthew 27:11-26, 41-44); and the logical outcome of the Master's bodily resurrection being His complete control of history for the purpose of evangelizing the world in His name (Matthew 28:18-20).