Bible Story: Matthew

Introduction

Greetings, friends. This is Johnny Ramsay bringing you a summary of the Bible, an overview of the Old and New Testaments. This lesson will begin with the book of Matthew and will include the books of Luke, Acts, Jude, and Revelation, as the last five in this series on the New Testament. As we open the New Testament, we find the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, giving birth to the Savior. This is the consummation of many Old Testament prophecies. In Genesis 3:15, the seed of woman would come to bruise the devil, to put to an end his diabolical work. First John 3:8 says, For this cause was the Son of God made known that he might bring to naught the power of the devil. In Romans 16:20, we read, God shall crush Satan under your feet shortly.

2 Corinthians 2:14 says, We’re always led in triumph in Christ. In Galatians 4:4, we read this marvelous utterance. In the fullness of time, God sent forth his son, born of a woman born under the law. Isaiah 7:14 had promised seven and a half centuries before it happened that a woman would bring a child into the world. A virgin would conceive and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Emmanuel. And this would be a sign from Jehovah Himself. In Isaiah 9:6, we read, A child is given, a son is born, and he’ll be the Prince of Peace, the mighty God, the everlasting Father. In Micah 5 1 and 2, the Old Testament prophet, again seven and a half centuries before Christ, predicted that this birth would take place in a little village, Bethlehem of Judea.

1. Matthew Stressed the Kingdom of Christ

Jeremiah: 22 said, A strange thing will happen in the land. A woman shall compass a man. A woman would go around a man to bring a child into the world. And as we open the New Testament, it is the Virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem, bringing Emmanuel, God with us into the world. And Luke 2:14 said that angels sang, peace on earth among men in whom he is well pleased. All of these Old Testament prophecies had found their fruition, their marvelous fulfillment in the birth of Jesus. And Matthew 1 21 says, Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. The book of Matthew was addressed to the Jewish audience and stressed the kingdom of Christ, correcting their mistaken views of the Messianic reign.

Actually, the kingdom of Christ is the rule and reign in the hearts and lives of men and women by Jesus Christ.

It is not carnal, mundane, secular, earthy, shallow, but it is a spiritual rule from within our hearts and lives. We honor him as King of kings and Lord of Lords, Revelation 17, 14, 1 Timothy 6, 15. And thus the kingdom of Christ is the emphasis, the thrust of the book of Matthew addressed particularly to a Jewish audience. That’s one reason we have four accounts of the life of Christ, each addressed to a particular and different group of people, emphasizing and stressing a salient point that the others did not, giving us a fuller view, a well-rounded view of the blessed life of our blessed Lord. In chapter 1, we have genealogies that pertain to the coming of our Lord. It took the preservation of Abraham’s seed, Genesis 22 18, to produce the Savior, and his seed is Christ, Galatians 3.16.

2. John the Baptizer Preached Repent

In chapter 2, we read of the birth of our Lord. You remember in Malachi, the prediction was made that one in the spirit and power of Elijah, and Luke 117 says that was John the baptizer, would precede the coming of the Lord, and suddenly the Lord would come to his temple. We also in chapter 2 read of the wise men. And friends, the Bible does not say that there were three wise men. It doesn’t tell us how many there were. But it is chapter 3 of Matthew that has the spotlight on it. For here we read of the glorious work of John the Baptizer who paved the way for the Lord and did such a marvelous job. And he also preached the most unpopular message in the history of the world.

Repent. No one’s ever been told to repent and enjoyed it. It isn’t a message that’s pleasant, but it’s one that’s urgent and necessary. In fact, some of the people mocked John and said, Baptize us, and he said, Not until you bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. Repentance precedes scriptural baptism. Acts 2 38. And the real key to the plan of salvation is not baptism but repentance. You show me a man who will change his mind in regard to sin, and I’ll show you a man like the Ethiopian of Acts 8, who will say to the preacher, Here is water, what doth enter me to be baptized. You convert a man to baptism, he may never repent. Repent and be baptized, and repentance precedes baptism. Another thing in Matthew 3 that’s so outstanding is the demand by Jesus for John to baptize him.

And you remember, John said, I’m not worthy to unlatch your sandals. Jesus said, Allow it to happen, suffer it to be so, for I must fulfill all righteousness. What did Jesus mean by that? That he must be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. The key is Psalm 119, verse 172. In that longest chapter of the Old Testament of the whole Bible, we read all of God’s commandments are righteousness. Jesus was saying, If I refuse to be baptized, I’ve refused to obey a command of God, and then I would no longer be perfect. It always amazes me that imperfect human beings will argue and say I don’t have to be baptized. But Jesus, who was perfect, said he had to be. He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness.

3. Holy Spirit Baptism Was a Promise

Where does that leave us, admittedly, sinful, shameful human beings? I’d hate to be one who would say I don’t have to be baptized when my Lord said that he had to to fulfill all righteousness. Also in Matthew 3, we have the controversial subject of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3 makes Holy Spirit baptism a promise which the Lord would fulfill. John 1, verses 31 to 33 tells us that Jesus was the administrator of Holy Spirit baptism. A promise is fulfilled by the one who gave it. Commands are obeyed to those they’re issued to. Holy Spirit baptism was never commanded of anybody.

You could start in Matthew 3 and read the rest of your Bible all the way to the end of Revelation 22, and only twice would you find reference to Matthew 3 in the rest of the Bible. In Acts 1, verse 5, prior to the day of Pentecost, our Lord Jesus Christ quoted Matthew 3 and told the apostles this would happen to them on the day of Pentecost. In Acts 2 4, when the Holy Spirit overwhelmed them, that fulfillment of that promise had been kept. And then you read the rest of your Bible, and only one more time in Acts 11, 15 and 16, Peter quotes the Lord, quoting Matthew 3, and says, The Holy Spirit fell on them as on us in the beginning. So when the Jews received the gospel, Acts chapter 2, and when the Gentiles received it at the household of Cornes and Caesarea, Acts 11, all flesh had seen the salvation of God, Luke 3.6, and the fulfillment of the promise of Holy Spirit baptism had been consummated.

You can read from Acts 11 through Revelation 22, and never again, not one more time even, will you read of Holy Spirit baptism? Why? All flesh had received the salvation of God, both Jew and Greek, and that’s the way the world’s divided. Certainly was in New Testament days. And so Holy Spirit baptism, which was a promise, was fulfilled by the one who administered it, Jesus Christ. And there are no other examples of it. Denominational preachers, especially in the Pentecostal realm, would leave the impression that Holy Spirit baptism was commanded, but it never was commanded of anybody. They leave the impression that such command is all over the New Testament, but even the fulfillment of such is only twice. So when you’ve read Matthew 3, Acts 2, and Acts 11, you’ve read all there is about Holy Spirit baptism in the whole Bible.

4. The Temptation of Our Lord: It Is Written

And the Bible is its own best commentary, and no prophecy of the scriptures of any private interpretation. And when John predicted and Matthew recorded, and the Holy Spirit inspired it, Holy Spirit baptism found its consummation on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2, when the Jews received the gospel, and Acts 11, when the Gentiles received it, and that’s finished. That’s the end of Holy Spirit baptism in the Bible. No other references to it anywhere. In Matthew chapter 4, we read of the temptation of our Lord. Did you know there are only three avenues through which humanity can be tempted? The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vain glory or pride of life. 1 John 2 15 to 17 teaches that. Jesus was tempted face to face by our adversary, Satan, the diabolical devil.

And he was able to send the devil on his way by saying, It is written. It is written. Jesus knew the scriptures. And the more we hide the word of God in our heart, the less we’ll sin against God ourselves. Psalm 119, verse 11. Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4.15. He is our perfect example. He did no sin, neither was Guile found in his mouth. 1 Peter 2, 21 and 22. No wonder Paul said, Follow me as I follow Christ. 1 Corinthians 11 1. But the significant thing is found in Matthew 4, verses 10 and 11. Jesus said to Satan, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. And the devil fled, and angels came and administered unto the Lord.

5. The Wondrous Sermon on the Mount

And when we’re tempted, if we send the devil on his way, the Lord will add blessings to our lives. In fact, he’s promised a door of escape when temptation comes to us, 1 Corinthians 10 13. In chapter 5, 6 and 7 of Matthew, we have the wondrous Sermon on the Mount. I believe there’s only one greater sermon in the whole Bible than the Sermon on the Mount. And that’s the sermon Jesus preached, projected between heaven and earth, a seven-point sermon on the cross. But in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, we have the Beatitudes, the happiness of the children of God who are meek, who mourn over sin, who are poor in spirit, who acknowledge their poverty and need the help of God. Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, those who are meek, those who submit to the Lord and follow his leadership, his shepherding.

And then he says, You’re the salt of the earth. Salt preserves, salt flavors, salt stings. And we ought to sting sinners with truth. And salt makes people thirsty. And we ought to cause men to hunger and thirst after righteousness, Matthew 5.6, so that they could be filled with the gospel in its glory. And then he said, You’re the light of the world, a beacon set on a hill that compels men and draws men like a magnet to Christ. He also taught concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage a very needful subject in the religious world of today, and even some of us have decided we just won’t enter controversy and teach the truth on this subject. Ultimately, when God Almighty ordained marriage as the first divine institution, way back in Genesis 2, he intended for one man and one woman to live together for life.

Exceptions, death, and adultery, and there are no other exceptions. And in New Testament times, he wants Christians to marry Christians and raise a family of the glory of God. Last year in America alone there were 900,000 divorces. But the Bible says, What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Matthew 19, 6. And God hates divorce, Malachi 2.16. Also in the Sermon on the Mount, he taught us to love our enemies. Do you know why I know the Bible came from God and not from man? Because I’ve read Matthew 5, 43 to 48. No man uninspired would ever say, Pray for those that despitefully use you. Love your enemies. Return good for evil. Humanity doesn’t reason like that. But God says, Come up higher. Have a taller ethic than the world does.

And I’ll tell you, it takes some manliness to pray for your enemies. That’s one reason Christianity is so rich and vital. Gandhi once said, the Indian leader, that Christianity had the greatest virtue of any religion in the world, and that was the love of God and the love for fellow man. And then he chided Christians for not stressing these points more. He said, if you stress the love of God and the love even for your enemies in India, you’d overwhelm us with your religion. It’s sort of like the fellow who said he had read the New Testament and had read it, read of Christ and his glory, but he said, The trouble is you Christians are not much like him. Sadly, there’s truth to it. I remember the story of the father who was teaching his son about the great martyrs of Christianity.

And when he got through, the little boy whose eyes were real big said, Daddy, those Christians were really something. Have I ever met one? When you read the Sermon on the Mount, you’re prone to ask yourself that question, have I ever seen one? In Matthew 6, he tells us not to be ostentatious about the religion of the Lord, not put on a show, not to be a bunch of hypocrites, but to genuinely, sincerely love the Lord and follow Christ and be an example. Also, he taught the model prayer of Matthew 6. Since that prayer, though, our Lord himself said, Now you’re to ask in my name, John 16, 24. And also the kingdom did come on the day of Pentecost, Acts chapter 2, Colossians 1 13.

There are those who teach the kingdom didn’t come until 1914. But Colossians 1 13 says men were already in the kingdom in the middle of the first century. And I know the kingdom of Christ came in the first century because Peter had the keys to it. Matthew 16 19, and he lived in the first century. So the kingdom of Christ came with power on the day of Pentecost. Mark 9 1. Luke 24 49. Acts 1 8 and Acts 2 4 teach that in sequence. Also in Matthew 7, we learn that we’re not to be censorious in judgment. That we’re to look to ourselves and purge sin out of our own lives. We’re not to give that which is holy to dogs, nor cast pearls before swine.

We’re to pray for wisdom, James 1 5, as we strive to teach others. Also in Matthew 7, we learn of the two ways, and there are only two, not three. There’s the straight gate, S T R A I T, not like a straight line, but like the Bering Strait or the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow, difficult, challenging passageway in the sea. And to be a Christian is the most challenging life of all. You can’t wander around haphazardly and aimlessly and go to heaven. That’s the broad way that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. And at the end of Matthew 7, he had taught so powerfully and authoritatively, they had great respect for him. He didn’t teach as the scribes, but he taught with authority.

And he closed the Sermon on the Mount by saying that there are two builders, one wise, one foolish. And unless we build upon the rock, upon Jesus Christ, our house will crumble into the dust. If we build upon the weak shaking sands of time, when the storms and stress of life come our way, we’ll fall.

The birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head. He certainly was not predominantly wealthy. But he came to seek and save the lost, Luke 19 10. In Matthew 9, I love the last few verses. He looked with compassion upon the masses. They were sheep not having a shepherd. And he said, Pray ye that the Lord of harvests will send forth laborers into the vineyard. In Matthew 10, he said, Fear not him who is able to destroy the body, but is not able to destroy the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. Matthew 10 28. We need to fear God and keep his commandments. Ecclesiastes 12 13. In Matthew 11, we have the wonderful invitation of our Lord that is thrill thousands.

Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I’ll give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest your soul. In Matthew 12, he is accused of casting out demons by the prince of demons Beelzebub. And Jesus, in clear biding logic, says, Gentlemen, that’s not very logical. You’d have the devil casting out the devil. A house divided against itself, cannot stand. And incidentally, Lincoln wasn’t the first to use those words. He borrowed them from Christ. And he used them well in civil war days, but that shows how rich and up to date the Bible always is. But Jesus simply said, I have not cast out demons by the prince of demons, Beelzebub.

I am not the devil casting out the devil. He said, I’ve entered the strong man’s house and spoiled his goods.

In Matthew 13, we have the seven marvelous parables our Lord taught in a row. When he opened his parabolic teaching, and a parable simply means an earthly story with a spiritual meaning. He taught seven in a row. He taught the parable of the sore, which is so wonderful. And we find the variable quantity is our heart, our attitude, the reception, the soil, not the seed. The seed is the same, the soar was the same, but the word had various reactions in the hearts and lives of men and women. And when it fell in fertile soil, it brought forth a great yield. But when it fell by the wayside, it was gone. When it fell in shallow ground, it came forth speedily and then faded away just as quickly.

And that represents people who cannot stand any pressure or persecution. And the word doesn’t bring forth any yield in their life. But I suppose that that fell among the thorns is most typical today. That represents the word of God that is choked out by the cares and the riches and the pleasures of this life. Then our Lord taught the parable of the tares. And this uh informs us of the fact that evil will grow up with good and truth. But in the final day of judgment, the Lord can separate, he can discern. We need to be sure we’re not sowing tares, though, but sowing the good seed of the kingdom. He taught the parable of the mustard seed, a small, insignificant seed, not any fanfare or bombast, no flamboyancy about the kingdom of Christ, but slowly, surely, by the power of God, God giving the increase, first Corinthians 3, 6 and 7, the kingdom grew and spread.

And then he told the parable of the leaven and how a little leaven leaveneth a whole lump, the power of our influx, and how evil and good grow and abound. We need to be careful to be on the good side of the ledger. He taught the parable of the hid treasure, of the pearl of great price, showing the incomparable worth of the kingdom of God. Perhaps one of those parables represents the Jews who were looking for the kingdom and found it. The other, the Gentiles who stumbled on it accidentally, but then gave up all they had to possess it. At any rate, seek first the kingdom of God, Matthew 6 33. And finally he told the parable of the fish net, and how that ultimately those caught in the net that are not worthy will be cast aside into hell.

6. Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church

In Matthew 14, we have the famous feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes. In Matthew 15, our Lord rebukes the Pharisees of his day. He said, in quoting Isaiah, You draw nigh to me with your mouth and honor me with your lips, but your hearts far from me. In vain do you worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. In Matthew 16, our Lord said, Upon this rock. This confession Peter had uttered that thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God, upon this rock, and that rock is Christ, 1 Corinthians 10 4. Another foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 3 11. He is the chief cornerstone, Acts 4 11 and 12.

And upon him we are built as living stones, into a spiritual habitation unto God. 1 Peter 2 5 to 7. But our Lord said in the coast of Caesarea Philippi, upon this rock I will build my church. And the gates of Hades, meaning the bars of death cannot withstand it. Jesus simply meant, My enemies shall put me to death. The bars of death will overwhelm me, but I’ll burst asunder the bands of death, as Peter preached in Acts 2. Up from the grave I will arise, and my church shall be established. He purchased the church with his own blood. Acts 20, 28. The church is subject to Christ, Ephesians 5 24. And unto God be glory in the church, by Christ Jesus throughout all ages were without end.

Amen. In Matthew 17 on the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter said, Lord, it’s good for us to be here. Let us build three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, one for Elijah. See the great prophet of the Old Testament and the great lawgiver. But God’s voice boomed from heaven. This is my beloved son in whom I’m well pleased. Hear ye him. And they turned and saw only Jesus. Matthew 17, 5, Matthew 17, 9. In Matthew 18. We have some marvelous teaching. Matthew 18 is one of those chapters that tells us of the importance of forgiving those who sin against us. How oft shall I forgive my brother? Peter said, until seven times. The Lord said, until seventy times seven. And he didn’t mean 490 times. He meant as long as he genuinely repents, you honestly and openly forgive.

Jesus told the marvelous story of a man who owed his master 17 million, 425,000. He asked forgiveness, and the master said, All right, I’ll forgive you. Then that man who had been forgiven over 17 million dollars in debt found a lesser servant that owed him $18 and began choking him to death. This illustrates how we ask God time and time again to forgive us, but then we are unwilling to forgive those who sin against us. Beginning in chapter 20, we have the parables of the kingdom. You remember the parable of the laborers. Many times people said, I’m going to be like that 11th hour here. I’m going to slip in right to last. I’m going to claim deathbed repentance. Well, the only trouble in waiting for the 11th hour is that the Lord might come at 10 30.

And another thing about that is this man answered the first time he was called. He didn’t just postpone entering the kingdom the first time he knew the truth, he entered it. Can that be said of you and me? In chapter 21, we read of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the fulfillment of Zechariah chapter 9. And also we read of traitors cast out of the temple, the withered fig tree, and the question by what authority do you do these things? And Jesus said, I’ll answer that if you’ll answer this. The baptism of John, whence cometh it? From heaven or of men. And if they said of men, they feared the people, because the people counted John a prophet. If they said his baptism was from heaven, he could say, Why didn’t you submit to it?

And why don’t you receive me, whom John exalted? In Matthew 23, we have the seven woes pronounced upon the city of Jerusalem. And he finally said, Your house is left in you desolate, you generation of vipers. How can you escape the damnation of hell? In chapter 24, he predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and told also about the end of the world, but the destruction of Jerusalem and the prophecy of it found its culmination in the year 70 A.D. when Titus the Roman captain besieged the city, and hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed. In chapter 25 of Matthew, we have the parable of the ten virgins, five wise, and five foolish. They all slumbered and slept, but the five foolish ones didn’t have a right to sleep.

They were unprepared, and the door was shut, forever shut. And that represents people who go to sleep in sin, unprepared to meet the Lord in judgment. The parable of the talents, the wicked, slowful man who just didn’t do anything. I think there are a lot of folk in the church and out who think they’re going to heaven because of what they haven’t done. They haven’t robbed a bank or murdered anybody. Haven’t taken God’s name in vain today. But the parable of the Talents teach what have we done? What have we usefully occupied ourselves in in the kingdom of God? And then we have a picture of the final judgment day. In chapter 26, we have the story, the sad story of Gethsemane, where Jesus suffered. We have in chapter 27 the trial before Pilate, the death of Jesus, the soldiers who mocked the Lord, Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to help bear the load of the cross, the crucifixion of our Lord, the burial of Jesus in Joseph Arimathea’s new tomb, and Pilate securing the tomb and saying, Make it as sure as you can.

And yet up from the grave he arose. In chapter 28, upon the first day of the week, Jesus arose from the dead. We read of the falsehood of the Sanhedrin and lying about what happened to the body of Jesus, but that empty tomb still poses a problem to every liberal and modernist and skeptic on earth. And last of all, in Matthew 28, Jesus said, All authority is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I’ve commanded you, and lo, I am with you all the way even to the end of the world.