Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew writes his gospel account to give us the view of Jesus as the King:
Jesus is introduced as the 'son of David' (Matthew 1:1); David had been Israel's king 1,000 years before Jesus was born. Jesus' message is "Repent (change your mind), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).When Jesus teaches concerning the law (Matthew 5:17), He assumes the position of God the King, raising the standards of the law and applying it not merely to outward conduct, but to the inward heart (Matthew 5:19,21-22,27-28,43-44).Jesus shows His authority as King over physical diseases and sickness, psychological and spiritual oppression and even the wind and the waves of God's creation (eg Matthew 4:24; 8:1-17, 23-27).
Matthew records Jesus' authority in calling the disciples: "Follow me" (Matthew 4:19). This is how Matthew himself became one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. Matthew had formerly been a tax collector, a Jew working for the Roman government, probably dishonest and despised. He briefly gives his own account of how he became a follower of Jesus in Matthew 9:9-13.
Matthew records more than any of the others about Jesus' teaching concerning God's kingdom and heavenly rule:
chapters 5-7 show us the constitution of God's heavenly kingdom,
chapter 13 shows the appearance of the kingdom at various stages
chapters 24-25 show us the reality of the kingdom, its conflicts, its future, and the need to prepare and be watchful for the return of the King.
Matthew records Jesus declaring He is "greater than Solomon" (Matthew 12:42). Solomon was the son of David. When king David died, Solomon became king. Under king Solomon "the kingdom was established" in peace (I Kings 2:12,45-46; I Chronicles 22:9). "Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king" (I Chronicles 19:23) and "built a temple for the name of the Lord" (II Chronicles 2:1). For Jesus to be greater than Solomon He would have to ascend the throne of God and build the house of God, with all His enemies no longer making trouble. Matthew records Jesus the King saying to His disciples "I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18); later, having ascertained that the Messiah is a Son, the Son of David, Jesus shows that even king David calls the Messiah "Lord" (Psalm 110:1 and Matthew 22:41-45). Jesus is therefore the King of kings.
Privately, Jesus warns the disciples three times that not everything will happen the way they expect: "the Son of Man will be betrayed and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up" (Matthew 17:22-23).
Matthew records Jesus entering into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, to cries of 'Hosanna to the Son of David', in direct animated fulfilment of Zechariah's prophecy regarding the King of Zion, who will establish peace and whose kingdom will extend to the ends of the earth (Zechariah 9:9-10).
Just when it looks to the crowd as though Jesus will prove He is the Messiah by overthrowing the Roman government of Israel, the King is arrested, betrayed by a friend. Even in His arrest, Jesus reminds them He is King "I could pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels" (Matthew 26:53). Instead, as the meek and lowly King, He is judged by earthly rulers (first the Jewish Sanhedrin and then the Roman governor), mocked, scourged and crucified as the King of the Jews (Matthew 27:26-37).
It appears to go quiet after all the rhetoric. Though He is dead, Matthew records the earthly rulers are still not sure about the King of the Jews, because of the possibility of resurrection, so they seal (with wax) the stone covering the tomb entry and place guards over it (Matthew 27:62-66).
Well they might fear, for nothing, not even the power of death or the gates of Hades can hold the King. He rises on the third day, just as He said, and appears to the disciples.
Finally, Jesus meets the disciples at the appointed mountain and declares to them:
"All authority in heaven and on earth is given to Me. Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:18-20).
Jesus is the King!
Is it time to change your mind?
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The genealogy of Christ: he is conceived and born of a virgin.
The offerings of the wise men: the flight into Egypt:
the massacre of the Innocents.
The preaching of John: Christ is baptized.
Christ's fast for forty days: he is tempted. He begins to preach:
o call disciples to him, and to work miracles.
Christ's sermon upon the mount. The eight Beatitudes.
A continuation of the sermon on the mount.
The third part of the sermon on the mount.
Christ cleanses the leper, heals the centurion's servant,
Peter's mother in law, and many others: he stills the storm
at sea, drives the devils out of two men possessed, and suffers
them to go into the swine.
Christ heals one sick of palsy: calls Matthew: cures
the issue of blood: raises to life the daughter of Jairus:
gives site to two blind men: and heals a dumb man
possessed by the devil.
Christ sends out his twelve apostles, with the power
of miracles. The lessons he gives them.
John sends his disciples to Christ, who upbraids
are Jews for their incredulity, and calls to him
such as are sensible of their burdens.
Christ reproves the blindness of the Pharisees,
and confutes their attributing his miracles to Satan.
The parables of the sower of the cockle: of the mustard seed, etc.
Herod puts John to death. Christ feeds five thousand
in the desert. He walks upon the sea, and heals all the
diseased with the touch of his garment.
Christ reproves the scribes. He cures the daughter
of the woman of Canaan: and many others: and
feeds four thousand with seven loaves.
Christ refuses to shew the Pharisees a sign from heaven.
Peter's confession is rewarded. He is rebuked for opposing
Christ's passion. All his followers must deny themselves.
The Transfiguration of Christ: he cures the lunatic child:
foretells his passion: and pays the didrachma.
Christ teaches humility, to beware of scandal, and to
flee the occasions of sin: to denounce to the church
incorrigible sinners, and to look upon such as refuse
to hear the church as heathens. He promises to his
disciples the power of binding and loosening: and that
he will be in the midst of their assemblies. No
forgiveness for them that will not forgive.
Christ declares matrimony to be indissoluble:
he recommends the making of one's self an
eunuch for the kingdom of heaven; and parting
with all things for Him. He shews the danger of
riches, and the reward of leaving all to follow Him.
The parable of the labourers in the vineyard.
The ambition of the two sons of Zebedee.
Christ gives sight to two blind men.
Christ rides into Jerusalem upon an ass:
he casts the buyers and sellers out of the
temple: curses the fig tree, and puts to
silence the priests and scribes.
The parable of the marriage feast: Christ orders tribute
to be paid to Caesar: he confutes the Sadducees: shews
which is the first commandment in the law, and puzzles the Pharisees.
Christ admonishes the people to follow the good doctrine,
not the bad example of the scribes and Pharisees: he warns
his disciples not to imitate their ambition, and denounces
divers woes against them for their hypocrisy and blindness.
Christ foretells the destruction of the temple,
with the signs that shall come before it, and
before the last judgment. We must always watch.
The parable of the ten virgins, and of the talents:
the description of the last judgment.
The Jews conspire against Christ. He is anointed by Mary.
The treason of Judas. The Last Supper. The prayer in the
garden. The apprehension of our Lord: his treatment in
the house of Caiaphas.
The continuation of the history of the
passion of Christ. His death and burial.
The resurrection of Christ. His commission to his disciples.