Expected Challenges in Matthew

• Culture Clash
  • When you read Matthew, you are meeting with an ancient Jew in a tent discussing their Jewish Messiah
  • Our Greek mindset develops different thought tracks than a Hebraic mindset
    • Greeks valued wisdom and knowledge, but that was not the story of Israel
    • Metaphoric points found in the functions not the differences
      • Example: Christ is the congress, President, and Supreme Court of the universe
• Opposite Foundations from original audience
  • Our gospel foundation runs “back to front” from the author’s construct
    • Example: Parable of Woman and lost coin, Good Shepherd, and Prodigal Son and Psalms in Luke 15
  • Our relation to text
    • We are more relatable to the Roman believers than the Jewish disciples
• “Theology” of Jesus
  • Luke and Mark were impressed by what Jesus did, Matthew is impressed by what Jesus taught
  • Matthew has the most extensive and applied teachings of Jesus

*You will be challenged to learn that much of what Jesus taught runs COUNTER to what modern Christian culture teaches

Matthew’s Approach to Gospel

• The Gospel is not a replacement, but a continuation of the Torah
  • Emphasizes Promise – Fulfillment (versus prediction – fulfillment)
    • i.e. continuation of God’s faithfulness
• Jesus is authentically and perfectly Jewish
  • Retells the story of Israel through the life and teachings of Jesus
  • Structures gospel into a intro (Matthew 1) and 5 divisions that reflect the five eras of Israel each paired with extensive teaching from Jesus
• Jesus is a fulfillment of every promise God made in the Old Testament
  • Emphasizes God’s time, space, and people
    • Emphasizes Israel (God’s Elect) and the Church (God’s Elect)

Why Does Matthew write this Gospel?

*The Gospel should not simply transform your mind or theology, but transform your life!

Gospel of Matthew addresses the three expectations of the Messiah and larger Israel at the time:

• New
• New
• Re-establishment of God’s

^“18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ 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, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

– Matthew 28:18-20

Gospel of Matthew addresses three problems in the church of Antioch at the time:

Gospel of Matthew intends to transform

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

*Identity anchors and drives life. If you don’t have an identity, you desperately search for it.

*Think about many modern issues today, how many are rooted in identity? Sexual identity? Gender identity? Racial identity? Identity politics?

• Original audience was in an identity crisis
  • They could no longer worship in the synagogues with their fellow “identities”
  • Matthew gives permission to worship and fellowship with gentiles
• Matthew reminds them that their supreme identity is IN the NAME of God not in Jewish tradition

Gospel of Matthew intends to re-focus

“Go!…and make disciples of ALL nations”

• Matthew emphasizes that the mission for disciples of Jesus is not to the synagogues or in Jerusalem, but to a lost world!
  • i.e. Matthew states, “Why are you so disheartened and doubting the faith because temple was destroyed and your kicked out of worshiping in synagogues? Your mission was never to the temple or synagogues but to MAKE disciples of ALL NATIONS

Gospel of Matthew intends to communicate that no matter how bad things get: God is

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”

“His name will be Emmanuel – God with US”

• Don’t let trials discourage you from thinking God has left you or let you doubt your faith
• Jesus never promised it would be easy (actually promised the exact opposite), but He did promise that He would be with us
  • How do I get closer to God? Go to where the pain is!

Guided Questions for Discussion

1. Why are you here at bible study? What do you look to gain from it?
2. What responsibility do you have to honor your desired outcome from this bible study?
3. What identities do we carry? Professionally, personally, culturally, socially? How can these identities hinder our real identity in Christ?
4. Is your faith merely part of the identity that is “You,” or are you solely identified to Christ?
5. How has the gospel changed your identity? How has the gospel challenged it?
6. What elements or aspects of our identity do we struggle with the most? What elements of our identity distracts us from our real identity in Christ?
7. Where do we derive our purpose? How can we determine to what purpose we are REALLY living to?
8. As we engage in life, what situations do we forget that God is with us? How can we see God in those situations?
9. When God came down, He did not enter the world of comfort, peace, or joy but pain. God has always been most present where the pain is. How do we see God in that pain?