The Gospel of Matthew was written for Jewish Christian and its major focus is to present Jesus, as the Prophetic Messiah of the Old Testament. Matthew is the first of the Synoptic Gospels as know by many, and in this Gospel, we can find important elements relevant to the early Church. The most important contribution Matthew makes as one of the 4 Living Witnesses, as it relates to the Life of Christ, is his focus on the Teachings of Christ.
Matthew’s gospel reveals many of the Old Testament Prophecies fulfillment, and the fulfillment of these Prophecies, totally support the indisputable argument that Christ was the Messiah promised in Geneses 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”, and in Genesis 22:18, “ In Your Seed all the Nations of the Earth will be Blessed…”
In the Gospel of Matthew, you will discover the in-depth Spiritual Principles Christ expects us to follow. One of the great Challenges Jesus presents to his followers in this Gospel, is to make Disciples…”By Teaching them to obey all that Christ Commanded.” Having been taught by the great master-teacher, the disciples are now challenged to go into all the world and teach this “Eternal and Divine Lecture”. We will study in this section the four “Eternal Lectures”, taught by Jesus…1. The Sermon of the Mount, 2. So send I you.3. The Seven Parables and 4. The Signs of His Second Coming.
One of the distinct features found in Matthew it’s that he changes the phrase “the Kingdom of God” (used in the other three Gospels) to “the Kingdom of Heaven,” thereby respecting the Jews’ Reverence for the name of the Lord. The phrase is used 32 times in the whole Bible, and it appears in Matthew all 32 times.
Was the cost of discipleship too great for the average person who listened to the Sermons of Christ? We will learn what the general reaction was after Jesus told those listening what the cost would be if they followed him.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we get to hear what Jesus has to say about his “Second Coming”, found in Matthew chapter 24. In this chapter Jesus is very specific as to what will happen at the end and what we should be doing until all these things come to pass.
Among the many challenging beatitudes Jesus presented in Sermon of the Mount, as we study this Gospel, we can highlight Matthew 5:6 …“Blessed are those who Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness…For They Shall Be Filled…”.
The Gospel of Mark, one of 4 Living Witnesses, proclaims Jesus, as the Messiah, the Son of God, and as Christ the Servant of Man. The focus of the Gospel of Mark, centers on what Jesus “Does-His Actions” versus His Words and Teachings. This gospel demonstrates Jesus Supernatural Power affirmed by Jesus deeds, strength, and His determination in overcoming evil forces. This Gospel is written to Gentile converts and Roman believers.
The benchmark of this gospel is to define Christ as the Servant of Mankind. Christ came to serve and not to be served, leaving this great example for the early church and for us today. He proclaims in this Gospel that, “Whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:44-45)
“The primary purpose of all Jesus Miracles and Healings is to prove that He’s the Son of God, Messiah and the Savior of the World.”
We will study the inspired records of Jesus “ACTIONS”, involving characters, situations, and various cultural backgrounds, where and when, our Lord Jesus Christ was moved by compassion and love to performed miracles and healings, even when, He was not honored by those of His hometown of Nazareth.
This Gospel reminds us to never forget that we Serve, Christ the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Savior, who delivered Mankind from the penalty of sin, through His Death and Resurrection.