Matthew

MATTHEW Jesus as Messiah

Purpose:

To prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the eternal King.

Written:

by Matthew (Levi), one of the disciples and a tax collector, 60-65 BC.

Matthew:

Background/Themes

• He was one of the 12 disciples.

• He was a bold Kingdom Builder who knew how to protect money, collect money and charge for his services. He understood income wealth. He traded all of it to become an investor in the Kingdom.

• When he left his tax-collecting booth, he guaranteed himself unemployment.

• Because he was gifted with an attention for detail, he became the record keeper for God when he became a disciple of Jesus.

Curious Facts

Money changers

Merchants and money changers set up booths in the courts of the Gentiles in the temples, exchanging international currency for temple coins, the currency acceptable to the merchants. It greatly frustrated Jesus to see any practice that interfered with worshipping God but, I imagine, especially the trading of mammon on the sacred of the temple.

Gentile

A gentile is anyone who is not a Jew.

The Aramaic term for wealth is “mammon” Jesus condemns it as a rival to God.

Kingdom Builder Teachings

Attributes of Kingdom

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he describes the attributes of Great leaders:

-Kind not bitter

-Peace makers not angry and domineering

-Honoring of their commitments and promises

-Giving and generous

Two economies

There are two distinct kingdoms that co-exist on this earth, that are the engines behind to very different economies: The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world.

Each takes a very different view about the purpose of business, priorities, ambition, control, time and money.

Preparing

Fulfillment Matthew 1:1 & 17

Prophesy Matthew 1:22

Dreams Matthew 1:24

Prophesy Matthew 2:6

Alpha Matthew 3:1-2

Announcement of God’s Kingdom

Temptation Matthew 4:8-9

Follow Matthew 4:19

Traits Matthew 5:3

Pure heart Matthew 5:8

Salt and light Matthew 5:13

Oaths Matthew 5:33

Loving Matthew 5:43-44

Modest Matthew 6:3-4

Lord’s prayer Matthew 6:9-10

Temptation Matthew 6:13

Treasure Matthew 6:19

Money Matthew 6:21

Vision Matthew 6:22

Masters Matthew 6:24

Worry Matthew 6:25

Priorities Matthew 6:33

Non-judgmental Matthew 7:1

Promises Matthew 7:8

Law of Love Matthew 7:12

Foundations Matthew 7:24 & 26

Healings and Miracles

Temporary Matthew 8:20

Mercy Matthew 9:13

Generational Matthew 9:17

Workers Mathew 9:36-37

Prudence Matthew 10:16

Worry Matthew 10:30

Sword Matthew 10:34

Parables about the Kingdom

Burdens Matthew 11:28

Disunity Matthew 12:25

Tree Fruit Matthew 12:33

Stories Matthew 13

Multiplication Matthew 13:23

Focus Matthew 13:45-46

Old/New Matthew 13:52

Hometown Matthew 13:57

The Radical Worldview of a Kingdom Builder

Doubt Matthew 14:29-30

Purity Matthew 15:11

Foundation Matthew 16:18b

Sacrifice Matthew 16:24

Temptations Matthew 16:26

Faith Matthew 17:20b

Conflicts Matthew 18:15-16

Sell Possessions Matthew 19:21

First/Last Matthew 20:16

Greatness Matthew 20:25-26

The Battle of the Kingdom

Money Changers Matthew 21:12

Differentiation Matthew 22:29

One thing Matthew 22:37-38

Servant leadership Matthew 23:11

All nations Matthew 24:14

Planning Matthew 25:2-4

Fulfillment

Matthew 1:1 & 17

A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham... There were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

Prophesy Matthew 1:22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet.

God sent his Son as Savior of all people—Jews, Gentiles, men and women. Ordinary people make up Jesus’ ancestry-some great and some rotten but most ordinary. God uses all kinds of people to accomplish His will.

The story of Jesus, the new King, was foretold 700 years earlier.

Dreams

Matthew 1:24

Prophesy

Matthew 2:6

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

God uses dreams.

“‘And

you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Looking back over our life, we can see how beautifully and perfectly God has led.

Alpha

Matthew 3:1-2

John the Baptist began preaching “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

The kingdom of heaven began when God himself entered human history as a man named Jesus.

Sacred vs. Secular MC Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Temptation Matthew 4:8-9

Follow Matthew 4:19

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me.”

It is our natural way to worry about the sufficiency of our provisions. But earthly provisions are temporal, God’s words are eternal. Our secular needs are in constant tension with the sacred promises of faith.

Jesus said, “Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

On a very high mountain, Satan showed him the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. Satan tried to focus Jesus on worldly power not God’s plan.

What must you forsake to follow Christ? We must examine our current priorities and choices and ask: what must I put down to pick up this Call from God.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Traits

Matthew 5:3

Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Each beatitude tells how to be blessed. “Blessed” means to experience hope and joy. Each is a contradiction of society’s typical way of life.

Pure heart

Peacemaker MC

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Salt and light

Matthew 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Beauty and kindness attract in any relation. Sin and evil separate. When we do the things that God desires, we experience purity and revelations from God.

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Blessed are the leaders who serve as peacemakers. People prosper in a peaceful work environment.

If seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. Faith is not neutral. If we become too much like the world, we lose our value to the God’s intent.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Oaths Matthew 5:33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’

The Bible is clear not to make vows or taking oaths casually. (Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:1, Deuteronomy 19:16-20, James 5:12)

Loving Matthew 5:43-44

Modest Matthew 6:3-4

You have heard that it was said, ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.

The measure of love is to love without measure – Saint Augustine

Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-10

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Giving is not an act of achievement but an act of worship that is a privilege. Be sure you are giving for the right reasons.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus teaches us how to pray in what we call The Lord’s prayer. The phrase “Your kingdom come” is a reference to God’s spiritual reign.

Key

Word Scripture Verse Insight

Temptation Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Treasure Matthew 6:19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.

We are to pray against the principalities of this world, as taught in the Lord’s prayer.

Money

Vision Matthew 6:21 Matthew 6:22

Wherever your treasure is, your heart will be there also.

When we put our faith in the things of this world, we are investing hopes and eternal dreams into the finite not, not the infinite.

The eye is the lamp of the body.

If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

We just cannot serve two Gods. Either we serve the God of the Kingdom or the god of the land.

Spiritual vision is our capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from His point of view.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Masters Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Two servants cause double minded thinking not focus and devotion.

Worry Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Priorities MC Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Imagine a life without worry. Trust of provisions from God is at the heart of the secret to a worry-free life.

When we remain attentive to God’s presence we will be led deeper into the Kingdom where our worries weaken and all things are made new.

Nonjudgmental Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Why is it so difficult to MYOB (Mind, Your, Own, Business)? God’s role is to judge, ours is to love.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Promises Matthew 7:8

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

We must take intentional steps in our faith maturation process. When we do, doors open.

Law of Love Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophet.

Treat others as you want to be treated, regardless of your position, power or privilege.

Foundations Matthew 7:24 & 26

Temporary Matthew 8:20

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

Jesus illustrated in Matthew 7: 24-27... wise man builds his house on the rock.

Jesus’ real home was heaven, and he never lost sight of it.

Key

Word Scripture Verse Insight

Mercy Matthew 9:13

Generational Matthew 9:17

But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

God is after our heart not our material possessions. We don’t win His favor through our acts of goodness, but through our humility and need for Him.

Neither to men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.

Workers Mathew 9:36-37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

God’s word enlivens our spirit, it connects our mind to our soul. It is mysterious but it is reality.

Prudence Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

The process of sharing the teachings of the Bible is not a passive one, but active. People need and want to understand the purpose God has for them, but they must be taught by those who know Him.

Opposition to the views of Jesus provokes some non-believers to become hostile toward his disciplines. Jesus is telling his disciples to be sensible and prudent and not gullible or naïve.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Worry Matthew 10:30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Faithful leaders don’t need to worry. Instead, we are to lay our worries at the feet of our sovereign Lord. He allows our troubles because they make us depend upon His strength and not ours.

Sword Matthew 10:34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

The ‘sword’ is God’s word. Conflict and disagreement will arise between those who follow God and those who don’t.

Burdens MC Matthew 11:28 Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

No more worries. The attitude is everything and God teaches us to get out of the way and watch him work.

Disunity Matthew 12:25 Every kingdom divided against itself will be destroyed. And any city or family that is divided against itself will not continue. When disunity is allowed to fester between people in any organization, destruction will follow. Disunity is used to create confusion and distraction from the Great Deceiver.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Tree Fruit Matthew 12:33

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

Our words reveal what is in our hearts. As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life.

Multiplication Matthew 13:23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Most people today would recognize themselves in the first of the three soils, where seeds don’t grow.

Focus Matthew 13:45-46 The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Old/New Matthew 13:52 “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

To focus means to sacrifice. Success always demands some sacrifice, so does failure.

God’s truth is timeless. The old and new, the past and the present, inform our present day story as Kingdom Builders.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Hometown Matthew 13:57 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and in his family.”

Relationships and familiarity can bring depth and meaning to life. But, they also bring boundaries and barriers of understanding.

Doubt Matthew 14:29-30 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Peter started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus. When are you most tempted to take your eyes off the Lord and sink in doubt?

Purity

Matthew 15:11 It is not what people put in their mouths that makes them unclean. It is what comes out of their mouths that makes them unclean.

Foundation Matthew 16:18b … upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

It is what we say and think that shapes our inner purity not the food we eat or the religious rituals we follow.

It is faith like Peter’s that is the foundation of Christ’s kingdom.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Sacrifice Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Temptations Matthew 16:26

Faith Matthew 17:20b

What does it profit a man if he owns whole world but loses his soul?

Following Jesus means sacrifice, giving up comforts and even suffering pain and rejection. In return we discover eternal purpose and meaning.

Conflicts Matthew 18:15-16

…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.

To make our work “our god” this is the most subtle and powerful of all temptations. If we seek to be successful at any price, we have made success “our god.”

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

The mustard seed is the tiniest particle imaginable. Yet, even with that small of a faith, can God work.

Conflicts are a part of life. Restoration of relationships is expected between believers.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Sell Possessions

Matthew 19:21

First/Last

Greatness

Money Changers

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

We should be willing to give up anything if God asks us to do so. Our attachment to material possessions blinds us to our spiritual priorities.

Matthew 20:16 So those who have the last place now will have the first place in the future, and those who have the first place now will have the last place in the future. Entry into the kingdom of God is through God’s generosity not our performance or achievements.

Matthew 20:25-26 “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.

Matthew 21:12

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.

True greatness is outward focused and others driven. Not dominance but dominion. While God has created us to be great, our greatness must be a reflection of His own. Your greatness is measured by your impact on others.

It greatly frustrated Jesus to see any practice that interfered with worshipping God but, I imagine, especially the trading of mammon on the sacred of the temple.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Differentiation Matthew 22:29 Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.

Digging into the Word of God is easily the number one factor that differentiates men who have tapped into God’s power.

One Thing Matthew 22:37-38 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The religious leaders questioned Jesus about the Great Commandment: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment?”

Servant Leadership MC Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

Jesus teaching on the Mount of Olives. Jesus talks with the disciples about the future.

All Nations Matthew 24:14 And the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Jesus teaching on the Mount of Olives. Jesus talks with the disciples about the future.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Planning Matthew 25:2-4

Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

We must not live only in the moment for our own pleasures. Kingdom leaders anticipate a time when they will be accountable for the life God has entrusted them to live.

Law of Planning

Matthew 25:13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Story of 10 young handmaidens waiting for the groom’s arrival.

Possessions

Final days

Matthew 25:14 It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

Kingdom Builders believe they are stewards of God’s possessions; one day we will be accountable for the decisions we have made with the business under our authority.

Matthew 25:21 His master replied, ‘ Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Final conversations in this side of eternity often yield beautiful insights on what a life well lived looks like.

Key Word Scripture Verse Insight

Mercy Matthew 25:40 The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

Last supper Matthew 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

As believers we are to care for the needs of others. This is personal responsibility we all can do: give freely and abundantly.

Weak Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Three names for this sacrament: Lord’s upper (Passover), Eucharist (Thanksgiving), Communion (believers commune).

Temptation strikes where we are most vulnerable. Satan prowls about to find points of weakness. Soon Peter denies knowing Jesus, 3 times.

Self-loathing Matthew 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

Judas was overwhelmed with his sin and remorse, consequently, killing himself.

Key

Word Scripture Verse Insight

Matthew 27:46

Pain About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

These final words represented the pain of separation Jesus felt as he took on all the sin of humanity, and the consequent separation from his God-Father.

Joy spread Matthew 28:8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. The angel gave them three messages:

1. Jesus is not in the tomb.

2. Don’t be afraid.

3. Go tell the disciplines.

Commission Matthew 28:19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

This is the Great Commission given by Jesus.

Memory Cards

Memory Card

Memory Card

Memory Card