Matthew 1 - 28, Reflections Concerning What Now?

98 Messages preached in the Gospel of Matthew.

Who is Jesus?
In the middle of a pandemic.
In the middle of continued violence and racism.
In the middle of growing Christian nationalism.
In the middle of sexism, abuse, and gender wars.
In the middle of blatant refusal to seek understanding.

Theological Emphasis
Fulfillment - the kingdom of Heaven. Where Israel fails, Jesus remains faithful.
Christology - Jesus is the Messiah. All of Matthew’s OT quotations start with the understanding that Jesus is the One promised (the Christ, the Anointed one).
Righteousness and Discipleship - Jesus changes us because of his work.
Law and Grace - Jesus is not a new law, but rather the true meaning of the Mosaic Law.

The man who fits no formula.
Authority and Power 28:18
Declarations of Forgiveness 9:2
Reception of Worship 14:33
Demands for Allegiance 10:37-39
IMMANUEL - God with us.

Community - Matthew’s gospel is for the church. It is the church that will make disciples and reflect the glory of Chirst.
Eschatology - promise of future judgement and deliverance, making perseverance in the present both possible and necessary. God will judge this city and the nations. Obedience is putting into action the words of Jesus. Talk is cheap (Matthew 7:21)


Matthew wants his Jewish audience to understand and embrace that Jesus is greater than any prophet (Moses), priest (Solomon), or king (David).
For the Gentile Matthew wants us to see our identity is Jesus. He is bringing the good news of God to all nations. Through him we will find redemption.

Who am I? Why do I have life?
The result of encountering Jesus is change.
Personal, real, overwhelming transformation.

Matthew 5-7, Radical Kingdom Lifestyle
Matthew 10:21-22, Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my names sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 13, Jesus uses parables to teach.
Matthew (18-20) 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 23-25, warning and readiness

Jesus is bigger than any one individual.
Jesus is gathering a people for himself.
A community is involved. A family is birthed. A dependence on God and on each other is discovered.

As a people, the church believes in the truth of Jesus (his life, death, and resurrection).
This belief drives our radical commitment / obedience to His commands / teaching (Matthew 28:18-20).

This is the point of Matthew’s emphasis on promise and fulfillment.
Salvation has come through the Messiah.

When restoration and deliverance are experienced, our response is to share this fantastic news!

Isaiah 11:6, 9 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

This is the destination of human history. All of human history is headed towards goal and culmination in Christ.

Jesus fulfills Israel’s OT mandate, to reveal God’s glory and take the message of salvation to the ends of the earth.

Church -> the prophesies concerning Jesus have been fulfilled.

Jesus is…God, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
The church represents the true people of God. It is made up of all nations (Jew and Gentile).

Truth / Authority / Good news (Gospel)