From the last page of the Old Testament in the Book of Malachi to the first page of the New Testament in the Book of Matthew there is a gap in history of approximately 450 years. It had been four and a half centuries since the people of Israel had heard a prophet present a “word from the Lord,” and it came quite unexpectedly in someone who was not “technically” considered to be a “prophet,” but was actually the “forerunner” of the Messiah. He preached a message of repentance to “prepare the way for the Lord.” His name was John the Baptist.

As you might have expected, the Book of Matthew bears the name of its author. Matthew (also called Levi) occupied the very “unpopular” post of a tax collector in the fishing village of Capernaum. He was ridiculed and despised by the general population because his “job” was to collect taxes from his own countrymen for the Romans who occupied Israel, and if fact, the known world at that time. It was from his tax booth that Jesus called Matthew to follow Him. Matthew records his own calling as, “Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ And he rose, and followed Him” (Mt. 9:9). Luke, the author of the third Gospel, records just a little bit more about Matthew’s calling saying, “…he left everything behind and followed Him” (Lk. 5:28).

Jesus had previously called the fishermen Peter and Andrew, and James and John, to follow Him, and so when Jesus called a tax collector to join their ranks, it is certain that the fishermen were wondering what Jesus must have been thinking! But Matthew, an expert with calculations and numbers, was also a meticulous record-keeper, and Jesus foresaw that a “transformed” Matthew would not only make a faithful disciple, but also one who would accurately record the life and ministry of his Lord. And that’s just what we have in this gospel, a record of Jesus’ life written by a Jew intended to be read by the general Jewish population. In other words, Matthew is a gospel written by a Jew to Jews about a Jew. Or to look at it another way, Matthew is the writer, his countrymen are the readers, and Jesus Christ is the subject of his writing.

Matthew’s intention is to present Jesus Christ as the “King of the Jews,” the long-awaited Messiah. Using an abundance of quotations from the Old Testament, Matthew’s intention is to demonstrate that Jesus is the One whom they have been waiting for, and whom the prophets spoke and wrote about. Mathew’s intention was to present Jesus as the King and long-awaited Messiah. Even in His death, Matthew made sure that everyone knew that the King had conquered death by rising from the dead.

In his Gospel, Matthew records Jesus’ genealogy going back to Abraham; the Christmas story of the angel appearing to Joseph; the ministry of John the Baptist; the baptism and temptation of Jesus; the Sermon on the Mount; the calling of the disciples; miracles of physical healing and casting out demons; authority over nature in calming the wind and waves; confrontations with the religious leaders; teaching the multitudes, as well as His own disciples, in plain language and in parables; the transfiguration; His triumphal entry into Jerusalem; His message on the Mount of Olives concerning the coming fall of Jerusalem and the end of the age; His trial, crucifixion, burial, resurrection; and concluding with Jesus’ “commission” to His disciples to take the Good News into all the world, making disciples, baptizing and teaching them to observe all of His commands.

There are a few important portions of Matthew that I would like to draw our attention to. The first has to do with a “vacation” to the north of Israel, outside of Jewish territory, where Jesus wanted to spend some quality time with His disciples without being bothered by the religious leaders, nor being consumed with healing the multitudes. If the disciples were going to carry the message of the Gospel to the world, He needed to have some time alone with them. And so, Jesus asked them what people were saying about His identity, and they responded with some of the thoughts that had been tossed around by others. But then Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” To which Peter responded,

“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Mt. 16:16).

Peter was absolutely correct in His answer, but Jesus had to let him know that this realization did not come from his own human reasoning, but had to be revealed to Him by the Father. You see, proclaiming Jesus as “the Christ” (or the Messiah) was fairly clear to the disciples, and to many others, but for Him to also be “the Son of the Living God,” that was an unexpected revelation given to Peter which Jesus readily affirmed.

Following this revelation, Jesus began to speak of his coming death, burial, and resurrection, and Peter would have none of it! He even told Jesus that this would never happen “on his watch.” Jesus told Peter that he was speaking words that the “adversary” would speak, words that would be inclined to tempt Jesus to forego the cross and become an earthly King. It was then that Jesus gave His disciples what they needed to know about being His followers,

“If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up the cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save His life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel will find it” (Mt. 16:24-25). 

Jesus was informing His disciples that if they decided to live their lives according to their own “agenda,” they would end up missing out on what real “life” is all about. However, if they “lose their life” for the agenda that God has for them, they will find real life. This same truth is also valid for our own lives two thousand years later.

There is one more passage in Matthew that is special to me, and to many others as well. It is actually an invitation to all of us, given by Jesus Himself,

“Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; for My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30).

Of course, thousands of sermons have been preached on this wonderful, heart-felt invitation of Jesus, and it’s as true today as it was when Jesus spoke these words. If you are weighed down with burdens, He wants you to give them to Him. If you do, the promise is clear in that “…you will find rest for your souls.” If this is a picture of your life today, and if you are desperately seeking “rest for your souls,” why put it off any longer? He wants to take your burdens of guilt and shame, of fear and insecurity, and give you rest so that you can follow Him faithfully without having to lug those burdens around with you. The invitation is for you and for me. There is no need to put it off, and every reason to get it done today. In fact, why not now? He’s waiting to hear from you.

May  God richly bless each one of you in a special way. Peggy and I send our love to you!