The Gospel According to Matthew

Introduction: I present to you a preacher friend. His mane is Matthew or “God’s free man”, originally Levi. The name means “a gift of Jehovah.” It was given by parents who were appreciative of God blessing their home with a child. We have no record of Matthew’s mother, but his father’s name was Alpheus, Mark. 2:14.

Matthew lived in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. It was a fishing town. Matthew may have been a fisherman in his youth, but in his adult years became a publican, a tax assessor -collector for Rome. A roman was the chief tax collector for the area. He hired several locals to assist him. Matthew was one of the locals.

I. Matthew’s calling Mt. 9:9

A. Matthew was sitting in his tax office when Jesus came by.

B. Matthew (Mark and Luke call him “Levi”) had learned about Jesus thru John the Baptist.

1. He had already trusted in Jesus and been saved.

2. He had already been baptized. Acts 1:21-22

3. But he had never personally met Jesus.

C. Jesus called for him to be His follower.

1. One to walk with Him and be His disciple and learner.

2. One to preach His word to others.

3. He would later be ordained as an apostle.

D. Matthew immediately quit his job and started preaching. (Which he did until his death)

II. His writing

A. It was not until much after the ascension of Jesus that he wrote this book. (About 68 A.D.; one of the last books of the New Testament to be written)

B. It is entitled “The Gospel According to Matthew.”

1. It is not the gospel of Matthew. (Gospel of Christ)

2. “Of Matthew” implies that it is Matthew’s ideas.

3. “According to Matthew” means that it is merely recorded by him in the book.

C. The word “gospel” means “good news, glad tidings, etc. (Whatever its contents, it is a joyous message.)

D. Its actual contents are:

1. The family record of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, the life of Jesus, His ministry, His teachings, His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

2. As to the church, it gives the account of its organization, its work, its commission.

E. As to Israel, it is especially good news.

1. God had promised Abraham the Seed of Woman; Jesus, the same “Seed of Woman” which God had promised Adam, is the fulfillment of the promise.

2. God had promised David a King to rule on his throne; Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise.

3. God had promised a Messiah - King to deliver Israel from Gentile bondage; Jesus is the fulfillment.

4. God had promised the sinner a blood sacrifice that could save the sinner from his sin; Jesus is the fulfillment.

III. God’s purpose in the Book

A. It was first written in Hebrew - a special message to the Jews. God wanted the Jews to know that Jesus is Christ.

B. It was very early translated into Greek.

1. God wanted the Gentiles to hear its truth. (Greek was the language common to all nations in that day.)

2. God wanted Matthew to preach it in his day.

3. God wanted Matthew to record it so that all could read it and hear it preached.

C. Thus God wants all people of all places and all generations to hear its blessed truths.

1. God wants the unsaved to know about the blessed Savior.

2. God wants the saved to be informed about doctrinal truth.

3. God wants each New Testament church to be informed about its work.

Conclusion

1. If you are unsaved, God wants you to be saved.

2. If you are saved, but in need of a church home, we invite you to Pleasant Hill.

3. If you are a member at Pleasant Hill, I appeal to you to surrender your life to Jesus Christ.

Preached at Pleasant Hill M.B.C. 11-29-81

Preached at Texas Baptist Institute 11-9-93

Preached at Landmark M.B.C., Athens, TX 12-30-01 A.M.