The Book of Matthew: A Beginner’s Guide for Young People
What’s It All About?
The book of Matthew is like the first chapter in a really exciting storybook about Jesus. It’s one of the four books in the Bible called Gospels, which tell us all about Jesus’ life, his teachings, and the amazing things he did.
Who Wrote It?
It was written by a guy named Matthew, who used to be a tax collector but then became one of Jesus’ closest friends and followers. He wanted everyone to know about Jesus, so he wrote this book to share what he had seen and heard.
Why Should I Read It?
Reading Matthew is like getting to know Jesus better. You’ll learn about his birth, his family, his friends, and his mission to save the world. You’ll also discover his amazing teachings about how to live a good life and be kind to others.
What’s in It?
The book of Matthew is full of interesting stories and important lessons. Here are some of the highlights:
- The Birth of Jesus: You’ll read about how Jesus was born in a humble stable and visited by wise men from faraway lands.
- Jesus’ Teachings: You’ll discover the famous Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus taught about love, forgiveness, and how to be happy.
- Jesus’ Miracles: You’ll be amazed by the stories of Jesus healing the sick, calming storms, and even bringing people back to life.
- Jesus’ Death and Resurrection: You’ll learn about the most important events in history, when Jesus died on a cross and then rose from the dead, proving he was God’s Son.
Questions to Ponder
- What do you think is the most important lesson we can learn from Matthew?
- Which story from Matthew do you find most interesting or inspiring?
- If you could ask Jesus one question, what would it be?
- How can we apply Jesus’ teachings to our lives today?
- What does the book of Matthew teach us about God’s love for us?
Take Action
Read a chapter or a few verses from Matthew each day. Think about what you’ve read and how it relates to your life. Talk to your parents, a pastor, or a youth leader about any questions you have.
Matthew’s main purpose in writing his Gospel (the “good news”) is to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their Messiah. He does this primarily by showing how Jesus in his life and ministry fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures.
Matthew, surnamed Levi, before his conversion was a publican, or tax-gatherer under the Romans at Capernaum. He is generally allowed to have written his Gospel before any other of the evangelists. The contents of this Gospel, and the evidence of ancient writers, show that it was written primarily for the use of the Jewish nation. The fulfilment of prophecy was regarded by the Jews as strong evidence, therefore this is especially dwelt upon by St. Matthew. Here are particularly selected such parts of our Savours history and discourses as were best suited to awaken the Jewish nation to a sense of their sins; to remove their erroneous expectations of an earthly kingdom; to abate their pride and self-conceit; to teach them the spiritual nature and extent of the gospel; and to prepare them for the admission of the Gentiles into the church. Matthew Henry
