BIBLE BOOK GUIDE
Matthew
28 chapters
Jesus is the promised King from David's line who brings the kingdom of heaven, dies and rises to save His people, and commissions His disciples to make disciples of all nations.
Matthew
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Why this book was written
Matthew wrote primarily for a Jewish audience to demonstrate that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who fulfills Old Testament prophecy, to teach the ethic of kingdom living, and to commission the church for global disciple-making.
Structure
- 1–4The King's Birth and Preparation
- 5–7The Kingdom Manifesto: Sermon on the Mount
- 8–10The King's Power and Mission
- 11–13The Mystery and Response to the Kingdom
- 14–20The King's Path to the Cross
- 21–28The King's Trial, Cross, and Resurrection
Major themes
The Kingdom of Heaven
The kingdom has arrived in Jesus but awaits full consummation; disciples are to seek and live out its values now.
Messianic Identity
Jesus is the Son of David whose words, authority, and suffering fulfill Old Testament messianic prophecy.
Faith and Discipleship
Genuine faith expresses itself in obedience, self-denial, and a missional witness to the world.
Righteousness and Mercy
Kingdom righteousness exceeds Pharisaic legalism and is marked by mercy, sincerity, and inward transformation.
Judgment and Eschatology
Jesus foretells judgment on unbelief and the end times, calling listeners to watchfulness and readiness.
The Great Commission
The risen Christ commissions the church to baptize, teach, and make disciples of every nation.
How it points to Christ
Matthew portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of every Old Testament hope: greater than Solomon, greater than the temple, the new Moses, the suffering Servant, and the risen King. His teaching reveals the Father's heart, His miracles demonstrate the kingdom's power, His death pays the ransom for many, and His resurrection launches the global mission of His church.
Key verses
- 1:1Opens by anchoring Jesus in covenant history as the fulfillment of messianic promises.
- 5:17–18Jesus clarifies His relationship to the Old Testament as its fulfillment.
- 11:28–30A gospel invitation promising rest and a yoke of grace.
- 16:16Peter's confession identifying Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.
- 20:28Defines Jesus' mission as a ransom for many, central to the cross.
- 26:26–28Institution of the Lord's Supper pointing to the new covenant in His blood.
- 28:18–20The Great Commission with the promise of Christ's presence closes the book.
Films & series on Matthew
Each has a guide: scripture sources, where it departs from the Bible, discussion questions, and where to watch

The Chosen
Series · 2019
The life of Christ through the eyes of those who encountered him.

Jesus of Nazareth
Series · 1977
Dramatizes the Birth, Life, Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, largely according to the Holy Bible's New Testament Gospels.

The Passion of the Christ
Film · 2004
A graphic portrayal of the last twelve hours of Jesus of Nazareth's life.

Son of God
Film · 2014
In the Holy Land, the Roman occupation has produced a cauldron of oppression, anxiety and excessive taxes levied upon the Jewish people. Fearing the wrath of Roman governor Pontius Pilate , Jewish high priest Caiaphas tries to keep control of his people. That control is threatened when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, performing miracles and spreading messages of love and hope. Those who fear that Jesus will inspire a revolution decide that he must die.

The Gospel of Matthew
Film · 2014
The Gospel of Matthew was the most popular Gospel in the early Christian centuries. Written for a Christian community as it begins to separate from the Jewish world, Matthew's Gospel goes to great lengths to show that, as the Messiah, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies referring to God's Saviour. Narrated in the NIV version by leading British actor Stephen Tompkinson and in the KJV by David Threlfall - featuring specially constructed sets and the authentic countryside of Morocco - it immerses the viewer in the world of first-century Palestine.

The King of Kings
Film · 2025
Charles Dickens tells his young son Walter the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice.
Reflections on Matthew
People in this book
Questions for reflection
- ·Which command of the Sermon on the Mount challenges you most right now, and how can you let kingdom values displace worldly ones?
- ·How are you living out the call to be salt and light in your daily work and relationships?
- ·In light of Jesus' warning that not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' enters the kingdom, how do you examine the authenticity of your relationship with Him?
- ·How does the truth that Jesus gave His life as a ransom reshape your view of sacrifice, service, and forgiveness?
- ·To whom or where is the Great Commission sending you, and what is one step you can take today?
Want to read Matthew start to finish? Open the reader for parallel Chinese/English text and ask anything as you go.
Start reading MatthewMatthew
Chapter 18
1In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2And he called to him a little child, and set him in the middle of them,
3and said, Truly I say unto you, Except you turn, and become as little sons, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me:
6But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.
7Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion comes!
8And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you: it is good for you to enter into life crippled or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
9And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you: it is good for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.
10See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
11The Son of Man came to save the lost.
12How think you? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goes astray?
13And if so be that he find it, truly I say unto you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.
14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
15And if your brother sin against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone: if he hear you, you have gained your brother.
16But if he hear you not, take with you one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.
17And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto you as the Gentile and the tax collector.
18Truly I say unto you, what things soever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.
20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middle of them.
21Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?
22Jesus says unto him, I say not unto you, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.
24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents.
25But forasmuch as he had not with which to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and sons, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.
27And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what you owe.
29So his fellow-servant fell down and begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you.
30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay that which was due.
31So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32Then his lord called him unto him, and says to him, You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you besoughtest me:
33should not you also have had mercy on your fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on you?
34And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due.
35So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
