This study encourages going at your own pace, allowing each session to be a day, a week, or however long you need. Each session contains questions to be used for individual reflection or small group discussion.

This study was made to be used alongside Bible reading. Although we have created chapter summaries, there is no substitute for reading God's Word.

MATTHEW CHAPTER SUMMARIES

MATTHEW BOOK OVERVIEW

PRINTABLE PDF PLAN

SESSION 1: MATTHEW 1-4

SESSION 2: MATTHEW 5-7

SESSION 3: MATTHEW 8-12

SESSION 4: MATTHEW 13-16

SESSION 5: MATTHEW 17-20

SESSION 6: MATTHEW 21-25

SESSION 7: MATTHEW 26-28

SESSION ONE: MATTHEW 1-4

THE WATER + THE WILDERNESS

In Matthew 1:1-17, what names do you recognize within the genealogy of Jesus?

Why would these names be significant to a primarily Jewish audience?

How did Joseph exhibit faith in his response to the angel (Matthew 1:20-25)?

Read Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, and Hosea 11:1. What prophecies of Jesus were fulfilled in Matthew 1-4?

What does the name “Immanuel” mean? How did Jesus live up to this name?

In Matthew 2, King Herod attempted to kill Jesus by commanding the slaughter of all boys under two years old. Can you think of another time in Scripture when this occurred (See Exodus 1)?

According to Matthew 3, what was John the Baptist’s unique role?

Why was he called “John the Baptist”?

If Jesus was without sin, why would he be baptized?

How did God respond to Jesus’ baptism?

How did Jesus respond when tempted by Satan?

What do His responses say about the power of knowing God’s Word? According to Matthew 4:6, who else knows God’s Word? Why is this significant?

What did Jesus mean when he said that he would “make fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)?

SESSION TWO: MATTHEW 5-7

Which of Jesus’ “Blessed are...” statements stand out to you (Matthew 5:2-11)?

Do any of them surprise you?

What does it mean to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world?

According to Matthew 5:17-20, what was Jesus’ relationship to the law?

In Matthew 6:3, what does it mean to not let the left hand know what the right is doing? How does this apply to generosity?

What instruction can you take away from Jesus’ teaching the disciples to pray? What aspects of prayer did Jesus include (Matthew 6:9-13)?

Read Matthew 6:21. How does the way you spend your time, money, and energy highlight what you love most?

What does it mean to “serve two masters”? How does this relate to money (Matthew 6:24)?

What did Jesus teach regarding anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34)?

What illustrations did Jesus use to explain judgment (Matthew 7:1-6)?

Jesus covered a wide variety of topics in this sermon. Which ones speak to you most personally?

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

SESSION THREE: MATTHEW 8-12

JESUS CALLS THE DISCIPLES

Read Matthew 8:1-4. Why was touching a leper seen as risky and controversial?

Why was Jesus impressed by the centurion’s faith (Matthew 8:5-13)?

How did the disciples respond to Jesus’ calming the storm (Matthew 8:25-27)?

How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees’ claims of blasphemy (Matthew 9:1-7)?

How did he respond to their claims of eating with sinners (Matthew 9:10-13)?

In Matthew 10, what instructions did Jesus give the twelve disciples?

What did Jesus mean in Matthew 10:39 regarding losing and finding life?

Read Matthew 11:6. Why would the news of Jesus be seen as offensive?

What did Jesus offer to believers in Matthew 11:28?

According to Matthew 12, how did Jesus fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah?

Read Matthew 12: 38-42. How did Jesus compare himself to Jonah?

When questioned about his family, who did Jesus include (Matthew 12:50)?

SESSION FOUR: MATTHEW 13-16

THE MIRACLES OF JESUS

How would you summarize the parable of the sower in Matthew 13?

How have you witnessed or experienced the different types of “soils”?

Read Matthew 13:51-52. How is the news of Jesus both old and new?

How did Jesus respond after hearing that John the Baptist died?

Which miracles of Jesus were captured in Matthew 14? What do these accounts reveal about His character?

How did Jesus describe the Pharisees in Matthew 15:7-9? What does this look like in today’s culture?

What does it mean that whatever comes out of the mouth defiles a person? How does this contrast with Jewish law?

How did the Canaanite woman display faith in Jesus’ abilities?

How would you describe the Sadducees and Pharisees’ attitudes toward Jesus?

What did Jesus reveal to the disciples in Matthew 16:21?

How did he challenge them to respond (Matthew 16:24-28)?

SESSION FIVE: MATTHEW 17-20

THE TEACHING + PARABLES OF JESUS

During the transfiguration, who appeared to the disciples (Matthew 17:1-13)?

How were these two men significant and faithful leaders?

Who did Jesus compare to Elijah? How are they similar (Matthew 17:1-13)?

What is the significance of the mustard seed (Matthew 17:14-20)?

Multiple times, Jesus revealed to the disciples that He would soon die. How did the disciples respond (Matthew 17:22-23)?

In your own words, how would you summarize the parable of the lost sheep?

According to Matthew 18:15-20, how are believers instructed to handle conflict?

What qualities of children did Jesus identify as especially admirable or valuable (Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 19:13-15)?

In Matthew 19, what was Jesus trying to communicate to the rich young man?

Does the story of the laborers in the vineyard feel unfair? Why or why not?

Read Matthew 20:28. How does this verse describe Jesus’ humility?

SESSION SIX: MATTHEW 21-25

THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW + PROPHETS

Read Zechariah 9:9. How did Jesus fulfill this prophecy in Matthew 21?

Does it surprise you that Jesus overturned tables? Why would He do that inside of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13)?

What was the purpose of Jesus’ parables in these chapters? What did He want the disciples to learn from each one?

Which commandment did Jesus say is the greatest? How does this one commandment summarize the many other commands of the law?

In Matthew 22:41-45, what did Jesus mean by “The Lord said to my Lord?”

What warnings or “woes” did Jesus give the Pharisees in Matthew 23? How did Jesus compare the Pharisees to the cup and the whitewash-tomb?

In Matthew 24, what did Jesus reveal about the future of the temple?

According to Matthew 24:36, who is the only one who knows when the end times will occur?

Read Matthew 25:34-40. What does this passage reveal about God’s value system and His future judgment?

SESSION SEVEN: MATTHEW 26-28

THE CRUCIFIXION + RESURRECTION OF JESUS

Read Matthew 26:6-13. What can you learn from the woman with valuable ointment?

Read Exodus 12. What connections can you find between Passover and the Lord’s Supper?

What did Jesus reveal about Judas and Peter in Matthew 26?

How would you summarize Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane?

After betraying Jesus, how did Judas respond to seeing Him condemned?

How does Barabbas serve as a symbol of humanity’s sinfulness?

When Jesus was mocked, why did they call him “King of the Jews”?

Read Matthew 27:51. What is the significance of the temple curtain’s tearing?

After Jesus’ resurrection, what instructions did He give to the disciples?

Way to go! You finished the book of Matthew.

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MARK RESOURCES