The Book of Mathew Introduction
Chapter 1 Mat 1:19 Joseph shows that he is both moral and merciful Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Mat 3:8 Turn from sin, repent, and then produce fruit...this is how we will know them...right? Chapter 4 In Mat 4 we see Jesus calling his first disciples. What kind of invitation would it take to get you to quit your job and simply follow someone? We might assume that the life of being a fisherman was a bit difficult, and maybe there was a bit of rebellious spirit in the disciples that Jesus recognized, but it took great courage, or great inspiration, to convince people to just change their lives. I wonder about some of the more “in your face” techniques of leading others to Christ. Jesus does his fair share of confrontation but his followers saw something in him that was amazing and worth giving everything up for it. If we could lead our lives with such an example, showing how great it is to live in the light of God, would we really have to convince anyone...or would they be knocking at the door asking for their membership? Mat 4:4 Mat 4:7 Mat 4:10 While tempted in the desert by the Devil, each of Jesus’ answers began with “it is written”. This is significant if we are to lead our lives in an imitation of Jesus. We are to turn to the word when we are tempted. That is what Jesus does EVERY time he is tempted: Temptation of Materialism? (JCAC) Temptation of Pragmatism? (JCAC) Temptation of Sensationalism? (JCAC) Chapter 5 Mat Chapter 5--The Beatitudes “Salt of the Earth”---enhancing the flavor of all things (Mat 5:13) “Light of the World”---Mat 5:14 Angry with your brother? You will be judged (Mat 5:22) “anyone who has looked at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mat 5:28) Simply let your yes be yes and your “no” “no” (Mat 5:37) “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also>” Mat 5:39 “...love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” (Mat 5:44) “...if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Mat 5:40-42) Chapter 6 “Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Mat 6:1) “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen my men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. They your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “ (Mat 6:5-8) Mat 6:9-13 Fasting (Mat 6:16) “When you fast do not look somber like the hypocrites do” (Mat 6:16) I take this to mean that we should apply this to all our efforts that engage in when we are working for Jesus. “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do , you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Mat 6:1) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...” (Mat 6:19) “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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes....Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mat 6:25, 27, 34) Chapter 7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Mat 7: 1-2) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened” (Mat 7:7) “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Mat 7:12) 15-27 This scripture warns us about false prophets and building our spiritual house on stone, rather than sand. There are so many messages out there about what is right and what is not right. I see in so many the need for a guide in their lives, but they are like me...fearful of what the Bible will say. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." As I look to changes in my own life that I am making based on what I am learning in God's word...I don't like all of them. But I have been exposed to them and I cannot ignore them anymore. I must build my life on the rock of Jesus. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Mat 7:18) “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them in tp practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Mat 7:24) Chapter 7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure your use, it will be measured to you.” (Mat 7:1-2) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Mat 7:13-14) Chapter 8 “He replied ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm” (Mat 8:26) Chapter 9 Chapter 10 “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near’. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Mat 10:7-8) “Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Mat 10:16) “ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Mat 10: 20) “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven” (Mat 10:32) “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher and the servant like his master.” (Mat 10:24-25) Chapter 11 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mat 11:30) Chapter 12 “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Mat 12:37) Chapter 13 Parable of the Sower (Mat 13) “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches” (Mat 13:31-32) The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man fund it, he hid it again, and then in his joy when and sold all he had and bought that field” (Mat 13:44) Chapter 14 “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.” (Mat 14:23) “Take courage! It is is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Mat 14:27) This is said to Peter and the other disciples as Jesus was walking on the water out to their boat. Chapter 15 “What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean” (Mat 15:11) “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain: their teachings are but rules taught by men.” (Mat 15:8-9) Here Jesus is quoting Isaiah when he is being confronted by the Pharasees Chapter 16 “if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mat 16:24) “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Mat 16:27) Chapter 17 “Because you have so little faith. 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. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Mat 17:20) Chapter 18 “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 18:3) It is better to cut off your arm or gouge out your eye, if it causes you to sin (Mat 18:8-9) Peter asks, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” “I tell you”, says Jesus, “not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Mat 18:21-22) Chapter 19 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Mat 19:14) “I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Mat 19:19-20) The Rich Young Man Chapter 20 Chapter 21 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Mat 21:22) Chapter 22 The greatest commandment: “Love the Lord our God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mat 22:37) “Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find” (Mat 22:9) Chapter 23 But, be careful…because “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself with be exalted” (Mat 23:12) Chapter 24 Chapter 25 “To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability” (Mat 25:15) Chapter 26 As Jesus faced his own death “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Mat 26:39) This is how we can pray…we can petition, but it is God’s will that we seek. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Mat 26:41) Chapter 27 Chapter 28 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mat 28:18-20) |