 
- Enlighten Me! Cavern
The Gospel Writers
Matthew
Jesus as Messiah, King
of the Jews
- When
you see this cross, it is a suggested stopping place.
- Each
Gospel lesson will have five
crosses and can be used as one week
of studies!
- Stop
and reflect
 A new beginning.
The Gospel
In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus
is revealed as "Messiah," "the Anointed One,"
"the Christ." Although Matthew's
gospel accounts were written after those of Mark, the book of
Matthew was chosen to be the first book in the New Testament.
This was because Matthew connects and explains much about the
Old Testament prophecy and mystery of the Messianic mission of
the Christ.
Messiah is a Hebrew title
(meaning "the Anointed One") given to the promised
Savior and Lord of Israel. In Greek this title is "the Christ."The
Old Testament prophets spoke of the coming Messiah who would
deliver God's chosen people from bondage and set up a New Kingdom.
The Messianic Kingdom would be a time and place where all sin
and evil is taken away. Peace and righteousness would prevail
over all the earth. The Son of David is the divine King Who would
rule in this Kingdom of God! The Old Testament promised the Messiah
would come in victory and mighty power. As they waited for this
warrior, their Messiah came as the heavenly Son of Man who must
suffer and die in fulfillment of His redemptive, messianic mission.
They did not see the Kingdom coming in spiritual power before
it would come in glory.
Matthew traces the genealogy
(family tree) or the earthly lineage or ancestry of Jesus to
King David and all the way back to Abraham, the father of faith.
His gospel is written to the Jewish people connecting the prophesies
Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled in order for the Kingdom of God to
come in glorious victory revealing the mighty power of God. In
Isaiah 53, we see Jesus clearly as the suffering Servant. However,
in previous scripture, God had referred to Israel as God's servant.
(Isaiah 48:20; 49:3) God did not reveal to them, the days of
Grace, when God would make a way for all people to come unto
Himself through His only Son, Jesus Christ. His own would not
know Him.
Zech. 13:6
If someone asks him, `What are these wounds on your body?' he
will answer, `The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.'
1John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we
should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The
reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
It is written:
Matt. 4:4
Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live
on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of
God.' " (Deut. 8:3)
Matt. 4:10
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written:
`Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' " (2Kings. 17:35-39)
Matt. 11:10
This is the one (speaking of John the Baptist) about whom it
is written: "`I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.' (Isaiah. 40:3)
Matt. 21:13
"It is written," he said to them, "`My
house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it
a `den of robbers.' "(Isaiah
56:7)
Matt. 26:24
The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.
But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better
for him if he had not been born." (Isaiah 53)
Go to your Bible and read
the 53rd Chapter of Isaiah and see where you can recognize Jesus
as the suffering Servant of God!
Matt. 26:31
Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall
away on account of me, for it is written: "`I will
strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' (Zech. 13:7)
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- When you see the words "it
is written" in your Bible text, be sure to go to the Old Testament and read the
referral text when it is given! Your bible studies will be more
revealing if you check out the referral verses. God has purposely
set these for you to follow. He wants to feed you the spiritual
'meat' of His Word. But He wants you to hunger for it. If all
you want is the 'milk' and 'cereal' that spiritual babies are
content with, you will not grow into spiritual maturity. When
you start to get the 'meat' of the Word, God's revelation to
you, the Bible will come alive to you. God will give you a deeper
understanding of Himself.
You can see the suffering
Christ in the 22nd Psalm of David, written 1000 years before
the birth of Christ. If you go on, you will see Jesus as our
Shepherd in Psalm 23 and our Sovereign King as you read on through
the 24th Psalm. Zechariah 12:9, 13:6 and and 14:9 will give you
a quick glimpse of the Messiah as well. Click below and see other
places where the coming of Jesus was foretold by the prophets.
Jesus is in every book of the Bible. Have fun searching Him out.
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- The Writer
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- All
this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the
prophet:
- Matt.
1:22
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Jesus was 30 years of age
when he set out on his 3 year ministry before going to the cross.
He served to heal the sick, feed the hungry, free captives from
demon possession, and even bring the dead back to life. He spoke
Words of Truth from His Father as He taught all who would listen.
Matthew was one of the disciples
that Jesus chose to follow Him in His ministry. As a free lance
tax collecting Jew, in the Jewish community, Matthew was about
as popular as a leper, murderer or robber. Roman taxation was
heavy and left the Jew hard pressed for finances. Hate for the
tax collectors was so strong, the Jewish spiritual leaders gave
permission for their people to even lie to them if necessary.
He had been subject to and watchful of many forms of fraud, making
him an excellent witness for the authenticity of the ministry
of Christ.
Matthew also called Levi,
was sharp with details and figures. His background made him a
perfect choice for Jesus to use in His ministry. Matthew would
share the Gospel in a way that Jews could understand. They could
see God's salvation plan beginning with God's promises to Abraham.
Matthew was not just interested in proving to the Jews that Jesus
was their Messiah and fulfilled the Old Testament promise, he
announces that the Kingdom of God is already here in Jesus. He
announces that all can enter in by receiving God's freely given,
unmerited gift of grace through His only Son, Jesus Christ. He
wanted all to understand that Jesus would come back again at
the end of the age in final judgment. Jesus is the King to whom
God has given power and authority. He alone can condemn and judge
mankind.
- When
God shows you what is 'sin' in your life,
- you
must let Him draw you out of that sin.
- Your
obedience will bring you into a closer relationship with Him.
To Matthew's credit, when
Jesus said "Follow me," he made no hesitation. He was
quick to obey. He is another example our Lord gives us of His
ability to make all the changes necessary in our lives when we
are in obedience to His call. After the death and resurrection
of Christ, Matthew became one of the apostles involved in the
building of the New Testament church. Matthew accounts were used
heavily in the early church's instruction of converts. How fast
do you move when Jesus says, "follow Me." Are you quick
to do what He has told you to do. His Word is your guide. Never
compromise on the Word of God. God will help you live in opposition
to the ways and desires of your flesh, satan, and the world.
His Holy Spirit will help you in all things.
2Cor. 3:17-
18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect
the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the
Spirit.
- The following
challenge is from "Experiencing God" by Henry
T. Blackaby & Claude V. King. I took the challenge
and was amazed at what it taught me.
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I challenge you to make two
columns on a sheet of paper. On one side list those things that
keep you close to God, living with the Power of His Holy Spirit
that is within you!
- If you are not sure
God's Spirit is alive in you,
- you need to go back
to lesson one, "What Did Jesus
Do!"
This can consist of friends,
places, habits, recreation or objects. On the other side, write
those things that keep you in opposition to the Word of God.
Ask God to help you with your lists. Whatever you think of, write
it down. Now remember this list. Ask God to give you wisdom as
you refocus your attentions and adoration to Him. God will help
you in your decisions that put Him first in your life. That is
His place. With Him in the Center, He will make all other things
come into their proper place of importance.
Don't forget to go back now and
read the Gospel of Matthew.
Gramma Cherbear
To start at the beginning
of the Gospel Writer's series: click here!
To go to the entrance
of the Teen Cave: click here!
If you hear music
in two pages, just close the one you are finished with!
- The Teen Caverns "Enlighten
Me" studies referenced from
these sources:
-
- Influential! Cavern
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