Welcome to the Gospel of St. Matthew!

1. A Lenten study series of Our Lord Jesus Christ Tonight we will try to cover Matthew 3 – Matthew 7 But let us continue where we left off last week! – Matthew 2 Welcome to the Gospel of St. Matthew!

2. Women are shown as the lesser sex…..i.e. adultery, prostitution, getting stoned, etc. Yet, God picked Mary…..and Mary alone. He didn’t pick a man to father Jesus. He shows how significant Mary is by choosing her. Not to mention her incredible strength & faith that is shown so vividly. • The Jews get a bad rap about not believing that Jesus has come. But, really….how are they any worse than the people here that believe Jesus came yet they aren’t willing to worship? So, I know they didn’t read the signs & they missed it…..but, aren’t we just like the Jews because we continually turn our backs on Jesus. We chose to believe what we want to accommodate OUR lives. The only difference is we proclaim our belief that Jesus was here & they don’t. The struggle is the same though, don’t you think? • My answer is “I totally agree!” A few comments from you via email!

3. Thank you for the instruction on the Gospel of Matthew. It is always good to grow in the depth and knowledge of Scripture. Like I said last night, I was not aware that Matthew was writing from the perspective of convincing the Jewish people of the Messiah. But as I was thinking about it, the thoughts you left us with at the end carried great meaning for me too. That is., how the four various groups you mentioned accepted or rejected it (the birth of our Lord.) That made me pause to think on how it is also taken in so many different ways by our modern culture, even to the point where scripture is read, in the darkness, where it promotes sin. Of course those Christians who read into it to promote so called same sex marriage or population control by artificial means or abortion for the love of women feel they are doing God's will in the name of love. That is sad and points to how fortunate we are to have Christ's Church, the Catholic Church, that remains steadfast in regard to these teachings. When Jesus passed the keys to St. Peter he did so with purpose. I am thankful for the Church and hope and pray that the world will see more clearly the love of Christ through his bride, the Church, than it seems to at the present time. Another email response

4. Matthew rounds out the prologue to his gospel by painting a picture of Christ’s early reception by the world. Contrary to what one might expect, it is the Gentile magi who were drawn to worship the newborn King, while the Jews were troubled by the news and King Herod tried to kill him. It might be that people were not expecting a king from such humble circumstances. Intro to Matthew 3

5. Yet, St. Matthew is full of quotes and allusions to the old Testement that show the birth of this child is the fulfillment of God’s promise; • Micah propheesied a great king in Bethelehm. • Isaiah forteold Gentile Kings bearing gifts • When the holy family settled in nazareth, they fulfilled prophecies that a righteous “branch” would come from David’s lline. intro

6. 5 books of Matthew by jeffCavins

7. Matt. Chapters 3-4 lead up to the first book of Matthew • Remember he is trying to persuade the Jewish people that the Messiah has come. Note: he doesn’t just drop the hammer, he meets them where they are at, and things that they would be very comfortable with. • Geneology – Abraham and King David • He uses Psalms to say how Christ is the fulfillment Book 1 – announcement of the Kingdom

8. Are the narrative that leads up to his first big nugget that he really wants to tell them in Chapters 5-7. In chapters 5-7, Matthew wants to make an announcement of the Kingdom – kingdom is used more than 50 times in Matthew’s gospel Matthew leads up to that in chapters 3-4 where he speaks of John the Baptist, and Jesus’ early mission Then the pearl in chapters 5-7, is the sermon on the mount. Matthew chapters 3-4

9. What is the kingdom of heaven? • John the Baptist came as a forerunner to Jesus, proclaiming the coming of the “kingdom of heaven”. • This is also the central theme of Jesus’ mission • What is that kingdom???? What is the announcement of the kingdom

10. The Kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of the Lord all have to do with kingship as much as a kingdom. • In Matthew’s gospel, the word “kingdom” is used more than 50 times. “Kingdom of God” is used 4 times. “Kingdom of heaven” is used 32 times. • This concept reflects the Old Testament concept of God’s reign over his people Israel. • In 1 Chronicles 28:5, King David tells of the Lord’s choice of his son Solomon, “to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel” • God promised to establish David’s throne or kingdom forever – but that throne and kingdom clearly belonged to God. What is that kingdom?

11. Thus the kingdom of God became identified with Israel’s everlasting rule over the nations: a rule that disappeared when Judah (the southern kingdom after David and Solomon’s kingdom divided under Solomon’s son, and the same kingdom which preserved the reign of the Davidic line) was exiled in 587 BC. The people returned to Judea 70 years later but the promise of a king on the throne was not destroyed even though it was not visibly apparent. Some 500 years later after Christ’s birth, the Jews hope and pray for the fulfillment of God’s promise to Davidic king to sit upon that throne and reign in justice and righteousness over his everlasting, glorious kingdom. More on the kingdom?

12. 1. it undercuts the political and military expectations surrounding the Messiah; many Jews hoped only for an earthly kingdom (John 6:15) • 2. While Christ’s kingdom begins on the earth, it will reach its full perfection in heaven. – Luke 4:43 • Catechism 541 - "To carry out the will of the Father Christ inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth." Now the Father's will is "to raise up men to share in his own divine life". He does this by gathering men around his Son Jesus Christ. This gathering is the Church, "on earth the seed and beginning of that kingdom Kingdom of heaven for 2 reasons?

13. We begin this section by looking at Jesus’ forerunner and the ministry of St. John the Baptist? – 3:1-12 • Some questions we need to consider as we begin this search is • Where is the location? • What is the message? • Who is the messenger? The Beginning of Jesus’ ministry 3:1-4:11

14. The location • Is it in the Wilderness? • For Israel the wilderness meant 40 years of Death!! • One could say it was a time of probation too (Israel and Jesus were tested 40 days/years), but it became a place to live out the curse of death after 12 spies incident. This is where the scapegoat was sent with all the sins of the people. The haunt of demons. To go out to the wilderness a kind of “enacted confession” • Is it at the Jordan River? • Symbolof what happens after confession and repentance -- you enter the promised land. Joshua crossed the Jordan River miraculously into the promised land -- • Elijah passes the torch to Elisha at the Jordan; here Jesus picks up torch from John • Namaanhealed of leprosy in the Jordan First, where is the location?

15. The King is about to come -- He is at the door -- and with His coming Kingdom is coming judgment! God, through His Son Jesus, comes to assume His rightful and complete rule over a rebellious world. It is because that they are rebellious that repentance is necessary. Those who repent will be blessed, those who do not will be destroyed. This is at the heart of Matthew’s teaching. Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ ministry of preparing the hearts of the people for Jesus, and preparing them through the herald of John the Baptist to be ready for his coming. Repent = See 3:6!! They were acknowledging their sins, Catechism §1431 – repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance (hatred) for evil actions committed. - a desire to change! What is the message?

16. The one promised in Isaiah 40 – promise of salvation –vs. 3 a voice cries out in the desert prepare the way of the Lord make straight his paths. Mat. 3:3 = Is. 40:3 • Mat. 3:4 - recalls the ascetic garb of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) • 2 Kings 1:7-8 – the king asked, what was the man like who came up to you and said these things? Wearing a hairy garment, with a leather girdle about his loins. It is Elijah – this is the forerunner of the Messiah • Jesus later will identify John as “Elijah”. Elijah came close to the end of the Northern kingdom and he came in a dark time for Israel. He was a prophet who spoke of the end times. • Every Jew would have known Malachi 4:1-5, which speaks of the messenger who they thought was Elijah was expected to return before the coming of the Messiah Who is the messenger?

17. Vs. 4 – his food was locusts and Wild Honey • This recalls the desert period after the Exodus and liberation of Jews from Egypt - but probably not in the sense of eager anticipation of reaching the promised land, but rather, it could be looked at as a penitential discipline. • Vs. 4 – his clothing was made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt. • Taken together, the location and dress of John the Baptist (reminiscent of Elijah) function as symbols to the people of their spiritual state and the action (repentance) they must take. What else do we know about the messenger from matthew?

18. Who was John the Baptist and what was foretold of him in Luke 1:5-36? Luke 1 – John the Baptist was sent by God as the forerunner of Jesus, to prepare the way of the Lord. He is a Levite – Luke 1:5 He was born to the priest Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, in their old age. He is a relative of Jesus – Luke 1:36 An angel of the Lord foretold that John would “be great before the Lord.” John the Baptist's announcement

19. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit from conception and would turn many Israelites to God. The angel also foretold that John would go before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. – Luke 1:17 More on John the Baptist

20. What John preaches (3:1–4) • His message and purpose (3:1–3) • His message - As proclaimed (3:1–2): “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” • His purpose – was to prepare the way for Christ’s coming • As predicted (3:3) : Isaiah the prophet foretold John’s ministry and message some 700 years earlier (Isa. 40:3). – the voice crying out in the desert • His mantle (3:4): He wears a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt, and he eats locusts and wild honey With a little background we press forward into chapter 3

21. To whom John preaches (3:5–10) • To the people of Israel, (note it is not just Jerusalem) (3:5–6): Many accept his message, repent of their sins, and are baptized. • To the religious leaders of Israel (3:7–10) • John’s description of these wicked men (3:7) : He refers to them as a brood of vipers – Vipers are snakes! • The leaders’ demand of John (3:8–10): He warns them to truly repent and do good works or be destroyed To whom he is preaching

22. For whom John preaches (3:11–12): • He is preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah For whom is he preaching?

23. The Pharisees and Scribes were religious leaders in Jesus’ day: • The Pharisee’s held themselves strictly separate from everything “unclean” and held people to strict standards of observing the law in order to be holy. • The Sadducees were descendants of Zadoch, high priest under King David, who had become corrupt and were pawns of the Romans. • What do you think John the Baptist meant by his warning in Mat. 3:8-12? Pharisees and Scribes

24. John is rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees, who thought it was enough to obey the letter of the law even as they ignored its spirit. He is telling them to repent and to act as they taught others, rather than presuming upon their positions. He is persuading them to do well to heed and repent, for God’s purifying judgment was at hand – as evidenced by the coming of Jesus. What does john mean by this warning?

25. What does that mean? • Catechism paragraph 678 tells us who will be judged on the last day? • 678 - Following in the steps of the prophets and John the Baptist, Jesus announced the judgment of the Last Day in his preaching. Then will the conduct of each one and the secrets of hearts be brought to light. Then will the culpable unbelief that counted the offer of God's grace as nothing be condemned. Our attitude to our neighbor will disclose acceptance or refusal of grace and divine love. On the Last Day Jesus will say: "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.“ • What does this mean? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance? - vs. 8

26. True repentance bears fruit in righteousness and doesn’t presume one is God’s child simply because one is born a Jew. On the Last Day – the day of Judgment – both attitudes and actions will be revealed and judged, and those who refused the grace and love of God will be condemned. CCC 678 – summarized

27. If we look at these verses: • 2 Kings 1:8 – what he will be wearing? • Malachi 4:5-6 – return of Elijah to prepare people? • Sirach 48:4, 9-10 – Elijah did not die? • What Old Testament prophet does Matthew’s description of John the Baptist bring to mind, and what do Malachi and Sirach say about that prophet? • (side note) – If you bible does not have verse 4:5-6 in Malachi, the same verse appears in some translations as Malachi 3:23-24 What do the prophets foretell of John the Baptist

28. …that John’s clothes match the description of the great prophet Elijah, who did not die but was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind of fire. 2 Kings 1:8 and Sirach 48:4, 9-10 The prophets foretold that God would send Elijah back before the day of the Lord to bring reconciliation between father and son and restore the tribes of Jacob. - Malachi 4:5-6 The angel’s message to Zachariah regarding John the Baptist echoes his prophecy. Elijah is the appointed restorer of all things: John the Baptist is “Elijah”, he returned to restore and to pave the way of the Lord. If we do our homework, we will see…

29. The Jordan River runs along the eastern side of Palestine. Its headwaters begin north of the Sea of Galilee, and it flows southward into the Dead Sea. Pictures??? The Jordan River

30. Jordan River

31. Jordan River

32. Mass on the Banks of the Jordan

33. Pilgrim putting their feet in the water

36. John baptized people in the Jordan River. Is there anything special about this river that might lend meaning to this fact? • Look at these places for hints: • Joshua 3 – ark of the covenant enters the Promised Land through the Jordan • 2 Kings 5:1, 10-14- Naaman is healed in the Jordan • Catechism 1222 - Finally, Baptism is prefigured in the crossing of the Jordan River by which the People of God received the gift of the land promised to Abraham's descendants, an image of eternal life. The promise of this blessed inheritance is fulfilled in the New Covenant Think about it…

37. The Jordan River is rich in association. Israelcrossed through it on dry land, much as they did the Red Sea, when God brought them triumphantly into the Promised Land from their wanderings in the desert. Later Naaman, a Syrian commander, was cleansed from his leprosy there What would we find?

38. Because of that initial crossing in particular, the Jordan was associated with God’s deliverance. It is a place of new beginnings. • When we read John baptizing people there before Christ’s coming, it hints of an even greater beginning than either that first deliverance or Namaan’s cleansing: • Soon people will be cleansed and delivered from their sins. • Soon Christ will be begin his ministry there as he is baptized himself by John What else is unique to the Jordan?

39. Look at the baptisms of Jesus and John the Baptist in verses 11-12! Catechism 1265 - Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte "a new creature," an adopted son of God, who has become a "partaker of the divine nature," member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit What is the difference in their style of baptizing? Compare and contrast

40. John baptized with water for repentance, while Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. • John’s baptism washes away sin, while Jesus’ baptism washes away sin and transforms. • What John’s baptism represents, Jesus’ baptism achieves: • There is actual purification • The person is filled with the new life of the Holy Spirit • The person is an adopted member of the family of God. Jesus and John’s baptisms…

41. A. The agreement by the Baptist (3:13–15) • 1. John’s objection (3:13–14): John at first refuses Christ’s request to be baptized, feeling he is unworthy to do so. • 2. John’s obedience (3:15): After the second request he baptizes the Savior. • B. The anointing by the Spirit (3:16): The Holy Spirit descends like a dove upon Jesus. • C. The approval by the Father (3:17): A voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The baptism of Jesus – 3:13-17

42. If Jesus is sinless, why do you think that he went to be baptized by John, who baptized “with water for repentance?” Catechism 535 - Jesus' public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan. John preaches "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins". A crowd of sinners - tax collectors and soldiers, Pharisees and Sadducees, and prostitutes- come to be baptized by him. "Then Jesus appears." The Baptist hesitates, but Jesus insists and receives baptism. Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, "This is my beloved Son." This is the manifestation ("Epiphany") of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God. Jesus identifies with sinners – Romans 5:14 Points to consider??

43. Catechism 536 - The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". Already he is anticipating the "baptism" of his bloody death. Already he is coming to "fulfill all righteousness", that is, he is submitting himself entirely to his Father's will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. Why else?

44. Identified himself with those whose sins he would later bear on the Cross, and he demonstrated his obedience to the Father Clearly, Jesus has no sin of his own to wash away. Yet the fact that he submitted to baptism remains a powerful symbol of what he came to do – to die and rise to new life. His death in the waters and rebirth, is what we are baptized into. By being baptized, Jesus…

45. Jesus came to sanctify the waters. • He clearly has no need of baptism, and he would make the waters for the millions of Christians who would follow his example as they are being made members of His Church. • Bottom line is -He isn’t cleansed by the waters, he empowers them • Our Lord didn’t need cleansing for sin. By being baptized…

46. He conquers the powers of darkness in his descent into the waters • Water in the Old Testament is place of content • Noah – all creation is destroyed • Jonah saved by the whale • Jesus is the new Jonah and Noah, the originator of a new humanity, the new Ark, in whom salvation is found (1 Pet 3; 2 Pet 3) • Jesus brings new life just as Jonah brings new life to Nineveh • Jesus recalls Exodus events, Red Sea and especially the Jordan River • At Jesus’ baptism, this is our Lord’s anointing. He is anointed as Christ and Savior here at his baptism, and he is filled with the Holy Spirit • As the Father testifies from heaven of his beloved son - he recalls: • Psalm 2 – you are my son, today I have begotten you • Isaiah 42:1 – Here is my servant with whom I am well pleased. He will receive the spirit, and will bring justice to the nations. • Genesis 22 – God will provide the sacrifice At Christ’s baptism

47. What is signified by: • the opened heavens? • the descent of the dove? • and the voice from heaven? Another question to think about?

48. These images clearly identify Jesus as the Messiah, the “Anointed One” • The voice – identifies Jesus as God’s Son • The dove – identifies him as the anointed one. The spirit descending over the water brings to mind the Creation of the world. Here begins a new creation. • The open heavens – indicate the presence of God in the announcement. • The entire Trinity is present – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – at this announcement that is made of the Messiah. Images…

49. Matthew uses the word righteousness seven times. What does this mean? • Righteousness means the uprightness and faithfulness of God and his people. • Duet. 6:25 – our justice is accomplished by observing his commandments • Is. 48:18 – faithfulness is following the commands and obedience to God’s will; living in union • Righteousness is the process of a sinner becoming justified or made right with God. What do we mean by “righteousness?” in vs. 15

50. Because we are born with the effects of original sin, we are made righteous through God’s grace in the waters of baptism, and we live a life of grace in union with God. The primary purpose for righteousness is to made right and pleasing in the eyes of God by the works of God, and its secondary purpose is for the sake of eternal life through the mercy that God has accomplished through Jesus’ saving mission. God is righteous because he perfectly fulfills his covenant with Israel as a divine Father. Jesus builds on this, and demonstrates this in the saving mission of Christ. Are we Righteous in the eyes of God?