The Gospel of Matthew: The Jewish Gospel

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, He sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Matthew 11:2-3

Anyone who has walked with God will tell you—He makes you wait. The Jews had waited a long time for their promised Messiah. They hadn't heard from God, not a word, for more than 400 years.

The Gospel of Matthew is a book of transition; we could call it the Jewish Gospel. Good news . . . to the Jews. Their Messiah, whom God promised them in the Old Testament has arrived. Jesus the Christ—Every time we say His name, we call Him “the Anointed,” the Jewish Messiah and Savior of the world.

The Old Testament was God’s story with His people. Matthew begins with all their names in a list, connecting Jesus to Abraham and David, the two rock stars in this 41-generational family line-up.

Matthew’s goal was to convince the Jews that Jesus was God’s promise fulfilled.

Ten times he says, All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet . . .” Even more times he tells them about something Jesus said that echoed the ancient promises. Jesus intentionally did things that connected dots to lines across the Old Testament.

But expectations are hard to overcome. The Jews thought the Messiah was coming to bless the Jews, but it soon became clear that He was introducing a better plan. He wasn’t interested in overthrowing Rome in the first century and He wasn’t only interested in the Jews, but was instead building a kingdom of God that included both Jews and Gentiles who embrace Him as Messiah and Savior.

This was quite different than they expected. Even Jesus’ most dedicated spokesman, John the Baptist, had his doubts. John, who acted just like an Old Testament prophet, asked Jesus to clarify His mission. Right before his very violent execution, John sent a message to Jesus, Are you the One or should we look for another? (Matthew 11:3)

An honest question from a faithful Jew. But Jesus made John’s disciples wait for an answer as He kept teaching the crowd and healing broken bodies, minds, and souls. Then He says, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: . . . about the blind who now see and the paralyzed who now walk, about the broken-hearted who now sing, and the dead who live again” —all specific clues from the prophet Isaiah on how to recognize the coming Messiah. 

So as one chapter ends, another begins. And now every person, Jew or Gentile, is invited into the story. And what Jesus brings to the world is the true and complete fulfillment of the greatest Jewish promise. What’s ahead is so much more beautiful than their expectations, better than what they hoped or prayed for.

Jesus the Christ is the promise fulfilled.

Next: Slow down, Jesus!

Fast Facts about Gospel of Matthew

In a word: Promise fulfilled

In a sentence: 

A detail description of Jesus’ life and ministry with special focus on how He fulfilled Old Testament prophecies of the promised Messiah and King.

Written by Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, in 50-70 a.d. to prove to predominantly Jewish readers that Jesus is God’s promised Messiah, for the Jews and the world. 

Key verse: 

Jesus said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Glimpses of Jesus: 

In Matthew, Jesus is the promised Messiah, King of the Jews; fulfillment of expectations

5 verses from Matthew to highlight in your Bible:

·       “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:3

·       “Your Father knows what you need”—Matthew 6:8-9

·       “Come to Me, all you who are weary . . .” —Matthew 11:28-29

·       “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”—Matthew 16:16

·       “Where two or three are gathered in my name . . .”—Matthew 28:19