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FIRST PROOFS
FIRST PROOFS
NEW TESTAMENT
FIRST PROOFS
FIRST PROOFS
I N T R O D U C T I O N
T O
M atthew
A U T H O R , P L A C E A N D D AT E O F W R I T I N G
Tradition associates this Gospel with the apostle Matthew. There has been much debate, however, regarding
the dating of Matthews Gospel. Many think it was written between AD 70 and 80, although some suggest a
much earlier date (in the 50s or 60s). The Jewish nature of Matthews Gospel may suggest that it was written
in the Holy Land, though many suggest an origination in Syrian Antioch.
AUDIENCE
Matthews original readers were predominately Jews who already believed in Jesus and confessed him as
the Son of God (14:33; 16:16; 27:54).
C U LT U R A L F A C T S A N D H I G H L I G H T S
Matthews purpose was to prove to a Jewish audience that Jesus is the Messiah: (1) He emphasized Jesus
fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (e.g., 1:22 23; 2:15); (2) used typical Jewish terminology, such as
kingdom of heaven; (3) told the story of Jesus as a retelling of the story of Israel (e.g., Jesus came out of
Egypt analogous to the exodus; passed through the Jordan analogous to the Red Sea; suffered in the
wilderness analogous to the wilderness wandering; gave his law on a mountain analogous to Sinai; and
so forth); and (4) traced Jesus ancestry to Abraham and frequently referred to the Messianic title Son of
David instead of to Son of God (as in the Gospel of John).
AS YOU READ
Notice Matthews systematic, yet artistic, style. He did not tell Jesus story in strict chronological sequence but
grouped facts topically. Watch for the many references to the kingdom of heaven, and note Jesus teachings
about what it means to be a citizen of that kingdom.
DID YOU KNOW?
There were no sexual relations during a Jewish betrothal period, yet it was a much more binding relation
ship than a modern engagement breakable only by divorce (1:18).
No one living in the desert hesitated to eat insects, and locusts were among the ceremonially clean foods
of which the Jews were free to partake (3:4).
TIMELINE
WHEN DID THESE THINGS HAPPEN?
10 BC
AD 1
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
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FIRST PROOFS
I N T R O D U C T I O N T O M aT T h e w
Most of the salt used in Israel came from the Dead Sea and was full of impurities, causing it to lose some
of its flavor (5:13).
People in ancient times commonly hid valuables in fields (e.g., when a marauding army approached) since
there were no banks (13:44).
A person who stepped on a grave became ceremonially unclean, so graves were whitewashed to make
them easily visible, especially at night (23:27).
M aT T h e w 1 : 2 5
THEMES
Matthews themes include:
1. Jesus, the Messiah. Matthew clearly taught that Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament
promises, especially that of the coming Messiah (King).
2. Righteousness. Citizens of the kingdom of heaven are called to be righteous, and ethical issues
are a major focus in Matthew. Jesus first recorded words in Matthew had to do with fulfilling righteous
ness (3:15), and he demanded that his disciples invest their treasures in Gods kingdom, not in earthly
possessions. Love for others is also emphasized.
3. The believers commission. In its closing verses (28:16 20), the book of Matthew re
veals the plan for the expansion of the kingdom of heaven. Believers are to be salt and light (5:13 16),
spreading the Good News of the kingdom to the world.
OUTLINE
I. Jesus Childhood (1 2)
II. The Beginnings of Jesus Ministry (3:1 4:11)
A. John the Baptist (3)
B. The Temptation (4:1 11)
III. Jesus Ministry in Galilee (4:12 14:12)
A. His Early Ministry (4:12 25)
B. The Sermon on the Mount (5 7)
C. Miracles (8 9)
D. Ministry (10:1 14:12)
IV. Ministry in Other Areas (14:13 17:21)
V. Jesus Returns to Galilee (17:22 18:35)
VI. Jesus Ministry in Judea and Perea (19 20)
VII. Passion Week (21 27)
A. The Triumphal Entry (21:1 11)
B. The Cleansing of the Temple (21:12 17)
C. Questions From the Jewish Leaders (21:18 23:39)
D. The Olivet Discourse (24 25)
E. The Anointing of Jesus Feet (26:1 13)
F. The Arrest, Trials and Death of Jesus (26:14 27:66)
VIII. The Resurrection (28)
b 1 Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One; also in
1 Or is an account of the origin
c 11 That is, Jehoiachin; also in verse 12
d 18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this
e 19 Or was
verse 18.
f 21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.
g 23 Isaiah 7:14
a righteous man and
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M aT T h e w 2 : 1
2:1 p Lk2:47
2:2 q Jer23:5; Jn1:49
r Nu24:17
2:5 s Jn7:42
t
2:11 Isa60:3 u Ps72:10
2:12 v Heb11:7
2:15 w Ex4:22, 23;
Hos11:1
2:18 x Jer31:15
2:22 y ver12, 13, 19
z Lk2:39
2:23 a Lk1:26
M aT T h e w 4 : 8
13 When
7 Then
6 Micah 5:2,4
15 Hosea 11:1
2:1 Bethlehem, a village about 5 miles (8 km) south of Jerusalem, is called Bethlehem in Judea to distinguish it from
the town of Bethlehem about 7 miles (11.3 km) northwest
of Nazareth.
The Magi were likely from Persia or southern Arabia,
both of which lay east of the Holy Land. Herod was disturbed (v. 3) by the Magis announcement because he
knew he was not the rightful heir to Israels throne, having
usurped power by aligning himself with Rome. The Magis
visit likely caused him to fear that invading forces from the
east might join others within Israel to replace him with a
king from the true line of the anticipated Messiah. The religious leaders had aligned themselves politically with Herod.
If his power base were threatened, so was theirs.
2:2 The star was probably not an ordinary star, planet
or comet, though some interpreters have identified it with
the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn or with some other
astronomical phenomenon.
18 Jer. 31:15
a
f
3 Isaiah 40:3
7 Deut. 6:16
11 Or in
4 Deut. 8:3
6 Psalm 91:11,12
3:7 The Pharisees, the party of the synagogue, were a legalistic and separatist group who strictly kept the Law of Moses
and the unwritten tradition of the elders (see the note on
15:2). The Sadducees were a Jewish party that represented
the wealthy and sophisticated classes. Though a relatively
small group, in Jesus day they exerted powerful political
and religious influence.
4:1 The temptations took place (1) in the desert region
of the lower Jordan Valley, (2)on a high mountain (possibly one of the abrupt cliffs near Jericho that present an
unsurpassed panorama) and (3)on the highest point of the
temple, from which the priests sounded the trumpet to call
the citys attention to important events.
1141
2:23 b Mk1:24
3:1 c Lk3:219
3:2 d Da2:44; Mt4:17
3:3 e Isa40:3; Lk1:76;
Jn1:23
3:4 f 2Ki1:8 g Lev11:22
3:7 h Mt12:34; 23:33
i Ro1:18; 1Th1:10
3:8 j Ac26:20
3:10 k Mt7:19
3:11 l Isa4:4
3:12 m Mt13:30
3:16 n Isa11:2
3:17 o Ps2:7 p Mt12:18;
Lk9:35
4:2 q 1Ki19:8
4:3 r 1Th3:5
4:4 s Dt8:3
4:5 t Ne11:1; Mt27:53
4:6 u Ps91:11, 12
4:7 v Dt6:16
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M aT T h e w 4 : 9
4:10 w Dt6:13
4:11 x Lk22:43
4:16 y Isa9:1, 2
4:17 z Mt3:2
4:19 a Mk10:21, 28, 52
4:23 b Mk1:39; Lk4:15,
44 c Mt9:35; Mk1:21
d Mk1:14
4:24 e Lk2:2 f Mk1:32
4:25 g Mk3:7, 8
5:4 h Isa61:2, 3
5:5 i Ps37:11
5:6 j Isa55:1, 2
M aT T h e w 5 : 2 8
The Beatitudes
17 From
10 Deut. 6:13
16 Isaiah 9:1,2
4:24 Syria is the area north of Galilee and between Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea.
4:25 The Decapolis was a league of free cities characterized by Greek culture. All but one, Scythopolis (Beth-shan),
were situated east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River.
5:1 7:29 The site of the Sermon on the Mount (see also
Lk 6:20 49) is not identified in the Gospels. Tradition has
placed it near Capernaum. Jesus went up the mountain a
little way so that his immediate followers would be nearer
than the rest of the crowd, and then he came down with
them to a level place (Lk 6:17), still on the mountain.
Presently he sat down and began to teach, with special attention to the disciples who were nearby.
5:3 11 The word beatitude is not found in the text of the
English Bible. It means either (1)the joys of heaven or (2)a
declaration of blessedness, especially as made by Christ.
5:8 The heart, including the mind, will and emotions, was
considered the center of ones being.
5:13 Salt was used for flavoring and for preserving (see also
the note on Lev 2:13). Most of the salt used in Israel came
from the Dead Sea and was full of impurities, causing it to
lose some of its flavor.
5:15 In Jesus day people used small clay lamps that burned
olive oil drawn up by a wick. The common New Testament
mention of lamps is in connection with their household usage (5:15; Mk 4:21; Lk 8:16; 11:33; 15:8). Because they
gave off only modest light, they were strategically positioned
for maximum benefit. Such lamps were generally placed on
a lampstand, often a niche built into the wall. The use of oilfed lamps in a marriage procession is mentioned in Matthew
25:1. Since such lamps contained only a small amount of
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5:8 k Heb12:14
5:9 l Ro8:14
5:10 m 1Pe3:14
5:11 n 1Pe4:14
5:12 o Ac7:52
5:13 p Mk9:50;
Lk14:34, 35
5:15 q Mk4:21; Lk8:16
5:18 r Lk16:17
5:19 s Jas2:10
5:21 t Ex20:13
5:22 u 1Jn3:15
5:27 v Ex20:14; Dt5:18
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M aT T h e w 5 : 2 9
5:28 w Pr6:25
5:29 x Mk9:4247
5:31 y Dt24:14
5:32 z Lk16:18
5:33 a Lev19:12
b Nu30:2; Mt23:1622
5:34 c Jas5:12 d Isa66:1
5:35 e Ps48:2
5:38 f Ex21:24;
Lev24:20; Dt19:21
5:39 g Lk6:29; 1Co6:7
5:42 h Lk6:30
5:43 i Lev19:18 j Dt23:6
5:44 k Lk6:27, 28;
Ac7:60
5:48 l Lev19:2
6:5 m Mk11:25
6:6 n 2Ki4:33
M aT T h e w 7 : 6
Oaths
33 Again,
31 Deut. 24:1
37 Or from evil
Prayer
5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypo
43 Lev. 19:18
Do Not Worry
Treasures in Heaven
Judging Others
Fasting
16 When you fast, do not look somber u as the
This was a pretentious way of letting others see and appreciate their extensive efforts to increase their godliness.
1145
6:7 o 1Ki18:2629
6:10 p Mt26:39
6:11 q Pr30:8
6:12 r Mt18:2135
6:14 s Mk11:25, 26;
Col3:13
6:15 t Mt18:35
6:16 u Isa58:5
6:18 v ver4, 6
6:19 w Heb13:5
6:20 x Mt19:21;
Lk12:33; 1Ti6:19
6:24 y Lk16:13
6:25 z Lk12:11, 22;
Php4:6; 1Pe5:7
6:26 a Ps147:9
6:27 b Ps39:5
6:29 c 1Ki10:47
6:30 d Mt8:26
6:33 e Mt19:29;
Mk10:2930
7:1 f 1Co4:5
7:2 g Mk4:24
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M aT T h e w 7 : 7
M aT T h e w 9 : 2
throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may name perform many miracles? 23 Then I will tell
trample them under their feet, and turn and them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me,
you evildoers! r
tear you to pieces.
you; h
2 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
8:12 For the meaning of gnashing ones teeth, see the note
on Ps 35:16.
8:24 Crossing the Sea of Galilee after dark was common for
fishermen, who used trammel nets through the night. The
lakes setting results in sudden violent storms that produce
waves 7 feet (2m) or higher (see the note on Mk 4:37).
This must have been a powerful storm for these seasoned
fishermen to be so afraid.
8:28 The region of the Gadarenes was most likely the
area around the city of Gadara, 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast
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FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 9 : 3
M aT T h e w 1 0 : 7
13 Hosea 6:6
the fresh grape juice fermented, the wine would expand, and
the new wineskin would stretch. But a used skin, already
stretched, would break.
9:20 The hemorrhaging woman was considered ritually
unclean and was excluded from social and religious relations. Jesus healing of her removed the public stigma of her
condition and smoothed the way for her reentry into social
and religious life.
9:23 Musicians were hired to play in mourning ceremonies.
9:25 Touching a corpse rendered a person unclean (see
Nu 19:14 16), but Jesus restored the girl to life, transforming uncleanness to purity.
10
10:4 The label the Zealot either describes Simons religious zeal or is a reference to his membership in the party
of the Zealots, a Jewish revolutionary group violently opposed to Roman rule over the Holy Land. The Zealots
were members of a Jewish patriotic party started during the
time of Quirinius to resist Roman aggression. The Zealots
resorted to violence and assassination in their hatred of the
1149
9:30 u Mt8:4
9:31 v Mk7:36
9:32 w Mt12:2224
9:34 x Mt12:24;
Lk11:15
9:37 y Lk10:2
10:1 z Mk3:1315
10:4 a Jn13:2, 26, 27
10:5 b Lk9:52
10:6 c Mt15:24
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M aT T h e w 1 0 : 8
10:7 d Mt3:2
10:10 e 1Ti5:18
10:14 f Ac13:51
10:15 g Mt11:22, 24
10:16 h Lk10:3
i Ro16:19
10:17 j Mk13:9
10:21 k Mic7:6
10:24 l Lk6:40;
Jn13:16; 15:20
10:25 m Mk3:22
10:26 n Mk4:22; Lk8:17
10:28 o Heb10:31
10:30 p Lk21:18;
Ac27:34
10:32 q Ro10:9
10:36 r Mic7:6
10:37 s Lk14:26
10:39 t Jn12:25
10:40 u Gal4:14
v Lk9:48; Jn12:44
10:42 w Mt25:40;
Heb6:10
M aT T h e w 1 1 : 2 9
26 So do not be afraid of them, for there is
nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or
hidden that will not be made known. n 27 What I
tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is
whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the
Oneo who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not
one of them will fall to the ground outside your
Fathers care. b 30 And even the very hairs of your
head are all numbered. p 31 So dont be afraid; you
are worth more than many sparrows.
32 Whoever acknowledges me before others, q
I will also acknowledge before my Father in
heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before oth
ers, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring
peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace,
but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
8 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
c 36 Micah 7:6
knowledge
29 Or will; or
11
b 5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
1 Greek in their towns
d 12 Or been forcefully advancing
e 23 That is, the realm of the dead
10 Mal. 3:1
11:16 17 The New Testament word for market is agora, the civic center where people gathered for recreation
(vv. 16 17), where the unemployed loafed (20:3,6) and
where the proud paraded (Mk 12:38; Lk 11:43). The agora
was both a courtroom (Ac 16:19) and a forum (Ac 17:17).
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11:2 x Mt14:3
11:5 y Isa35:46; 61:1;
Lk4:18, 19
11:7 z Mt3:1
11:9 a Lk1:76
11:10 b Mal3:1; Mk1:2
11:14 c Mal4:5; Lk1:17
11:15 d Mt13:9, 43
11:19 e Mt9:11
11:21 f Jnh3:59
11:22 g ver24; Mt10:15
11:23 h Isa14:1315
11:24 i Mt10:15
11:27 j Mt28:18
k Jn3:35
11:28 l Jn7:37
11:29 m Jn13:15;
Php2:5; 1Pe2:21;
1Jn2:6
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FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 1 1 : 3 0
11:29 n Jer6:16
12:1 o Dt23:25
12:2 p ver10; Lk13:14;
14:3; Jn5:10; 9:16
12:3 q 1Sa21:6
12:5 r Nu28:9, 10
12:7 s Hos6:6
12:10 t Lk13:14
u
12:14 Mk3:6; Jn11:53
12:18 v Mt3:17
12:22 w Mt9:3233
12:24 x Mt9:34
12:25 y Mt9:4
12:27 z Ac19:13
12
M aT T h e w 1 3 : 1 2
7 Hosea 6:6
21 Isaiah 42:1-4
12:31 Blasphemy against the Spirit has been a controversial topic in many theological circles. In the context of
verses 22 32, however, blasphemy would describe the act
of constantly attributing the works of God to Satan. In this
scenario, God would cease his works, and if he did, there
would be no forgiveness for that person.
12:40 To count a part of a day as a whole day was a common Jewish reckoning of time.
The Greek word translated here huge fish does not nec-
13
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12:31 a Lk12:10
12:33 b Mt7:16, 17
12:34 c Mt3:7; 23:33
d Lk6:45
12:38 e Mt16:1;
Mk8:11, 12; Jn2:18;
1Co1:22
12:39 f Mt16:4
12:40 g Jnh1:17
12:41 h Jnh3:5
12:42 i 1Ki10:1; 2Ch9:1
12:45 j 2Pe2:20
12:46 k Mt13:55;
Jn2:12; 7:3, 5; Ac1:14;
1Co9:5; Gal1:19
13:2 l Lk5:3
13:8 m Ge26:12
13:9 n Mt11:15
13:11 o 1Co2:10, 14;
1Jn2:20, 27
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M aT T h e w
M aT T h e w |
DATE
TITLE
Scripture
A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some
fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places
. . . Other seed fell among thorns . . . Still other seed fell on good soil (Matthew
13:3 8).
Observation
Although this is often known as the parable of the sower and the seed, it
can also be said this is a parable about the soil. All four types of soil are essentially the same dirt but are in different conditions and respond in different ways
to cultivation.
What made one soil more responsive and the other less?
When the New Testament was written, communities were agriculturally based.
A family would be appointed a section of land to farm. Every farmers plot was
adjacent to their neighbors. In order to get to the fields, the farmers would walk
along the boundaries bordering each field to avoid stepping on the growing
plants. The path was held in common by all the farmers. Over time, the soil on
the path would compact. It was never plowed and never fertilized. In the parable,
the seed that is sown on the path is not able to penetrate the ground because of
the constant use. The condition of the first soil is hard and impermeable.
The second type of soil mentioned in the parable is the rocky places or the
shallow soil where the plow didnt cut deeply enough to break up the shale or
hard ground just below the surface. This soil produced only plants with weak,
shallow roots.
The third type of soil mentioned is the thorny soil, most likely found in the
corners of the field where the plow couldnt reach; here, weeds overtook what
was planted.
All the types of soils mentioned here are actually in the same plot of ground
with one major difference: Only one area was fully yielded to cultivation, to being
changed and prepared for planting. That area was called the good soil.
The greatest amount of fruit produced was not determined by how rich the soil
was, but how yielded to the plow it was. The soil in each condition received seed,
but not all produced quality fruit.
Everyone receives seed, the Word of God. Everyone has potential for the harvest, living a fruitful life, but the ones who will produce the most fruit will be the
ones most yielded to cultivation.
Application
How I apply this passage is by asking questions: Can I be cultivated in
my life? How correctable am I? How quickly do I repent? Can I self-correct? The
greater my yielding to Gods cultivation will define the capacity of my fruitfulness
in life.
Prayer
Father, create in me a soft heart, an open heart that is readily yielded to
your Word and your commands. Make me fruitful, I pray. Amen.
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FIRST PROOFS
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FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 1 3 : 1 3
13:12 p Mt25:29;
Lk19:26
13:15 q Isa6:9, 10;
Jn12:40; Ac28:26, 27
13:16 r Mt16:17
13:17 s Heb11:13;
1Pe1:1012
13:19 t Mt4:23
13:21 u Mt11:6
13:22 v Mt19:23;
1Ti6:9, 10, 17
13:30 w Mt3:12
13:32 x Ps104:12;
Eze17:23; Da4:12
13:33 y Ge18:6
13:34 z Mk4:33
a
13:35 Ps78:2; 1Co2:7
M aT T h e w 1 4 : 9
Whoever does not have, even what they have ing a hundred, six ty or thir ty times what was
will be taken from them. p 13 This is why I speak sown.
to them in parables:
Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or
understand.
33 Or about 27 kilograms
35 Psalm 78:2
14
kingdom was divided among three of his sons. Herod Antipas ruled over Galilee and Perea (4 BC AD 39).
14:3 Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great.
Herod Antipas persuaded Herodias to leave her husband
(his half brother, Phillip I) for him. When Herod Antipas
married Herodias, John the Baptist publicly condemned
him for marrying his half brothers wife. Such a marriage
would have been considered an incestuous affront to Gods
law (Lev 18:16; 20:21).
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13:38 b Jn8:44, 45
13:39 c Mt24:3
13:42 d ver50; Mt8:12
13:43 e Da12:3
13:44 f Isa55:1;
Php3:7, 8
13:47 g Mt22:10
13:49 h Mt25:32
13:53 i Mt7:28
13:54 j Mt4:23 k Mt7:28
13:55 l Jn6:42
m Mt12:46
13:57 n Jn4:44
14:1 o Mk8:15; Ac4:27
p Lk9:79
14:3 q Lk3:19, 20
14:4 r Lev18:16; 20:21
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M aT T h e w 1 4 : 1 0
14:14 s Mt9:36
14:17 t Mt16:9
14:19 u 1Sa9:13;
Lk24:30
M aT T h e w 1 5 : 2 2
14:21 All four Gospels record this miracle, but only Matthew noted that the number 5,000 resulted from a tally of
men only. Jews did not permit women and children to eat
with men in public, so they were no doubt fed in a sepa-
15
9 Isaiah 29:13
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14:26 v Lk24:37
14:27 w Mt9:2 x Mt17:7;
28:10; Rev1:17
14:31 y Mt6:30
14:33 z Ps2:7
14:36 a Mt9:20
15:2 b Lk11:38
15:4 c Ex20:12; Dt5:16
d Lev20:9
15:9 e Col2:2022
f Isa29:13
15:11 g Ac10:14, 15
15:13 h Isa60:21
15:14 i Mt23:16, 24
j Lk6:39
15:15 k Mt13:36
15:16 l Mt16:9
15:18 m Mt12:34;
Jas3:6
15:19 n Gal5:1921
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M aT T h e w 1 5 : 2 3
M aT T h e w 1 7 : 1 7
38 The
16
2,3 Some early manuscripts do not have When evening comes . . . of the times.
The Transfiguration
17
17:5 For Gods sheknh glory (his visible presence), see the
note on Ex14:19.
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16:14 f Mt14:2
g Mk6:15; Jn1:21
16:16 h Jn11:27
16:17 i 1Co15:50;
Gal1:16
16:18 j Jn1:42
16:19 k Mt18:18;
Jn20:23
16:21 l Lk17:25
m Mk9:31
16:24 n Mt10:38;
Lk14:27
16:27 o Ro2:6; 2Co5:10;
Rev22:12
17:5 p Mt3:17; 2Pe1:17
q Ac3:22, 23
17:7 r Mt14:27
17:9 s Mt16:21
17:11 t Mal4:6;
Lk1:16, 17
17:12 u Mt11:14
v Mt14:3, 10 w Mt16:21
FIRST PROOFS
1162
M aT T h e w 1 7 : 1 8
17:20 x Mt21:21
Lk17:6
z 1Co13:2
17:24 a Ex30:13
17:25 b Mt22:1721;
Ro13:7
17:27 c Jn6:61
18:3 d Mt19:14; 1Pe2:2
18:6 e Lk17:2
18:7 f Lk17:1
18:8 g Mt5:29;
Mk9:43, 45
18:9 h Mt5:29
18:10 i Ps34:7
18:15 j Lev19:17;
Lk17:3; Jas5:19, 20
y Mk11:23;
FIRST PROOFS
18
M aT T h e w 1 9 : 1 0
2 He called a lit tle child to him, and placed the
child among them. 3 And he said: Tru ly I tell
you, un less you change and become like lit tle
children, d you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly po
sition of this child is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such
child in my name welcomes me.
Causing to Stumble
6 If
shekel (approximately two days wages) and was used for the
upkeep of the temple.
18:6 The large millstone (or, millstone of a donkey) was
a millstone (either of two circular stones used for grinding
grain) turned by a donkey. As such, it was far larger and
heavier than the small millstones used by women for grinding grain each morning.
Divorce
19
a 16 Deut. 19:15
b 18 Or will have been
c 22 Or seventy times seven
d 24 Greek ten thousand talents; a talent was
e 28 Greek a hundred denarii; a denarius was the usual daily wage of a day
worth about 20 years of a day laborers wages.
f 4 Gen. 1:27
g 5 Gen. 2:24
laborer (see 20:2).
1163
18:16 k Dt19:15;
Jn8:17; 2Co13:1;
Heb10:28
18:18 l Mt16:19;
Jn20:23
18:21 m Lk17:4
18:22 n Ge4:24
18:23 o Mt25:19
18:25 p Lk7:42 q 2Ki4:1;
Ne5:5, 8
18:26 r Mt8:2
18:35 s Mt6:14
19:2 t Mt4:23
19:3 u Mt5:31
19:4 v Ge1:27; 5:2
19:5 w Ge2:24;
1Co6:16; Eph5:31
19:7 x Dt24:14
19:9 y Mt5:32; Lk16:18
FIRST PROOFS
1164
FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 1 9 : 1 1
19:11 z Mt13:11;
1Co7:79, 17
19:14 a Mt18:3; 1Pe2:2
19:16 b Mt25:46
c Lk10:25
19:18 d Jas2:11
e
19:19 Lev19:18
19:21 f Lk12:33;
Ac2:45; 4:3435
g Mt6:20
19:23 h Mt13:22
19:26 i Ge18:14;
Job42:2; Jer32:17;
Zec8:6
19:28 j Lk22:2830;
Rev3:21
19:30 k Mt20:16;
Lk13:30
20:1 l Mt13:24
20:8 m Lev19:13
M aT T h e w 2 0 : 1 7
20:2 The denarius was the usual daily wage. A Roman soldier also received one denarius a day.
20
2 A denarius
1165
What a Deal
Scripture
Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the
Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit
on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left
houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for
my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But
many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first (Matthew
19:28 30).
Observation
What a deal! Jesus is asking us to give up everything to follow him, but
what we give up is not lost. It is not squandered. It is not discarded. Instead, it is
repatriated. It goes back to the country to which it belongs to heaven. These
things we place in Gods hands. And if we must physically leave them, God still
owns them.
Often our problem is that we do not want to give everything to God. We want
to keep things and gather more. We call this prosperity. But is it selfishness
under the guise of Biblical prosperity?
Gods definition of prosperity is different from ours. He encourages us to give
him ownership while we assume stewardship. He teaches us to keep a loose
hold on things, positions, roles and ministries. And at times, just to remind us of
who owns what, God periodically asks us to lay things down.
When we are willing to do what the Lord has asked of us, he tells us that he
holds all these things in trust. The interest grows so that there are a hundred
times more waiting for us in the life to come. What a deal!
Application
We are to submit everything we have to God. We must choose to do that
again and again. We are able to give him our hurts, our fears, our concerns, our
possessions, and anything else we are hanging on to.
Prayer
Today, Lord, teach me to honor you in all my ways and submit everything
Iam and everything I have to your ownership. Amen.
S
O
A
P
STUDY
FIRST PROOFS
1166
DATE
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M aT T h e w
M aT T h e w 2 0 : 2 7
TITLE
PAGE
18 We
n the restaurant business, a busser is at the bottom of the food chain. This
is an entry-level position of a food service establishment and is often considered expendable and easily replaceable. From the worlds point of view,
this person is a servant, but most bussers want to move up the food chain.
Not so with you (Mt 20:26).
In the kingdom of God, being a servant is something we are to work toward. It is not an entry-level position. We need to aspire to have a servants
heart. In the kingdom of God, only the greatest can qualify to be servants.
Thats right. Without these characteristics of greatness, well never make it.
We have to be great in:
Patience
Endurance
Mercy
Character
Understanding of others
Humility
1167
20:18 q Mt16:21
20:19 r Mt16:21
s Ac2:23
20:20 t Mt4:21
20:21 u Mt19:28
20:22 v Mt26:39, 42;
Lk22:42; Jn18:11
20:23 w Ac12:2; Rev1:9
20:26 x Mt23:11;
Mk9:35
FIRST PROOFS
1168
FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 2 0 : 2 8
20:28 y Jn13:1316;
Php2:7 z Mt26:28;
1Ti2:6; Titus2:14;
Heb9:28
20:30 a Mt9:27
21:5 b Isa62:11; Zec9:9
21:9 c Ps118:26
21:11 d Jn6:14; 7:40
21:13 e Isa56:7
f Jer7:11
21:16 g Ps8:2
M aT T h e w 2 1 : 4 4
slave 28 just as the Son of Man did not come Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their
to be served, but to serve, y and to give his life as cloaks on the road, while others cut branches
a ransom z for many.
from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those
Two Blind Men Receive Sight
that followed shouted,
29 As Jesus and his disciples were leav ing Jer
Hosanna b to the Son of David!
icho, a large crowd fol lowed him. 30 Two blind
men were sitting by the roadside, and when they
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted,
Lord! c c
Lord, Son of David, a have mercy onus!
Hosanna b in the highest heaven!
31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to
21
a
c
b 9 A Hebrew expression meaning Save! which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15
5 Zech. 9:9
d 13 Isaiah 56:7
e 13 Jer. 7:11
f 16 Psalm 8:2 (see Septuagint)
9 Psalm 118:25,26
may have come from Jericho, since they are not native to
Jerusalem.
21:9 Hosanna (Hebrew hs-h-na; Greek hsanna, save
now) originated as a prayer (Save now, pray; Ps 118:25)
but by New Testament times had lost its primary meaning and had become an exclamation of praise (see also Mk
11:9 10; Jn 12:13).
21:12 The buying and selling of animals (at exorbitant
prices) took place in the large outer court of the Gentiles,
which covered several acres (see the note on Mk 11:15).
21:14 The Jewish authorities typically restricted the lame,
blind, deaf or mute from full temple access to symbolize the
purity expected in those approaching God.
21:17 Bethany was a village on the eastern slope of the
Mount of Olives, about 2 miles (3.2 km) from Jerusalem. It
was the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
42 Psalm 118:22,23
21:23 Several courts surrounded the main temple buildings, including the court of the women, the court of the
men (Israelite), and the court of the Gentiles.
For chief priests, see the note on 2:4. The elders were
the lay members of the Sanhedrin, the high court of the Jews.
21:33 A watchtower was for guarding the vineyard, especially when the grapes ripened; it was also used for shelter.
21:41 Other tenants is a reference to Gentiles. By the
second century AD the church was composed almost entirely of Gentiles.
1169
21:21 h Mt17:20;
Lk17:6; Jas1:6
21:22 i Mt7:7
21:23 j Ac4:7
21:26 k Mk6:20
21:28 l ver33
21:31 m Lk7:29 n Lk7:50
21:32 o Mt3:112
p Lk3:12, 13
21:33 q Ps80:8
r Isa5:17 s Mt25:14, 15
21:35 t 2Ch24:21;
Mt23:34, 37;
Heb11:36, 37
21:38 u Heb1:2 v Ps2:8
21:41 w Ac13:46; 18:6;
28:28
21:42 x Ps118:22, 23;
Ac4:11
21:43 y Mt8:12
FIRST PROOFS
1170
FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 2 1 : 4 5
21:46 z ver11, 26
22:2 a Mt13:24
22:3 b Mt21:34
22:4 c Mt21:36
22:7 d Lk19:27
22:12 e Mt20:13; 26:50
22:13 f Mt8:12
22:16 g Mk3:6
22:17 h Mt17:25
22:21 i Ro13:7
22:23 j Ac23:8
22
M aT T h e w 2 3 : 1 5
45 If
23
b 37 Deut. 6:5
c 39 Lev. 19:18
d 44 Psalm 110:1
e 5 That is, boxes containing Scripture verses,
32 Exodus 3:6
f 14 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.
worn on forehead and arm
22:41 42 The Jews did not teach that the Messiah would
be God incarnate. Jesus demanded that they reevaluate their
ideas about Messiah in light of the Scriptures.
23:2 For teachers of the law and the Pharisees, see the
note on 2:4. The Moses seat was a position of authority.
The Pharisees considered themselves to be the authorized
successors of Moses as teachers of the law.
1171
22:24 k Dt25:5, 6
22:29 l Jn20:9
22:32 m Ex3:6; Ac7:32
22:33 n Mt7:28
22:35 o Lk7:30; 10:25;
11:45
22:37 p Dt6:5
22:39 q Lev19:18;
Mt19:19
22:40 r Mt7:12
22:44 s Ps110:1;
Ac2:34, 35; Heb1:13;
10:13
22:46 t Mk12:34
23:4 u Lk11:46
23:5 v Mt6:1, 2, 5, 16
w Dt6:8
23:6 x Lk11:43
23:11 y Mt20:26
23:12 z Lk14:11
23:13 a Lk11:52
FIRST PROOFS
1172
FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 2 3 : 1 6
23:16 b ver24
c Mt5:3335
23:17 d Ex30:29
23:19 e Ex29:37
23:22 f Mt5:34
23:23 g Lk11:42
h
23:25 Mk7:4 i Lk11:39
23:27 j Lk11:44
23:29 k Lk11:47, 48
23:31 l Ac7:5152
23:33 m Mt3:7
23:34 n Lk11:49
o Mt10:17
23:35 p Ge4:8
q 2Ch24:21
23:37 r 2Ch24:21
23:39 s Ps118:26;
Mt21:9
24:2 t Lk19:44
M aT T h e w 2 4 : 3 5
24
a
e
39 Psalm 118:26
23:16 22 When the scribes (see the note on 2:4) and the
Pharisees (see the note on 3:7) took oaths, they differentiated between which were binding and which were not. This
allowed for evasive oath taking. Jesus rejected all such subtleties and insisted that people simply tell the truth.
23:23 Cumin is a spice indigenous to western Asia and resembling caraway in taste and appearance.
23:24 The strict Pharisee would carefully strain his drinking water through a cloth to make certain he did not swallow a gnat, the smallest of ceremonially unclean animals.
But, figuratively, he was willing to swallow a camel one
of the largest.
4 Jesus answered: Watch out that no one de those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if
ceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, anyone says to you, Look, here is the Messiah!
claiming, I am the Messiah, and will deceive or, There he is! do not believe it. d 24 For false
many. u 6 You will hear of wars and ru mors of messiahs and false prophets will appear and
wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such perform great signs and wonders e to deceive, if
things must happen, but the end is still to come. possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom ahead of time.
26 So if any one tells you,
against kingdom. v There will
be famines and earthquakes in
There he is, out in the wilder
var ious places. 8 All these are
ness, do not go out; or, Here he
The Churchs
the beginning of birth pains.
is, in the inner rooms, do not
9 Then you will be handed
believe it. 27 For as light ning f
problem for the
over to be persecuted w and put
that
comes from the east is vis
future is an
to death, x and you will be hat
ible even in the west, so will be
overabundance
ed by all nations because of me.
the coming of the Son of Man.
10 At that time many will turn
28 Wherever there is a carcass,
of immature
leaders.
away from the faith and will be
there the vultures will gather. g
29 Im mediately af ter the dis
tray and hate each other, 11 and
many false prophets will appear
tress of those days
and deceive many people. 12 Be
cause of the increase of wickedness, the love of
the sun will be darkened,
most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands
and the moon will not give its light;
firm to the end will be saved. y 14 And this gospel
the stars will fall from the sky,
of the kingdom will be preached in the whole
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. b h
z
world as a testi mony to all nations, and then
30 Then will appear the sign of the Son of
the end will come.
15 So when you see stand ing in the holy place
Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the
the abomination that causes desolation, a a spo earth c will mourn when they see the Son of Man
ken of through the prophet Dan iel let the com ing on the clouds of heaven, i with power
reader understand 16 then let those who are and great glory. d 31 And he will send his angels
in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on with a loud trumpet call, j and they will gather
the housetop go down to take any thing out of his elect from the four winds, from one end of
the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get the heavens to the other.
32 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As
their cloak. 19 How dread ful it will be in those
days for preg nant women and nursing moth soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come
ers! b 20 Pray that your flight will not take place out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so,
in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there when you see all these things, you know that it e
will be great distress, unequaled from the be is near, right at the door. k 34 Tru ly I tell you, this
ginning of the world until now and never to generation will cer tain ly not pass away until
be equaled again. c
all these things have happened. l 35 Heaven and
22 If those days had not been cut short, no
earth will pass away, but my words will never
one would sur vive, but for the sake of the elect pass away.
1173
FIRST PROOFS
1174
FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 2 4 : 3 6
24:36 m Ac1:7
24:37 n Ge6:5
24:40 o Lk17:34
24:42 p Mt25:13
24:43 q Lk12:39
24:45 r Mt25:21, 23
24:46 s Rev16:15
24:47 t Mt25:21, 23
24:51 u Mt8:12
25:1 v Mt13:24
w Rev19:7
25:5 x 1Th5:6
y
25:13 Mt24:42, 44
25:14 z Mt21:33;
Lk19:12
25:15 a Mt18:24, 25
25:19 b Mt18:23
M aT T h e w 2 6 : 5
25
a
36 Some manuscripts do not have nor the Son. b 15 Greek five talents . . . two talents . . . one talent; also throughout this
parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborers wage.
26
1175
25:21 c Mt24:45, 47
25:23 d ver21
25:29 e Mt13:12
25:30 f Mt8:12
25:31 g Mt16:27
h Mt19:28
25:32 i Eze34:17, 20
25:34 j 1Co15:50
k Rev13:8
25:35 l Isa58:7;
Eze18:7; Heb13:2
25:36 m Jas2:15, 16
n 2Ti1:16
25:40 o Pr19:17;
Mt10:40, 42
25:41 p Mt7:23
q Mk9:43, 48; Jude7
r 2Pe2:4
25:45 s Pr14:31
25:46 t Da12:2; Jn5:29
26:1 u Mt7:28
26:2 v Jn13:1
26:3 w Ps2:2
x Jn11:4753
FIRST PROOFS
1176
FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 2 6 : 6
26:6 y Mt21:17
26:11 z Dt15:11
26:15 a Zec11:12
26:17 b Ex12:1820
26:23 c Jn13:18
26:24 d Isa53; Mk9:12;
Lk24:2527, 46;
Ac17:2, 3
26:26 e 1Co10:16
26:28 f Heb9:20
g Mt20:28
26:30 h Mk14:26
26:31 i Zec13:7;
Jn16:32
26:32 j Mt28:7, 10, 16
M aT T h e w 2 6 : 6 1
Bethany y
Jesus was in
in the home of
Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with
an alabaster jar of very ex pensive per fume,
which she poured on his head as he was reclin
ing at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were in
dignant. Why this waste? they asked. 9 This
per fume could have been sold at a high price
and the money given to the poor.
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, Why
are you bothering this woman? She has done a
beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will al
ways have with you, a z but you will not always
have me. 12 When she poured this per fume
on my body, she did it to prepare me for buri
al. 13 Tru ly I tell you, wherever this gospel is
preached throughout the world, what she has
done will also be told, in memory of her.
31 Then
31 Zech. 13:7
Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place
1177
26:34 k Jn13:38
26:35 l Jn13:37
26:37 m Mt4:21
26:38 n Jn12:27
26:39 o Mt20:22
p Jn6:38
26:40 q ver38
26:49 r ver25
26:50 s Mt20:13; 22:12
26:51 t Jn18:10
26:52 u Ge9:6;
Rev13:10
26:53 v 2Ki6:17; Da7:10
26:54 w ver24
26:58 x Jn18:15
26:60 y Ps27:12; 35:11;
Ac6:13 z Dt19:15
FIRST PROOFS
1178
FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 2 6 : 6 2
26:63 a Mt27:12, 14
b Lev5:1
26:64 c Ps110:1
d Da7:13
26:66 e Lev24:16;
Jn19:7
26:67 f Mt27:30
26:68 g Lk22:6365
26:75 h ver34; Jn13:38
27:1 i Mk15:1; Lk22:66
27:2 j Mt20:19 k Ac3:13
27:3 l Mt26:14, 15
27:4 m ver24
27:5 n Ac1:18
27:8 o Ac1:19
27:12 p Mt26:63;
Jn19:9
27:13 q Mt26:62
27:15 r Jn18:39
M aT T h e w 2 7 : 4 6
27
45 From
46 Psalm 22:1
1179
27:19 s ver24
27:20 t Ac3:14
27:24 u Mt26:5
v Dt21:68
27:25 w Jos2:19;
Ac5:28
27:26 x Isa53:5
27:29 y Isa53:3
27:30 z Mt26:67
27:31 a Isa53:7
27:32 b Heb13:12
c Mk15:21
27:33 d Jn19:17
27:34 e Ps69:21
27:35 f Ps22:18
27:36 g ver54
27:39 h Ps22:7; 109:25
27:40 i Mt26:61; Jn2:19
27:42 j Jn1:49
27:43 k Ps22:8
27:46 l Ps22:1
FIRST PROOFS
1180
FIRST PROOFS
M aT T h e w 2 7 : 4 7
27:48 m Ps69:21
27:51 n Ex26:3133
27:54 o ver36
27:55 p Lk8:2, 3
27:60 q Mk16:4
27:63 r Mt16:21
27:66 s Da6:17
28:1 t Mt27:56
28:3 u Da10:6
28:6 v Mt16:21
28:7 w Mt26:32
28:10 x Ro8:29;
Heb2:1113, 17
M aT T h e w 2 8 : 2 0
28
DATE
TITLE
1181
62 The next day, the one af ter Prepa ration Day, The Guards Report
11 While the women were on their way, some
the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pi
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