Thursday, March 6, 2025
Following Jesus is an ongoing surrender to who he is and trusting what he says—in every area of your life. As you read the book of Matthew we hope that you see Jesus as more than a name. He is amazing and worth following with everything you have. Jesus invites you to share in his mission and take steps on an adventurous journey of faith. Are you ready?
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How to Participate
-Pray-
Ask God to open your heart and eyes to what he has for you today.
-Read-
Join the Matthew Reading Plan Text Campaign. Then read the chapter of Matthew and the devotional sent to your phone each day. Text Matthew to 419-419-0707 today to sign up!
-Ask Questions-
Get curious about what you are reading and the lessons it is teaching.
-Take a Step-
When we read, we always want to apply truth to our lives. Take a step today on the adventure God has for you.
Matthew Overview
Over the next six weeks we will be reading through the book of Matthew. Before beginning any Bible study, we need to put the book into its proper context and prepare ourselves to read it as the original author intended.
Author: The Book of Matthew is an anonymous work; however, Christians have historically attributed it to Matthew, born Levi, son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was one of the 12 disciples who followed Jesus during his ministry. Matthew’s story can be read in Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:13-17, and Luke 5:27-32. Although Jewish, he was a despised tax collector for the Roman empire.
Matthew 9:9
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
Audience: Matthew’s primary audience would have been the Jewish Christians. He peppered references to the Torah and Messianic prophecies throughout the entire book, connecting Jesus’ mission to the Jewish scriptures.
Date: There is some question as to the dating of the book, but most believe it was written in the late 50s to early 60s AD. This early date helps us trust the veracity of the book. Since Jesus died and was resurrected around 30-33 AD, then Matthew would have recorded eyewitness accounts to those events.
Literary Style: The Book of Matthew is one of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which tell the story of Jesus’ life. Each gospel combines narratives, teachings, and parables to create a unique book that communicates the time Jesus spent on the earth in a cohesive and distinct way.
Purpose: Matthew wanted to clearly demonstrate to Jewish Christians that Jesus fulfilled the role of the Jewish Messiah in the line of David. In addition, the book also unites any who believe in Jesus as the true family of God, demonstrating that both Gentile and Jewish Christians have equal standing in God’s eyes. The book leaves both Jews and Gentiles confident in their identities as members of the Kingdom of Heaven.
As you begin reading, keep these ideas in the back of your mind. They will help you shape your understanding of the important role Matthew plays in the Bible, as well as its personal application to your own life.