Outline of Matthew

 Dr. Gail E. Terrell
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Hamilton, Ohio

  1.  The preparation of King Jesus (chapters 1-2).
    1. Genealogy of King Jesus:   genealogy of Joseph, the legal (not natural) father of Jesus (1:1-17).
    2. Birth of King Jesus (1:18-25).
    3. The reception of King Jesus (chapter 2).
      1. Wise men worship King Jesus (2:1-12).
      2. King Herod seeks to destroy King Jesus (2:13-23).
        1. King Jesus flees to Egypt and Herod kills the children of Bethlehem (2:13-18).
        2. King Jesus returns to Nazareth (1:19-23).

  2. The Baptism of King Jesus:   beginnings of public ministry (chapter 3).
    1. Ministry of John, the first Baptist and forerunner of King Jesus (3:1-12).
      1. John the Baptist preached repentance from sin (3:1-3).
      2. John’s message was widely heard and seen (3:1-5).
      3. Baptism follows repentance (3:6).
      4. Baptism denied to the unrepentant who did not give evidence of conversion (3:7-12).
        1. Baptism shows symbolically that the repentance involves the death and burial of sin and self-righteousness (3:7-8).
        2. Although later to be revealed and not initially understood by John the Baptist, baptism shows the death, burial, and resurrection of King Jesus, the promised Messiah (Romans 6:3-5).
      5. John the Baptist baptized King Jesus (3:13-17).
        1. John’s baptism was from heaven (21:25-26).
        2. King Jesus walked from Nazareth to the Jordan River, a distance of sixty miles, to receive Scriptural baptism and fulfill all righteousness (3:13-15).
        3. King Jesus honored baptism and was Himself marvelously honored (3:16-17).
          1. First time in recorded history the three Persons of the Godhead were heard and observed together (3:16)!
          2. Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came visibly upon Christ the Son, and God the Father spoke as a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (3:17).

  3. The temptation of King Jesus (4:1-11).
    1. Satan quotes the Bible but distorts interpretation, meaning, and application of Biblical truth.
    2. Jesus is the truth!

  4. The Great Galilean Ministry of King Jesus (4:12-15:20)
    1. The message of King Jesus:   4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:   for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (4:12-17).
      1. King Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be His disciples and become fishers of men (4:18-25).
        1. These had been disciples of John the Baptist, and were baptized by him (Acts 1:22).
        2. King Jesus was the Great Pastor of the first church (John 10:11,14).
        3. This first church was comprised of baptized believers called to assemble who were commissioned as fishers of men, and who possessed the gospel message.
          1. The Lord’s church is called the house of God (I Timothy 3:15), and this household is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:19-20).
          2. The Lord’s church was first comprised of apostles:   And God hath set some in the church, first apostles…(I Corinthians 12:28).
    2. The first great Galilean discourse:   preaching in the church – the Sermon of King Jesus on the Mount (chapters 5-7).
      1. The beatitudes (5:1-16).
      2. Christ and the law (5:17-48).
      3. Hypocrisy rebuked (6:1-7:6).
      4. Conclusion and invitation (7:7-9).
    3. Credentials and authority of King Jesus (chapters 8-9).
      1. Authority over disease (8:1-17).
      2. Authority over the universe (8:18-27).
      3. Authority over demons (8:28-34).
      4. Authority to forgive sins (9:1-8).
      5. Authority to call to service (9:9-17).
      6. Authority over death (9:18-26).
      7. Authority over physical infirmity (9:27-34).
      8. Authority to call and commission (9:35-38).
    4. The second great Galilean discourse:   King Jesus instructs His church (chapter 10).
      1. King Jesus called unto Himself these first church members (10:1).   Called is the translation of the Greek word proskalesamenos, the root kaleo is also the root of ekklesia, the Greek word translated church.
      2. King Jesus empowered them for His work and sent them forth to preach the gospel of the kingdom (10:1-8).
      3. Churches have false professors (such as Judas) amongst them who are unknown to the true membership of the church, and who will readily deliver the church to wolves for destruction (10:9-18).
      4. The Holy Spirit would speak through the apostles and God would protect them (10:19-42).
    5. Opposition to King Jesus (chapters 11-12).
      1. Questions from John the Baptist (11:1-15).
      2. Judgment upon rebellious cities (11:16-27).
      3. The gospel of grace:   the yoke of King Jesus is easy (11:28-30).
      4. King Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (12:1-8).
      5. Opposition of Pharisees and Satan (12:9-45).
      6. Oppositions of King Jesus’ family, i.e., His mother and brothers (12:46-50).
    6. The third great Galilean discourse:   parables of King Jesus (13:1-52).
      1. Seven parables set forth the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (13:11).
        1. Parable of the sower (13:1-23).
        2. Parable of the tares among the wheat (13:24-30).
        3. Parable of the grain of mustard seed (13:31-32).
        4. Parable of the leaven (13:33-35).
        5. Parable of the hid treasure (13:44).
        6. Parable of the pearl of great price (13:45-46).
        7. Parable of the drag-net (13:47-52).
      2. Summary of the parables.   During the King’s absence, the kingdom emphasizes the sphere of spiritual profession and contains that which is false as well as that which is true.   Evil (i.e., leaven) will gradually permeate this sphere, but eventually there will be a separation of the false and true (i.e., the wheat separated from the tares; cf., the drag-net).
      3. Distinguishing between the kingdom of heaven, family of God, and the church .
        1. The kingdom of heaven is an expression used 32 times in Matthew (13:24, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47, etc.) although sometimes the term kingdom of God as found in the other gospels.   The kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are terms that are used interchangeably.   However, the kingdom of heaven usually speaks of authority and the kingdom of God usually speaks of territory.   The territory includes everything (the three heavens, plants, unsaved, saved, animals, etc.).   The authority encompasses the redeemed who have the right to heaven.
        2. The family of God is a term encompassing the redeemed, both living and dead.   God’s family contains all of the saved, who have been born into the family of God (i.e., born again spiritually, John 3:16 ) and are saved from their sins by the shed blood of King Jesus Christ.
        3. A church is made up of living people that have been scripturally baptized and have been accepted for membership in a church.   Churches are local, visible assemblies of baptized believers.
    7. Oppositions and miracles in the great Galilean ministry (14:1-36).
      1. King Jesus opposed by relatives and people of Nazareth, His home town (13:53-58).
      2. The martyrdom of John the Baptist (14:1-13).
      3. Jesus feeds the 5000 (14:14-21).
      4. Jesus walks on the water (14:22-33).
      5. Jesus heals in Gennesaret (14:34-36).
      6. Scribes and Pharisees oppose Jesus (15:1-20).

  5. The ministry of withdrawal and the Perean ministries:   instructions for the Lord’s church (15:21-20:34)
    1. Reassuring the disciples (14:1-16:12).
    2. The promise of perpetuity to the Lord’s church (16:13-20).
    3. King Jesus’ first announcement of His death (16:21-27).
    4. Transfiguration of Jesus (16:28-17:21).
    5. King Jesus’ second announcement of His death (17:22-23).
    6. Teachings on humility (17:24-18:14).
    7. Discipline in the Lord’s church (18:15-35).
      1. The church is to reconcile disputes that occur between two brother church members (18:15-16).
        1. Attempt reconciliation in private conference of the two parties (18:15).   If unsuccessful, then:
        2. Attempt reconciliation before two or more witnesses (18:16).   If unsuccessful, then:
        3. Attempt reconciliation before the church membership (18:17).   If unsuccessful, then:
        4. The offending brother must be separated from the church, considered as unsaved, and no longer considered bound in the church membership (18:18-19).
      2. Christians must always be ready to forgive if the offenders are truly repentant (18:21-35).
    8. Jesus instructs concerning divorce, child evangelism, wealth, humility, and labor (19:1-20:16).
    9. King Jesus’ third announcement of His death (20:17-34).

  6. The climax and culmination of the ministry of King Jesus (chapters 21-23).
    1. Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (21:1-11).
    2. Cleansing of the temple (21:12-17).
    3. Cursing of the unfruitful fig tree (21:18-22).
    4. King Jesus endorses John the Baptist, and compares His divine authority with the approval of heaven upon John’s baptism (21:23-27).
    5. Additional parables and teachings of King Jesus (21:28-46).
      1. Parable of the two sons (21:28-32).
      2. Parable of the wicked tenants (21:33-46).
      3. The marriage feast of the king’s son (22:1-14).
      4. King Jesus answers the Herodians and Pharisees (22:15-46).
      5. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees (23:1-39).

  7. Prophecies of King Jesus (chapters 24-25).
    1. Signs of His coming (24:1-44).
    2. Parables of His coming (24:45-25:46)
      1. Parable of the wise servant (24:45-51).
      2. Parable of the virgins (25:1-13).
      3. Parable of the talents (25:14-30).
      4. Judgment of the sheep and goats (25:31-46).

  8. The death and resurrection of King Jesus (chapters 26-28).
    1. The passion of King Jesus (chapters 26-27).
      1. The anointing of King Jesus (26:1-13).
      2. King Jesus keeps the last Passover with His church (26:14-30).
        1. After the Passover meal, the traitor Judas departs (26:14-25) immediately (John 13:30).
          1. Note that Judas never addressed Jesus as Lord at any time.
          2. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed:   and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 12:3).
        2. After Judas departed the church body, Jesus observed the first Lord’s Supper in His church (26:26-29).
          1. Jesus gave to each of the disciples a portion of the bread to eat which He described as symbolic of His body (26:26).
          2. Jesus gave to each of the disciples a portion of the cup to drink which He described as symbolic of His blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins (26:27).
          3. Churches continue this church ordinance as a special time for the membership of a church body to remember the Lord’s death until He comes again.   For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death til he come (I Corinthians 11:26).
        3. After Jesus instituted the church ordinance of the Lord’s supper, And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives (26:30).
          1. Hebrews 2:12 with Psalm 22:22 shows that when the disciples and Christ sang after the first Lord’s Supper, that assembly was a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ in which they sang.
            1. Hebrews 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
            2. Psalm 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
      3. The agony of King Jesus in Gethsemane (26:31-46).
      4. The arrest of King Jesus (26:47-56).
      5. The trials of King Jesus (26:57-27:26).
      6. The crucifixion of King Jesus (27:27-56).
      7. The burial of King Jesus (27:57-66).
    2. The resurrection of King Jesus (chapter 28).
      1. Christ’s great resurrection day was Sunday, the first day of the week (28:1-15).
        1. The resurrection of Christ demonstrated with power that Jesus was all that He claimed to be: Romans 1:2-4 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
        2. This resurrection day was the end of the Old Testament Sabbaths which symbolized the end of the Mosaic dispensation.   Our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, was in the grave on the Old Testament Sabbath.
        3. Matthew 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.   Therefore, Jesus had the right to displace the Old Testament Sabbath with a far better day, the first day of the week, the great day of the resurrection!   Revelation 1:10, I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.
      2. King Jesus gave to His church His Great Commission.   Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away to Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.   17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.   19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
        1. This commission was not given to individuals, for they all died and any commission given to them died with them. The first church gathered together as Jesus had appointed them (26:16). Then the Great Commission was given to this first church as an institution which would then beget other churches, and this resulted in succeeding churches until now. The age long Great Commission is still active and obeyed by the Lord’s churches.

  9. Honor Christ! To honor Christ, we must honor the church as an institution which Jesus continues to build.   Christ means for all of His people to do all of His work in all of the centuries through all of His churches in all of the world (Hebrews 10:25)!