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Greetings listeners. Have you ever wondered why the New Testament starts with Matthew and not another book? We just finished the Old Testament with Malachi and suddenly we're staring at a family tree in the book of Matthew. Why Matthew first? Why not Mark, Luke or John? Well, there's actually a reason for that, and it helps us to see what Matthew's gospel is really all about. Well, welcome everyone.

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I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where weekly, we break down the basics of the Bible into understandable, bite-sized chunks, bite-sized chunks. Welcome to season five, where we're going to be focusing on the New Testament. And actually, before we begin, let me make a correction. This season we're trying something new Instead of weekly episodes, new episodes will be released every two weeks, bi-weekly. That gives you more time to read, reflect and really take in what we're covering together.

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Now on to the first book in the New Testament. Here's something interesting the Bible never says start with Matthew in the New Testament. Here's something interesting the Bible never says start with Matthew in the New Testament. But when the early church leaders began collecting and arranging the books of the New Testament, they consistently placed Matthew first. You might be asking why was that? It was because Matthew's gospel acts like a bridge. It connects the story of the Old Testament to the story of Jesus. Right from the start, matthew shows Jesus's family line, going all the way back to Abraham and King David, and throughout his book he keeps pointing back to the promises of the prophets, saying this is what we're talking about. So Matthew comes first because he helps us step straight out of the Old Testament world and into the new, straight out of the Old Testament world and into the new, and he makes it clear that the same God who promised a Savior in the Old Testament has now kept that promise in Jesus.

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Now, before we go any further, let's pause for a moment. I've mentioned the word gospel. What exactly is a gospel? Well, the word itself means good news.

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In the Bible, the four gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and they each share the good news about Jesus. They're not biographies in the way we think of them today. Instead, each writer carefully chose stories, teachings and events from Jesus's life to show us who he is and why he matters. Here's one way to picture it Think of four friends describing the same event. Four friends describing the same event. Each notices different details. That's how the four Gospels work. Each writer had a particular audience in mind and offered a unique perspective, but together they give us a fuller picture of Jesus and the message of God's kingdom. If you'd like a fuller introduction to what a gospel is and how the four gospels fit together, go back and listen to the last episode. I walked through the big picture there and the link is in the show notes.

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So with that foundation in place, let's turn to the very first gospel and the man who wrote it, Matthew. Matthew, also called Levi, is commonly understood to be the writer of this gospel. His audience was primarily his fellow Jews, and the focus of his story is Jesus Christ. Matthew himself had a front row seat to everything he describes. Before following Jesus, he worked as a tax collector. One day, Matthew was sitting at his tax booth doing the job that made most people despise him, doing the job that made most people despise him. Tax collectors worked for Rome. They often cheated their own people and were seen as traitors. That's when Jesus walked by, looked at Matthew and simply said Follow me. In that moment, Matthew left it all behind.

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Not long after, he hosted a dinner at his house and he wanted his friends, other tax collectors and outcasts to meet Jesus. So the table was filled with people the religious leaders would never be caught eating with, and that's what made this meal so significant. In that culture, sharing a table wasn't casual. It meant acceptance, belonging. And here was Jesus, breaking social and religious barriers, sitting with the very people others called sinners. The Pharisees were outraged. They asked the disciples why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? That's in Matthew, chapter 9, verse 11. But Jesus' reply was clear it's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. And I desire mercy, not sacrifice, for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners Chapter 9, verses 12 to 13. This dinner wasn't just a meal. It was a picture of the gospel itself, jesus reaching out to those the world had written off and giving them a place at his table.

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Later, Matthew was chosen as one of the twelve apostles After the resurrection. We hear his name one last time in Acts, chapter 1, verse 13, where he's in the upper room with the other disciples waiting and praying for the Holy Spirit to come. So when we read Matthew's gospel, we're not just reading dry history. We're hearing the testimony of a man whose life was changed by Jesus and who wanted others to see what he'd seen that Jesus is the promised king.

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By the time the Gospel of Matthew was written, god's people had already lived through centuries of hardship. Through centuries of hardship, they'd been exiled, ruled by foreign powers like Babylon, Persia and Greece, and had endured 400 years without hearing a prophet's voice. Now, in Matthew's day, rome was in control of Israel and the Jewish people were desperate for freedom and restoration. Many were hoping for a king like David, a leader who would rise up, overthrow Rome and lead a political revolution. But Matthew tells a different story. He shows us that Jesus is the king they'd been waiting for. King they'd been waiting for, but not in the way they imagined. As for when the gospel was written, scholars don't all agree. Some suggest it may have been written as early as AD 40, others much later. But most likely all this happened before the destruction of Jerusalem, and that was in AD 70.

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Now let's get to the main message of this book. God's purpose in the Gospel of Matthew is clear to show that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King promised in the Scriptures and through his words. We get to see that same truth today. From beginning to end, the book shows through scripture that Jesus is the one God promised. The genealogy, the baptism, the teaching, the miracles, everything points to the same conclusion Christ is King. To drive this home, matthew quotes the Old Testament more than any other gospel writer. Over and over, he says this happened to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet was spoken by the prophet Even in the darkest moment, when Jesus is crucified. Matthew shows us that what looked like defeat was actually the path to victory and through the resurrection the message becomes unmistakable the king lives and this is the good news the gospel Matthew brings to us.

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Matthew's gospel is organized in an easy-to-follow way. It begins with a long introduction in chapters 1 through 4. Here we see his genealogy, his birth and the escape to Egypt when his family fled from Herod's threat. Then comes John the Baptist's ministry, Jesus' baptism, his temptation in the wilderness and finally the launch of his ministry in Galilee. And finally the launch of his ministry in Galilee. So that's chapters 1-4, the beginning. At the other end of the gospel, in chapters 26-28, we get the conclusion the plot to kill Jesus, judas' betrayal, peter's denial, the crucifixion and his resurrection. In between those bookends are five major teaching sections of Jesus, almost like five big lessons. Each one ends with the phrase quote, when Jesus had finished saying these things, end quote. So here are the five.

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First is the Sermon on the Mount, that's in chapter 5 through 7. This is probably the most well-known of Jesus's teachings. It begins with the Beatitudes, in verses 3 through 12. Statements like blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the poor in heart. These describe the values of God's kingdom and turns the world's priorities upside down. While the world celebrates power, wealth, self-promotion, jesus blesses the humble, the merciful and those who hunger for righteousness. The Sermon on the Mount is really a blueprint for life as citizens of God's kingdom. Meanwhile, in this gospel, matthew tells us Jesus wasn't only teaching, he was also showing his power in action. He healed Peter's mother-in-law and crowds soon gathered as he healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and restored the broken.

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Now the second teaching. Here Jesus sends 12 disciples out to announce the good news of the kingdom. This is in chapter 10, verses 5 through 8. He gives them instructions on how to travel, how to respond when welcomed or rejected and how to endure persecution. He says in chapter 10, verse 16, I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves. Jesus is honest about the cost of following him. But he also promises that God's Spirit will give them the words they need, will give them the words they need. Meanwhile, crowds keep following Jesus. In one powerful moment, he feeds 5,000 people with only five loaves and two fish. That's chapter 14, verses 13 to 21. That same night the disciples are caught in a storm and, to their amazement, jesus walks out to them on the water and calms both the waves and their fear. That's chapter 14, verses 22 to 33.

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The third teaching is called the parables of the kingdom, and that's in chapter 13. Here Jesus tells a series of parables, short stories with deep meaning. The parable of the sower that reminds us that not everyone will receive the message of the kingdom. There's the mustard seed parable that shows that God's kingdom may look small at first but will grow into something great. And there's the mustard seed parable that shows that God's kingdom may look small at first but will grow into something great. And there's the parable of the hidden treasure, which points to the priceless value of knowing Jesus. And fourth, we have the teaching on community life. That's in chapter 18.

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Here Jesus teaches his followers how to live together. He begins with a lesson on humility that warrants against causing others to stumble. He shares the parable of the lost sheep, showing God's care for the vulnerable, god's care for the vulnerable. Later he gives a clear teaching on reconciliation and forgiveness, ending with the parable of the unforgiving servant. This whole section is about life in God's family, marked by humility, care and grace.

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Meanwhile, in this story, matthew tells us about a bold request. The mother of James and John, two disciples, comes to Jesus asking for her sons to have the best seats in the kingdom. Jesus uses this moment to remind his followers that true greatness isn't about status or power, it's about serving others. And the fifth and last teaching is called the Olivet Discourse, and we find that in chapters 24 and 25. On the Mount of Olives, Jesus gives a sobering teaching about the future. He speaks of the coming destruction of Jerusalem, the challenges his followers would face and his future return. He illustrates these truths with parables like the ten virgins, which emphasizes readiness, and the sheep and the goats, which highlight the importance of how we live now. Meanwhile, just before his arrest, a woman comes with an alabaster jar of perfume and pours it on Jesus. A bastard jar of perfume and pours it on Jesus. Her act of devotion is remembered by Jesus as a beautiful example of love and worship, even as the shadow of betrayal and the cross draws near. So Matthew's gospel gives us both the story of Jesus's life and his core teachings Together. The five discourses or teachings and these unforgettable moments show Jesus as the promised Messiah and the King who brings God's kingdom to earth. Let me share with you a few more highlights of his teaching and some imagery.

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Matthew begins his gospel with a clear statement about who Jesus is and then goes on to record some of the most famous words Jesus ever spoke. From the very first line, matthew makes his purpose clear. This is the genealogy of Jesus, the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. That's chapter 1, verse 1. Right from the start, he tells us that Jesus is the promised king, the one who fulfills God's covenant promises. When Jesus begins his public ministry, matthew sums it up with this powerful phrase. Quote repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near end. Quote. That's chapter 4, verse 17.

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That message runs through the rest of the book, and it's in Matthew that we find the Lord's Prayer. That's in chapter 6, verses 9 through 13, where Jesus teaches his followers to pray with simplicity and trust Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. And in the Sermon on the Mount, he calls his people to radical love, even love for enemies, showing that life in God's kingdom is completely different from the world's ways. And then comes the cross Above Jesus' head. The sign reads, quote this is Jesus, the King of the Jews. End quote. That's chapter 27, verse 37. What looked like defeat was actually his greatest victory.

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The gospel closes with Jesus's final words to his disciples, quote all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. Chapter 28, verses 18 to 20. The king has risen and his authority extends everywhere, calling his people, you and me, to share the good news with the whole world. So why does Matthew still matter for us today? Remember our opening question why does the New Testament begin with Matthew? The answer was that Matthew acts like a bridge from the old and the new, and that same bridge speaks directly to us now.

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First, Matthew shows us we can trust Jesus as king. The world around us feels really uncertain, but Matthew reminds us we have a king whose rule is good, just and eternal. From the very first chapter, he makes it clear Every prophecy, every covenant. Every hope of the Old Testament is fulfilled in Jesus. If God kept those promises, we can trust him to keep his promises to us too.

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Second, Matthew reminds us that Jesus is not just the king of Israel, but the king of all nations. One example is in the genealogy there are four women Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Several of them were Gentiles, outsiders to Israel's story, yet they were part of Jesus's family tree. And at the very end of the gospel, Jesus sends his disciples out with those words I said earlier go and make disciples of all nations. His kingdom is for everyone you, me and people all around the world. Third, Matthew makes our mission clear. Just as the gospel closes with the Great Commission, we're invited to live on mission too, to share Jesus with the people around us, starting right where we are, jesus with the people around us, starting right where we are. And finally, Matthew challenges us to live as citizens of that kingdom.

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Jesus' teaching is not just history, it's an invitation. The Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the call to follow him, those words are for us today. Living under the reign of Jesus is about more than outward behavior. It's about hearts transformed by his love and his teaching. So maybe ask yourself where do I need God to change my heart? So maybe ask yourself, where do I need God to change my heart, not just my habits. That's why Matthew still matters. It's not only the bridge between the old and the new, it's the bridge between then and now, between the story of Jesus and the story God is still writing in our lives today. So, to wrap it up, matthew shows us that Jesus is the long-awaited King, the one who fulfills God's promises and brings his kingdom to earth. His teaching, his miracles, his death and resurrection all point to the same truth Christ is King and he lives.

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Thank you so much for tuning in today and remember this season new episodes will come out every two weeks. That gives you more time to read, reflect and really let these books sink in. And if you're looking for a place to start digging into Matthew, I'd suggest the Sermon on the Mount found in chapters five through seven. It's where Jesus paints a clear picture of what it means to live in his kingdom. If you found this episode helpful, would you share it with a friend? You never know who might need encouragement from God's word this week. And it's such a simple way to be part of that great commission Matthew ends with. Next time we'll look at the Gospel of Mark. It's shorter, faster-paced and action-packed. A front-row seat to Jesus's ministry you won't want to miss. Until then, keep reading, keep seeking and keep growing in your faith.