Download MP3
The Problem
God is holy and man is not. In the sight of God, we rightfully deserve death because of our sins. Human beings are so dead in their sins and are not able to save themselves from this deadness.God’s Solution
What is the Gospel?Literally, it means “good news”. In the context of the Christian faith, the gospel is the good news about God coming to earth in the person of Jesus, born of a virgin, lived a perfect obedient life and died a horrible death on the cross in your place. He rose again after three days, defeating sin and death, to prove that he is who he says he is, “The Son of God”. He now gives the gift of salvation from sin and eternal life to those who receive him and believe in him as only Lord and Savior.
Introduction
The Gospel According to Matthew is written by the Apostle Matthew also called Levi, a Jew and a former tax collector who became a disciple of Jesus. By Apostle, meaning, he is an ambassador and a spokesperson of Jesus Christ. His former occupation as a tax collector shows that he had a formal education and is able to learn and teach the same way as the scribes. Being a tax collector made him unpopular to the Jewish communities because they were serving the Roman empire and have been allowed to collect more than a person’s due for their personal profit.
Side Note: Now that is an important point to ponder because many of us think that we are so dirty, so unfit to be used by God for his purpose in reaching the world with the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
The primary recipient of this account is the prominent church in Antioch of Syria composed of Jews and Gentiles.
Theme
Jesus comes as the messianic King in the line of David to fulfill the Old Testament, especially its promises of everlasting salvation. The ultimate fulfillment comes with his crucifixion and resurrection.
Purpose
Matthew wrote his account to demonstrate Jesus’ messianic identity. That is why we will take a brief look on five (there are many) of the main identification marks in the life of Jesus Christ for us;
1. If you are a Christian; to be reminded and refreshed of the identity of the Lord and Savior.
2. If you are not a believer of Christ; for you to see who this “Jesus” is and meet him in a powerful way. This is how God saves unbelievers. The Gospel is preached and the eyes of the hearts are enlightened.
1. Genealogy (Mat 1:1-17)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)
For a contemporary reader, this genealogy might be boring, but to the original recipient of this account, and to Christians who really read their Bible, you can’t read this and not notice the dark things these people did in the past. This account also shows us Jesus’ rightful heirship of the throne as king in the line of David.
2. Virgin Birth
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us. (Isaiah 8:8,10)
A great mystery that even scientists nowadays can’t even explain how it was possible for a virgin to give birth. It defies the natural laws as we know it and to a limited mind, we see it as an impossible thing. But to God who spoke all things to existence (Genesis 1-2), nothing is impossible.
3. King of the Jews
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” (Matthew 27:11)
Jesus is not the political king that the Jewish people want. He is not a king that would lead them to victorious battle against the oppression of the Roman empire. But he is a king that will rule in the hearts of his people for all eternity in all tribes, tongues and nations.
Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ (Matthew 21:5)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)
4. The Son of God
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:32-33)
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Matthew 26:63)
Here we see the deity of Jesus Christ. He is God. He is the “Word” from the beginning as John puts it in John 1:1. All things were created through him, by him and for him.
5. Jesus’ Presence
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20)
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23)
Here we see that in our daily walk, we are never truly alone. He promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us and he sealed that promise with his blood and in his resurrection, he sent his Spirit (Holy Spirit) to be with us and dwell in us. In the OT, God’s presence dwelt in a tent, tabernacle and temple. Now, his presence dwells in every single born-again Christians.
Conclusion:
Jesus comes as the messianic King in the line of David to fulfill the Old Testament, especially its promises of everlasting salvation. The ultimate fulfillment comes with his crucifixion and resurrection.
Connect With Us