"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Four by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                              Chapter Four

Following His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
where He fasted for forty days and overcame temptation by the devil
(1-11).  Returning to Galilee and moving from Nazareth to Capernaum,
Jesus began His Galilean ministry preaching the same message of the
kingdom of heaven as that of John the Baptist.  After selecting four
disciples, Jesus went about Galilee teaching in the synagogues and
healing all kinds of sickness and disease.  Soon great multitudes from
surrounding regions began to follow Him (12-25).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  How Jesus overcame His temptation by the devil

   *  The beginning of His ministry in Galilee, His message and methods

   *  The call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John to discipleship

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The temptation of Jesus - Mt 4:1-11
   - The beginning of Jesus’ Galilean ministry - Mt 4:12-25

2) With what three temptations did Satan challenge Jesus? (3,6,9)
   - "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become
     bread."
   - "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down (from the pinnacle
     of the temple)."
   - "All these things (kingdoms of the world) I will give You if You
     will fall down and worship me."

3) How did Jesus respond to each of the three temptations? (4,7,10)
   - With the Word of God ("It is written...")

4) Where did Jesus begin His public ministry?  Fulfilling what prophecy?
   (12-16)
   - The region of Galilee; as prophesied by Isaiah (Isa 9:1-2)

5) What was the theme of Jesus’ preaching? (17)
   - "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

6) Who were the four fishermen called to follow Jesus? (18-22)
   - Peter and Andrew, James and John

7) How did Jesus conduct His ministry in Galilee? (23-24)
   - Teaching in the synagogues
   - Healing all kinds of disease and sickness, including demon
     possession

8) Where did people come from to follow Jesus? (25)
   - Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Three by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                             Chapter Three

Matthew skips ahead about thirty years to describe events that prepared
Jesus for His public ministry.  John the Baptist served as a forerunner
with his own ministry of preaching in the wilderness of Judea and
baptizing in the Jordan river (1-12).   From Galilee Jesus came to be
baptized by John "to fulfill all righteousness".  As Jesus came up out
of the water, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended on Him like a
dove, and a voice from heaven declared, "This is my beloved Son in whom
I am well pleased" (13-17).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The message and ministry of John the Baptist

   *  The purpose and meaning of Jesus’ baptism

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The ministry of John the Baptist - Mt 3:1-12
   - The baptism of Jesus Christ - Mt 3:13-17

2) What was the theme of John’s preaching? (1-2)
   - "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

3) What was John’s mission as foretold by Isaiah? (3)
   - To prepare the way of the Lord (Isa 40:3)

4) What unique clothing and diet did John have? (4)
   - Clothed in camel’s hair and leather belt, food was locust and wild
     honey

5) What was John doing in the Jordan river? (5-6)
   - Baptizing people as they were confessing their sins

6) What did John say to the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be
   baptized? (8)
   - "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance"

7) What did John say One who followed him would do? (11-12)
   - Baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire

8) Who came from Galilee to be baptized by John? Why? (13-15)
   - Jesus; to fulfill all righteousness

9) As Jesus came up from the water, what three things happened? (16-17)
   - The heavens were opened to Him
   - The Spirit descended like a dove upon Him
   - A voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
     well pleased."

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Two by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                              Chapter Two

Unlike Luke, Matthew does not record events related to the day of Jesus’
birth.  But he does describe the visit of the wise men who followed the
star to find the infant child and to worship Him (1-12).  Warned by an
angel in a dream, Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt, escaping the
massacre of infants by an enraged Herod (13-18).  After the death of
Herod, Joseph and his family return to settle in the village of Nazareth
(19-23).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The details of the visit of the wise men from the East

   *  Fact versus fiction related to the birth of Jesus

   *  Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by the events in this chapter

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The visit of the wise men - Mt 2:1-12
   - The flight to Egypt and massacre of infants - Mt 2:13-18
   - The return from Egypt and residence at Nazareth - Mt 2:19-23

2) Why had the wise men from the East come to Jerusalem? (1-2)
   - They had seen the star of the King of the Jews and had come to
     worship Him

3) How did the priests and scribes determine the location of Christ’s
   birth? (4-6)
   - From Mic 5:2

4) How did the wise men find the young Child?  Where did they find Him?
   (9-11)
   - Heading to Bethlehem, they followed the star; in a house with Mary
     His mother

5) Why did Joseph and his family flee?  What prophecy would be
   fulfilled? (13-15)
   - Warned by an angel to go to Egypt, in order to escape Herod’s
     effort to destroy Jesus
   - "Out of Egypt I called My Son" (Hos 11:1)

6) What prophecy did the slaughter of the innocents fulfill? (16-18)
   - That spoken by Jeremiah the prophet (Jer 31:15)

7) What prompted Joseph and his family to return?  Why to Galilee?
   (19-22)
   - An angel told Joseph of Herod’s death, and told him to return to
     Israel
   - Hearing that Herod’s son ruled over Judea, they turned aside to
     Galilee

8) Where did the family settle?  What prophecy did that fulfill? (23)
   - In a city called Nazareth
   - "He shall be called a Nazarene" (no one prophecy in particular)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter One by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                              Chapter One

Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham to
Joseph.  Thus he shows the royal lineage of Jesus from David, one of the
first things required to convince a Jewish audience that Jesus qualified
to be the Messiah (1-17; cf. Mt 22:41-42).  The birth of Jesus is then
described, with the announcement of the angel to Joseph, and the
protection of her virginity until His birth (18-25).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The genealogy, comparing it with the one in Luke’s gospel

   *  The prophecies of Isaiah and the angel regarding the virgin birth

   *  The significance of the names given to the child born of Mary

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The genealogy of Jesus Christ - Mt 1:1-17
   - The birth of Jesus Christ - Mt 1:18-25

2) Whose genealogy is given by Matthew? (1)
   - Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham

3) What four women are included in this genealogy? (3,5,6)
   - Tamar
   - Rahab
   - Ruth
   - The wife (Bathsheba) of Uriah

4) What was the initial relationship between Joseph and Mary? (18)
   - Betrothed (engaged)

5) When and how did Mary become pregnant? (18)
   - Before she and Joseph came together
   - From the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk 1:26-35)

6) What two names would be given the child, and what do they mean?
   (21-23)
   - Jesus (savior); Immanuel (God with us)

7) What scripture in the OT was fulfilled by the virgin birth of Christ?
   (22-23)
   - That written by Isaiah in Isa 7:14

8) How long did Joseph wait until he knew Mary as his wife? (25)
   - Until she had given birth to her son (Jesus)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Introduction by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                              Introduction

The book of Matthew has always occupied a position of high esteem in the
faith and life of the church:

"When we turn to Matthew, we turn to the book which may well be called
the most important single document of the Christian faith, for in it we
have the fullest and the most systematic account of the life and the
teachings of Jesus." (William Barclay)

The writings of the early church fathers reveal that it was the most
frequently quoted and perhaps the most widely read gospel during the
first two centuries of the church's history.

AUTHOR

The apostolic origin and canonical rank of the gospel of Matthew were
accepted without a doubt by the early church (ISBE).  Matthew, surnamed
Levi, had been a tax-collector,  one of Jesus' earliest disciples (Mt
9:9; Mk 2:14).  He was chosen to be one of the twelve apostles (Mt
10:2-3).  A close associate of Jesus during His ministry, Matthew's
gospel is a first hand account, unlike Luke who depended upon other
eyewitnesses (Lk 1:1-4).

DATE

Irenaeus says it was written when Peter and Paul were preaching in Rome
(Against Heresies 3.1.1).  Eusebius states that this was done when
Matthew left Palestine and went to preach to others (Historia
Ecclesiastica, III, 24).  Clement of Alexandria said that the presbyters
who succeeded each other from the beginning declared that "the gospels
containing the genealogies (Matthew and Luke) were written first"
(Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica, VI, 14).  It is traditionally dated
in the late 50s or early  60s A.D.

THEME

The gospel appears written to Jews, designed to prove that Jesus is the
Messianic king of Old Testament (OT) prophecy.  This is evidenced by
Matthew’s frequent appeal to OT Messianic prophecies.  He quotes from
almost every book in the OT, and twelve times he identifies OT
prophecies as fulfilled in the life of Jesus (Mt 1:22; 2:15,23; 4:14;
5:17; 8:17; 12:17; 13:14,35; 21:4; 27:9).  One could therefore say that
the theme is:
                    Jesus, the King of the Jews

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS

It is a Jewish gospel.  We've noted its frequent appeal to OT
prophecies.  It's organization is mostly topical, as opposed to strictly
chronological (a common style in Jewish literature).  Thus it appears to
have been written with a Jewish audience in mind.

It is an ecclesiastical gospel.  It is the only gospel which mentions
the word "church".  It foretells its beginning (Mt 16:18), and describes
some of the life in the church (Mt 18:15-17).  It contains lengthy
discourses especially beneficial to those in the church, such as the
sermon on the mount (Mt 5-7), the many parables (Mt 13), and the Olivet
discourse (Mt 24-25).  It contains admonitions important to disciples of
Christ, such as the importance of doing the Father's will (Mt 7:21-23)
and observing all that Jesus commanded (Mt 28:20).  In other words, this
was a gospel designed for use by those in the early church.

It is an evangelistic gospel.  It is a preaching gospel, especially when
compared with the apostles' preaching found in Acts.  It expands upon
the basic elements and points made in their sermons.  Consider these
themes in apostolic preaching:

   *  God's promises in the OT have been fulfilled - Ac 3:18,24
   *  The long-awaited Messiah, born of David's line, has come - Ac 13:23
   *  He is Jesus of Nazareth - Ac 13:23
   *  He went about preaching and doing good through mighty works - Ac 10:38
   *  He was crucified according to the promise and will of God - Ac 2:22,23
   *  He was raised from the dead, and exalted at God's right hand - Ac 2:24,32-33
   *  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead - Ac 3:20-21; 17:30-31
   *  Therefore, all should heed His message, repent, and be baptized
      - Ac 2:36-38

All of these points are expanded upon in the gospel of Matthew.

OUTLINE

(adapted from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

1. The birth and childhood of Jesus - Mt 1:1-2:23
   a. Genealogy of Christ - Mt 1:1-17
   b. Birth of Christ - Mt 1:18-25
   c. Visit of the Magi - Mt 2:1-12
   d. Flight into Egypt and massacre of the infants - Mt 2:13-18
   e. Residence at Nazareth - Mt 2:19-23

2. The preparation for the ministry of Jesus - Mt 3:1-4:11
   a. The forerunner of Christ - Mt 3:1-12
   b. Baptism of Christ - Mt 3:13-17
   c. Temptation of Christ - Mt 4:1-11

3. The ministry of Jesus in Galilee - Mt 4:12-18:35
   a. Residence at Capernaum - Mt 4:12-17
   b. Call of four disciples - Mt 4:18-22
   c. General survey of the Galilean ministry - Mt 4:23-25
   d. Sermon on the mount - Mt 5:1-7:29
   e. Ten miracles and related events - Mt 8:1-9:38
   f. Mission of the twelve - Mt 10:1-42
   g. Christ's answer to John, and related discourse - Mt 11:1-30
   h. Opposition from the Pharisees - Mt 12:1-50
   i. A series of parables on the kingdom - Mt 13:1-58
   j. Withdrawal of Jesus following John's beheading - Mt 14:1-36
   k. Conflict with the Pharisees over tradition - Mt 15:1-20
   l. Withdrawal to Phoenecia and healing of a Canaanitish woman's
      daughter - Mt 15:21-28
   m. Return to the Sea of Galilee and performing of miracles - Mt 15:29-38
   n. Renewed conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducees - Mt 15:39-16:4
   o. Withdrawal to the region of Caesarea Philippi - Mt 16:5-17:23
   p. Instruction of the twelve at Capernaum - Mt 17:24-18:35

4. The ministry of Jesus in Perea - Mt 19:1-20:16
   a. Teaching on divorce - Mt 19:1-12
   b. Blessing of the children - Mt 19:13-15
   c. Interview with the rich young man - Mt 19:16-30
   d. Parable of the laborers in the vineyard - Mt 20:1-16

5. The ministry of Jesus in Judea - Mt 20:17-34
   a. Another prediction of Christ's death and resurrection - Mt 20:17-19
   b. Ambitious request of Zebedee's sons - Mt 20:20-28
   c. Healing of two blind men - Mt 20:29-34

6. The ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem - Mt 21:1-25:46
   a. Triumphal entry - Mt 21:1-11
   b. Cleansing the Temple - Mt 21:12-17
   c. Cursing of the barren fig tree - Mt 21:18-22
   d. Questioning of Jesus' authority and his parabolic answer - Mt 21:23-22:14
   e. Questioning of Jesus by various groups - Mt 22:15-46
   f. Jesus' public denunciation of the Pharisees - Mt 23:1-39
   g. Olivet Discourse - Mt 24:1-25:46

7. The suffering of Jesus - Mt 26:1-27:66
   a. Plot against Jesus - Mt 26:1-16
   b. The final meal - Mt 26:17-30
   c. Prediction of Peter's denial - Mt 26:31-35
   d. Events in Gethsemane - Mt 26:36-56
   e. Events at the Jewish trials - Mt 26:57-27:2
   f. Remorse of Judas - Mt 27:3-10
   g. Events at the Roman trials - Mt 27:11-31
   h. The Crucifixion - Mt 27:32-56
   i. Burial - Mt 27:32-56

8. The resurrection of Jesus - Mt 28:1-20
   a. Discovery of the empty tomb - Mt 28:1-8
   b. Appearance of Jesus Christ - Mt 28:9,10
   c. Report of the soldiers - Mt 28:11-15
   d. The great commission - Mt 28:16-20

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) Who authored the book of Matthew?
   - Matthew, also called Levi
   - An early disciple, and an apostle of Jesus Christ

2) Approximately when was the book written?
   - The late 50s or early 60s A.D.

3) What has been suggested as the theme of Matthew’s gospel?
   - Jesus, the King of the Jews

4) What three characteristics of the gospel were noted in the
   introduction?
   - It is a Jewish gospel
   - It is an ecclesiastical gospel
   - It is an evangelistic gospel

5) List the eight sections of the gospel as indicated in the outline
   - The birth and childhood of Jesus
   - The preparation for the ministry of Jesus
   - The ministry of Jesus in Galilee
   - The ministry of Jesus in Perea
   - The ministry of Jesus in Judea
   - The ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem
   - The suffering of Jesus
   - The resurrection of Jesus

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

Founding Father Elias Boudinot on Islam by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=8&article=4586

Founding Father Elias Boudinot on Islam

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

American views of Islam going back to the origins of America have been generally consistent. With a Christian worldview intact at the beginning, Americans have naturally recognized Islam’s inherent hostility toward Christianity and its fundamental threat to the American way of life. For example, Elias Boudinot was a premiere Founding Father with a long and distinguished career. He served as a member of the Continental Congress, where he served as its president (1782-1783); he signed the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain; he was a member of the U.S. House where he helped frame the Bill of Rights; he served as the Director of Mint under presidents Washington and Adams; etc. In his masterful refutation of Thomas Paine’s Age of Reason, Boudinot labeled Muhammad an “impostor,” and insightfully observed that

Mahomet aimed to establish his pretensions to divine authority, by the power of the sword and the terrors of his government; while he carefully avoided any attempts at miracles in the presence of his followers, and all pretences to foretell things to come.His acknowledging the divine mission of Moses and Christ confirms their authority as far as his influence will go while their doctrines entirely destroy all his pretensions to the like authority…. And now, where is the comparison between the supposed prophet of Mecca, and the Son of God; or with what propriety ought they to be named together?...The difference between these characters is so great, that the facts need not be further applied (1801, pp. 36-39, emp. added).

This premiere Founder merely expressed the sentiments of the bulk of the Founders as well as the rank and file of American citizens. The political correctness that now characterizes western civilization has desensitized citizens and left the country vulnerable to the sinister infiltration of an ideology that is antithetical to the principles of the American Republic.

REFERENCES

Boudinot, Elias (1801), The Age of Revelation, http://books.google.com/books?id=XpcPAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=mahomet&f=false.

If It's Just a Good Book, Then It's Not God's Book by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=831

If It's Just a Good Book, Then It's Not God's Book

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Some time ago, I read an article by a college professor who stated that “the best thing that could happen to the New Testament has happened to it.... Within the University, at least, the Bible has become simply another ‘great book.’” Many in the world today consider the Bible to be a “good book” containing moral teachings written by noble men, yet reject the idea that the Bible was “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Many college professors today teach that the Bible simply is a “good book” that is no more inspired than Homer’s Odyssey or Chaucer’sCanterbury Tales. It is the mere result of natural genius characteristic of men of unusual ability.

Common sense, however, compels the honest person to reject such illogical notions. If the Bible is a “great book,” but not inspired of God, it makes either liars or lunatics of the biblical writers, who claimed the Holy Spirit as the ultimate source of their writings. The honest person surely will admit that the Bible—a book that has been studied and examined more than any other book in human history—definitely is not a product of insane men. Its unity, fulfilled prophecy, historical accuracy, and scientific foreknowledge testify to an intelligent source. Thus, the Bible was written either by the honest or the dishonest. Logically, no other choices exist.

Moses either lied or was truthful when he recorded: “And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me’” (Exodus 20:1-3, emp. added). Moses claimed such inspiration literally hundreds of times. Was he a liar, or did he tell the truth? In the New Testament, Peter wrote that “prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21, emp. added). Did Peter tell the truth, or was he lying? This same question can be asked of all the writers of the Bible who claimed inspiration. To say that the Bible is simply a “great book” written by “good men” makes liars of the biblical writers who repeatedly claimed that God was the ultimate source of their documents (cf. 2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:16).

The Bible is either a product of God or a product of liars. There are no other options. If these men were liars, then they “insanely” pronounced their own destruction, for they claimed that lying was wrong and that all impenitent liars would burn in hell (cf. Exodus 20:16; Colossians 3:9; Revelation 21:8). If these men were liars, it leaves as inexplicable the mystery of why modern man, with all his accumulated learning, has not been able to produce a comparable book to make the Bible obsolete. Finally, if these men were compulsive liars who filled an alleged historical work with thousands of lies, pray tell, why do so many unbelievers still call it a “great book”? Non-Christians who profess an admiration for the Bible should consider the foolishness of their position.