Matthew Themes

Themes By Chapter

Book Summary

Matthew quotes freely from the Old Testament because he wants to show to the Jewish people that Jesus is there long awaited messiah, that the types and shadows in the old testament are fulfilled in the person of Christ. Mathew begins by documenting the definite time period in which Jesus was born – “in the days of Herod” – for Christianity is a historic religion. Mathew traces Jesus’ royal decent from King David, he reports kings coming to him, emphasizing to the Jewish readers that He was indeed the king of the Jews.

The kingdom principles are recorded from Jesus’ sermon on the mount. The sermon is telling us that the law is the matter of the heart, that these laws can only be fulfilled though Christ living in us being transformed from within by the power of the Holy Spirit. The word “kingdom” shows up about 50 times in the gospel, this is definitely Mathew emphasis, to reveal the king and His kingdom.

In Mathew 24 and 25 Jesus exhorts us on His second coming, the coming of the kingdom. Matthew tells us of warnings, bracings but most of all hope in watching constantly for His return – the return of the king.

Mathew reports of the king coming into Jerusalem with cheering crowds only to be crucified for all a week later. Jesus finally gives the kingdom commission at the end of the gospel to go and spread the kingdom light of life to all areas of the world.

Structure: 

1. Coming of the King (1-2)

2. The Kingdom Proclaimed (3-16)

3. The King Rejected (16-20)

4. The King Triumphant (21-28)

Key Verse:

Matthew 2:2 - “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Christ Portrayed as: King of the Jews, the Promised Messiah

Author: Matthew