Matthew 1-15

Pastor Tynna Dixon

 

Matthew 1 – 4

When Matthew opens his Gospel, he doesn’t start with angels singing or shepherds running through the night. He starts with a family tree. To us, a long genealogy might seem like a swipe to the left moment, but for Matthew’s readers, it was literally everything. It showed that Jesus wasn’t simply a random miracle… no no, He was the promised Son of Abraham and the royal Son of David.  Tucked in that list are names you might not expect to see….Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba all are stark reminders that God writes His story with broken, overlooked, and unlikely people. Right from the start, Matthew whispers: This Savior is for everyone. And I will insert a Thank You God right here! 

Then comes Joseph’s story. Imagine the look on his face when he learns Mary is pregnant before they are married. I imagine he felt his heart fall to the lowest part of his stomach. But God. But my God speaks in a dream, telling him that this child is from the Holy Spirit.  It is refreshing that Joseph believes, obeys, and gives the child the name Jesus, which means “God saves.” In one word, we know that He came to rescue us from our sins. The manger isn’t just a scene where we have a beautiful bouncing baby boy but it is indeed the beginning of God’s plan.  Join me.. Thank You God!

Matthew Chapter 2 pulls us into the drama of worship and conflict.  We see the wise men travel a long-distance carrying gifts fit for a King guided by a star, to bow at the feet of baby Jesus. All while Herod is having a jealous raging fit laced with violence.  Do you see it? The wise men are on their way to give their best to the newborn King. On the other hand, this same baby boy is seen as a threat in the eyes of others. All I can think is WOW… because even if one lives under a rock they can see that is still true today? Jesus being Jesus will always confront us with a choice: will we worship Him or will we resist Him? I choose worship, what about you?

The 3rd Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel introduces us to John the Baptist. John is calling people to repent and prepare for the coming King. Then comes Jesus humbly entering the waters of baptism. The heavens split open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father declares: “This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased. What a moment! Before Jesus performs a single miracle or preaches a single sermon, He is marked by the Father’s love and approval. There is no Greater Love!

But before the ministry begins, there’s a battle. Chapter 4 takes us into the wilderness, where Jesus faces temptations from the devil.  We clearly see that Jesus is pushed to the edge. But He stands firm, answering each lie from the enemy with the Word of God. He moves into Galilee to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” He calls fishermen to follow Him and they leave their nets without hesitation.  Sweet Victory!

 

Matthew 5 – 7

In Matthew Chapter 5, when Jesus sits down on the hillside the crowds lean in. What He says over the next three chapters is nothing short of amazing. It’s what we know as the Sermon on the Mount, but it’s really what life looks like under God’s reign. Jesus is showing us what it looks like to live as people who already belong to Him. My hand is raised!

He begins with blessings, maybe not the kind of blessings you were looking for.  Wait for it…Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and even the persecuted. In a world that boasts about success, Jesus flips the script. Here He tells us that God’s favor rests on the humble and the hungry, the overlooked and the least. But It’s good news and a game changer  for those who wonder if they’re enough.  Say it with me… “I AM ENOUGH!!”

As the text moves on, Jesus tells His followers that they are salt and light. Not someday, but right now. He wants us to season the world with His goodness and to shine His light in dark places. As the Chapter concludes Jesus says don’t murder and don’t commit adultery.  It’s not just about bad behavior; it’s about the heart. Jesus shows us  that true righteousness isn’t skin deep but It flows from the inside out!

In chapter 6, Jesus shifts to practices like giving, praying, and fasting. He reminds us not to do them for show, but in secret, for the Father who sees in secret will reward openly. Then He gives us the prayer we still hold so dear: the Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father in heaven… yes finish it before you finish this blog, please.  Our God is not a distant ruler, but a Father who knows what we need. Jesus also speaks to our worries. Don’t chase after stuff like the world does. Seek first the kingdom of God, and trust that He’ll provide what you need. And the people said Amen.

Chapter 7 brings it all together as Jesus warns against judging others and reminds us to ask, seek, and knock. He gives us the “golden rule” to treat others as you’d want to be treated. He also cautions that not everyone who hears His words will live them out. It’s possible to look religious on the outside and still miss Him. So He ends with an image about two builders, two houses, two foundations. One built on sand, one on rock.  Which do you prefer?

By the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds are literally in awe. This Jesus is amazing, He’s different… not like they are used to. Jesus speaks with authority of the King.  Question is are we listening?

 

Matthew 8 – 11

After the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew shifts from Jesus’ teaching to Jesus doing. In chapters 8 through 11, we see the kingdom of God break into real lives in powerful and personal ways. It’s one thing to hear Jesus talk about the kingdom but it’s another thing to watch Him touch the untouchable, calm the storms, and call disciples into a new way of living. A Wonderful change has come over me!

In chapter 8, Jesus starts with compassion. He reaches out His hand and touches a man with leprosy and heals Him instantly. He then responds to a Roman centurion’s faith, showing that His power isn’t just limited to one group of people. Then He calms a raging storm with His word, leaving His disciples in awe: “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!”From sickness to storms Jesus is able!

Chapter 9 continues this theme of authority, but also reveals Jesus’ heart. He forgives a paralyzed man before healing him, showing that He came to deal with the deeper sickness of sin. He calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him and then shares a meal with sinners and outcasts. When He was questioned, He replies, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” He isn’t afraid of messy people instead He moves toward them. By the end of the chapter, there are crowds everywhere, and Matthew tells us that Jesus looks at them with compassion. There is no greater Love!

In chapter 10, Jesus sends out His disciples giving them authority to preach, heal, and bring His kingdom near. But He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He lets them know they will be rejected, persecuted, and experience hardship. He reminds them not to fear, because their lives are precious to Him. They are sent out to carry His message of peace and hope.

By chapter 11, the tension starts to rise. John the Baptist, sends messengers to ask if Jesus really is the one they’ve been waiting for. Jesus points to the evidence: the blind see, the lame walk, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Even with those truths everybody doesn’t accept Him. People still resist and doubt. But in the midst of rejection, Jesus says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” His Grace is truly Amazing!! 

Matthew Chapters 8-11 show us that Jesus isn’t just a teacher of truth but that He is the living truth. He brings healing to the sick, hope to the outsider, authority over chaos, and rest for the weary. And even now, His invitation still stands.

 

Matthew 12 – 15

By the time we get to Matthew 12, Jesus’ ministry is practically impossible to ignore. We see how the crowds flocked to Him, miracles kept unfolding and Gods power is on full display. With all that going on sadly, not everybody is celebrating. When Jesus heals on the Sabbath, the Pharisees accuse Him of breaking God’s law. Instead of rejoicing over a man made whole, they hold on to rules and miss the heart of God.  Jesus makes one thing clear, He is greater than the temple, greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon. The kingdom is here and it can’t be held back rules or  by old ways of thinking.

In Matthew 13, Jesus begins teaching in parables. He tells stories about seeds, soil, weeds, pearls, and nets. The parable of the sower reminds us that God’s Word takes root in every heart in different ways. Some reject it, some receive it shallowly, but some let it sink deep and bear fruit. Jesus explains that parables invite the hungry to come closer while on the other hand exposes those whose hearts are hardened. The kingdom is like a mustard seed, it starts small and you can’t stop its growth.

Matthew 14 shows both breathtaking miracles and deep pain. John the Baptist is executed, a reminder that following God can be costly. After this tragedy Jesus feeds over five thousand people with five loaves and two fish which shows us that He is always more than enough.  Jesus walks on water, and Peter takes his first steps of faith before sinking because he became afraid. But Jesus reached out his hand to save him! Here I am reminded that in loss and abundance, in our storm and in our calm, that Jesus is our only Help!

In Matthew 15, the Pharisees criticize Jesus’ disciples for not following hand-washing rituals, but Jesus tells them “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you it’s what comes out of your heart.” He shows that God wants us to be changed on the inside. Then, as the text goes on a Canaanite woman begs with Jesus to heal her daughter. At first, it seems like He isn’t going to but because she doesn’t give up and has faith that moves Him, and heals her.

The kingdom is expanding, breaking boundaries, and welcoming those once considered outsiders. The chapter ends with another miraculous feeding this time of four thousand reminding us that Jesus will supply our needs.

These chapters show us both the beauty and the cost of the kingdom. Jesus brings healing, provision, and truth, but He also exposes hearts.   This section of the Gospel shows us that God’s grace and mercy is abundant!