For thousands of years, human history awaited a promised Messiah—an anointed king who would bring peace and deliverance to God's people. Every generation had its messianic prospects, but even the greatest of them fell short. After 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments, God burst onto the scene. The first page of the New Testament describes it like this: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the

son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1)Jews reading this would have been elated—the Messiah is here! But the coming of Jesus is not just good news for the Jew; it is good news for the world. By writing his account, Matthew shows us why the coming of this Messiah is good news for all people and invites us to consider his claims, take to heart his teachings, and follow him.

SECTION 1:INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Χριστός Christמשיח

A Hebrew title meaning ‘anointed one’

The Greek translation of the Hebrew word ‘mashiakh’

The English title ascribed to Jesus meaning ‘anointed one’

/ ‘mashiakh’ / ‘christos’

The Old Testament was essentially an unfinished book with promises that had yet to be fulfilled. The Jewish people knew that the story was not over and clung to God's promises with hope. The book of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament—and rightfully so. Matthew serves as a natural bridge from the Old Testament to the New. Out of the four gospels, Matthew most frequently references the Old Testament, he tells about Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection, and presents Jesus as the climax of the biblical story. Matthew even starts his Gospel account with a genealogy of Jesus to highlight how Jesus is the fulfillment of the entire biblical story.

Jeconiah to JesusAbraham to David David to Jeconiah

Matthew 1:2-6; Genesis–2 Samuel Matthew 1:6-11; 1 Kings–2 Chronicles Matthew 1:12-16; Ezra-Nehemiah

Significance: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were Israel’s patriarchs

Significance: David’s kingly line would bring about the promised Messiah(see 2 Samuel 7)

Significance: David’s family lineage remained intact even in the midst of national exile

ScriptureOT Prophecy

Virgin birth Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23

Born in Bethlehem Mic 5:2; Matt 2:6

Flee from out of Egypt Hos 11:1; Matt 2:15

Herod’s decree Jer 31:15; Matt 2:18

Messiah from Nazareth Ps 22:6; Matt 2:15

A messianic forerunner Isa 40:3; Matt 3:3

Jesus’ Galilean ministry Isa 9:1-2; Matt 4:15

The word “messiah” literally means “anointed one.” The act of anointing included pouring oil on someone to consecrate him for a religious office—in Israelite worship, these offices were prophet, priest, and king. The promised Messiah was going to come as the anointed fulfillment of all three of these offices: a prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:15), a priest better than Aaron (Ps. 110:4), and a king in the line of David (2 Sam. 7:11-16). As you read Matthew, you will notice he frequently refers to Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. He uses phrases like “that it might be fulfilled” to highlight how Jesus fulfilled the ancient prophecies. Matthew wants the reader to see the connections between his account and the Old Testament to emphasize that Jesus is in fact the promised Messiah of Israel.

SECTION 2:MATTHEW AS THE OT/NT BRIDGE

SECTION 3: THE MESSIANIC HOPE

Moses in the OT Jesus in the NT

Exodus12:33-42

Exodus14:1-31

Numbers10:11-36

Exodus19:1-25

Out of Egypt

Baptism in the Jordan River

Receives law from the mountain

Gives law from the mountain

Matthew2:13-15

Matthew3:13-17

Matthew4:1-2

Matthew4:4-11

Out of Egypt

Cross the Red Sea

Wilderness for 40 years Wilderness for 40 days

Typically, the expression “son of” is used to describe someone as male offspring born from a father and a mother. In Matthew, Jesus is referred to as the “Son of God.” Jesus was never created as God’s Son—he is eternal (Colossians 1:15-20). The term “Son of God” instead describes Jesus’ familial relationship with the Father. This is why the Father says of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)The phrase “son of” can also be used in a symbolic or spiritual sense to connect someone's identity or nature with someone or something. Throughout the Old Testament, the term “sons of God” is used to describe spiritual beings. Calling Jesus the “Son of God” tells us Jesus is not merely human. He is not from this world, but is in the class of spiritual beings. The Old Testament also tells us the future Messiah would be called God’s son (2 Samuel 7:14). The Jews of Jesus’ day would have recognized the title “Son of God” as connected with the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jesus is the unique Son of God, is in the class of spiritual beings, and is the promised Messiah of the OT.

Matthew chose to communicate the story of Jesus in a way that indirectly presents him as a new Moses. Through the use of imagery, Matthew's account of Jesus alludes to the story of the prophet Moses and the exodus of God's people from Egypt, telling the story of God's people in miniature. Where Moses and Israel failed, Jesus passed with flying colors. He came to do what no human was able to do and is the new prophet who would establish a new covenant with God's people through his own sacrifice.

SECTION 4:THE SON OF GOD

SECTION 5: THE NEW MOSES

King Herod the Great King Jesus the Christ

Political king of the Jews under the authority of Rome

Messianic king of the Jews under the authority of God

Funded the building of temples throughout the Roman Empire

Built a divine kingdom with influence in and beyond the Roman Empire

From the region of Edom From the town of Nazareth

After Jesus was born, wise men came to Herod, king of Judea, looking for him and saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” a title King Herod considered his own and wasn't too fond of someone else taking. There was truth to King Herod's title. He really was the king in the land where the Jews lived, but he was not their ultimate king. Jesus the Messiah is King—though not of an earthly kingdom. Jesus called this kingdom the “Kingdom of Heaven” or the “Kingdom of God,” a kingdom in which the greatest people are those who love their enemies and serve the poor. Toward the end of Matthew's Gospel, we read about Jesus' crucifixion—his ultimate act of sacrificial love for his enemies. Here, Jesus demonstrated his loving, kingly rule by being exalted not on a throne, but on a cross.

SECTION 6:THE KING OF THE JEWS