Eseosa Idami

Matthew the Apostle

December 1st 2011

One day Jesus was walking and saw a tax collector named Matthew sitting at a tax collection post, and said to him, "Follow me." And Matthew stood up and followed Him, and became one of His twelve apostles.1 The Gospel of Matthew is one of four gospels in the Holy Bible. It is the first book in chronological order presented in the New Testament of the Bible. Matthew was one of the 12 apostles that were with Jesus Christ during his ministries on Earth. The consensus among conservative scholars is that this book in the Bible was written between 50 and 70 A.D.2 Matthew was a tax collector that one day left his job to follow the Lord. Matthew gives a personal first person view of the miracles that he witnessed during the life of Jesus Christ. The first section also describes the miracle birth story of Jesus. The second section of the Gospel records the beginning of Jesus' ministry. It also describes in detail the baptism of Jesus and His temptation by Satan in the desert. After 40 days and nights of fasting Jesus resisted all temptation. The next section beginning in the middle of chapter 4 through the middle of chapter 14 covers accounts of the ministry of Jesus while in Galilee. During this time, He commissions the 12 Apostles, preaches The Beatitudes, performs miracles and teaches many lessons on very important subjects including; adultery, divorce, giving, prayer, judging, worry, treasures in Heaven and warnings to people. Also, in chapter 13, Jesus begins teaching in parables to provide examples to His lessons. Jesus withdraws from Galilee in section four and performs the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:17). He also walks on water (Matthew 14:25)3. Chapter 17 describes the transfiguration that was witnessed by three disciples, John, Peter and James (Matthew 17:1). Section six indicates the return of Jesus to Galilee and the prediction of His death. The seventh section beginning in chapter 21 marks the
1

Kiefer, James, Author, Matthew the Apostle, http://satucket.com/lectionary/Matthew.htm , (accessed December 1st, 2011) 2 The Gospel of Matthew, last modified March 25, 2007 http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/matthew.htm , (accessed December 1st, 2011) 3 Matt. 14:25 (King James Version)

Eseosa Idami

Matthew the Apostle

December 1st 2011

triumphal entry by Jesus into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey and ends in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus on the cross as a sacrifice for all the sin in the world. The eighth and last section, describes the events of the resurrection and Jesus defeating death. The purpose of the Gospel of Matthew was to show readers that Jesus is the true Messiah that was prophesized in the Old Testament of the Bible. Jacob predicted thousands of years prior to Jesus being born that he would be the Messiah. Scholars believe Jacob is predicting the Messiah in verse ten 1,000 years prior! The Aramaic word for tribute is Shiloh, which is a name of the Messiah; therefore, the verse means, "until He comes to whom it belongs."-(Genesis 49:133).4 This is proof that Jesus is the Messiah that the Jews have been longing for. The Gospel of Matthew presents many important facts and significant lessons. First, it vividly establishes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah that was predicted since the Old Testament. Secondly, it also proves that Jesus was the Son of God, whom he claimed to be through living a sinless and perfect life. Third, the Gospel records Jesus performing miracles over nature (calming the storm; Mat. 8:23-27)5, healing the people of sickness (Mat. 8:5-13)6 and raising the dead (Jairuss daughter; Mat. 9:18-19). Lastly, Jesus personally gives over 200 real and practical lessons of how God desires people to live, respond through challenging circumstances, and make choices regarding their future for eternity.7 In the final chapter of the Gospel of Matthew it specifies the calling of all disciples of Christ: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28: 19-20). Until this very day this is the mission of all Christians.
4

Jacob Predicts Jesus! , last modified April 15, 2010 http://www.youversion.com/notes/63340/jacob-predicts-jesus , (accessed December 1st 2011) 5 Matt. 8:23-27 (King James Version) 6 Matt 8:5-13 (King James Version) 7 The Gospel of Matthew , http://www.abu.nb.ca/courses/NTIntro/Matt.htm , (accessed December 1st 2011)