“Woodrow Wilson told the story of being in a barbershop one time: ‘I was sitting in a barber chair when I became aware that a powerful personality had entered the room. A man had come quietly in upon the same errand as me to have this hair cut and sat in the chair next to me. Every word the man uttered, though it was not in the least didactic, showed a personal interest in the man who was serving him. And before I got through with what was being done to me I was aware I had attended an evangelistic service, because Mr. D. L. Moody was in the chair. I purposely lingered in the room after he had left and noted the singular effect that his visit had brought upon the barbershop. They talked in undertones. They did not know his name, but they knew something had elevated their thoughts, and I felt that I left that place as I should have left a place of worship” (John MacArthur, Matthew 1-7, page 236). Mr. Moody had exerted Christian influence.
Matthew’s Gospel can enable us to exert Gospel influence. Matthew wrote to win Jews.
1. Matthew records the fulfillment of the Old Testament Messianic prophecies. Matthew breaks the silence of 400 years with “that it might be fulfilled” eleven times (1:22-23; 2:15, 17-18, 23; 4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 13:35; 21:4-5; 26:56; 27:9-19). The fulfillment of Scripture was important to the Jews.
2. Matthew is the first book in the New Testament. It is the Genesis of the New Testament. It is the book of a new beginning. It is the gateway to new revelation.
1. The Author is Matthew
A. The Gospel of Matthew has more references to coins than any other book. Three terms for coins are used. Matthew the tax collector obviously was interested in coins which he handled a great deal.
B. Matthew’s humility shows up in this book. He refers to “Matthew the tax collector” (Matthew 9:9). While Mark and Luke do not use the title of contempt as much.
C. Matthew says after his conversion he had “a dinner” (9:9.10) for his friends. Luke described it as “a great banquet.”
D. Matthew being a tax collector had the ability to write and keep records which he reflects when he so precisely records six sermons of Christ. Sixty percent of the book focuses on the teachings of Christ. Alexander Whyte once said, “When Matthew left his job as a tax collector to follow Christ, he brought his pen with him.”
2. The Audience is Jewish
A. Matthew writes to the Jews (There are over 100 quotations or allusions to the OT).
B. Mark writes to the Romans (Mark writes a shorter letter for the busy Roman). Mark presents Christ as the Servant (No genealogy of a servant necessary).
C. Luke, the Gentile (Colossians 4:11) writes to the Gentiles and records more material than any other author of the Gospels to win one Gentile (Theophilus in Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1)
D. John writes to the World and presents Christ as God (John 1:1) who was with God eternally. John writes so sinners might believe and be saved (John 20:31). All four Gospels combined give the full portrait of Jesus.
3. The Purpose is to convince Jews that Christ is the OT Predicted Messiah
Matthew is the Hebrew Gospel
A. Mt 1:1 The genealogy of the King (“Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham”)
1) Jesus had a human right to be King (1:1-17). He was the son of David
2) Jesus had a divine right to be King (1:18-25). He was the son of God
B. Mt 2:2 The birth of the King
C. Mt 3:2 The announcement of the King
D. Mt 4 The test of the King
4. The Method is to outline the Words and Works of King Jesus
All Jesus’ teachings end with “when Jesus had ended these sayings” 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1)
A. Jesus’ Teaching: Sermon on the Mount (5-7)
Narrative: The Miracles of Jesus (8-9)
B. Jesus’ Teaching: Training of the Twelve (10)
Narrative: Opposition of Jesus (11-12)
C. Jesus’ Teaching: The Kingdom Parables (13)
Narrative: Continued ministry and opposition (14-17)
D. Jesus’ Teaching: Instruction on Humility (18)
Narrative: The Ultimate Rejection (19-23)
E. Jesus’ Teaching: End Time Lessons (24-25)
Narrative: The Death and Resurrection of Christ (26-28)
In the Great Commission, Jesus instructs his disciples that it is now their turn to “teach.”
F. Jesus tells his disciple to “teach all nations” in the Great Commission (28:19- 20) and not just the “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (10:6)
The Great Commission (READ The Great Commission or the Great Suggestion by Daniel Wallace, click to open)
1. The Great Commission Part 1: The Grammar
A. “Go” is an aorist participle and has the force of a command
B. But the main verb is “Make disciples” is an aorist imperative
C. To the prerequisite of making disciples is “having gone” with the gospel and won someone to Christ.
2. The Great Commission, Part 2: Historical Setting
“They moved outside of their comfort zone: they went and then made disciples“ of all the nations” rather than making disciples along the way.
3. The Great Commission Part 3: Application
Believers in Jesus Christ need to consciously get outside their comfort zone and go to where non-believers are, to be a witness among them.
The Ministry of the Church is the Great Commission
The one command is “Make Disciples” followed by three participles
1. By Winning the unsaved to Christ or Evangelizing
2. By Baptizing them or Assimilating
3. By Teaching them or Educating
The early church obeyed the Great Commission in the following ways.
Four Methods of Evangelizing
1. Cold Turkey Evangelization (Acts 8:26-38)
2. Friends/Family Evangelization (John 1:40-42)
3. Event Evangelization (Acts 10: and 1 Corinthians 14:23-26). Elmer Town’s “Friend Day” is an example.
4. Community Evangelization (Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-37).