An Outline of the Gospel of Matthew
G. Davison 1982 (written about 1930) The principal divisions of this gospel seem to be, Matthew 1-4, 5-7, 8-9, 10-12, 13-18, 19-23, 24-25, 26-28.
Mat 1:1-24, Mat 2:1-23, Mat 3:1-17, Mat 4:1-25 : First we have recorded the events from the birth of our Lord to the commencement of His public ministry.
Mat 1:1-24 : Records His birth of the seed of David and of Abraham, as we learn from Rom 15:8, to confirm the promises unto the fathers.
Mat 2:1-23 : He is owned as King and honoured as such. All events of lowliness as found in the Gospel of Luke are omitted here. In that Gospel He is the vessel of Grace, in this Gospel of Matthew He is the vessel of Promise — the King, and is accorded regal honours.
Mat 3:1-17 : Shows His way being prepared by John the Baptist according to Isa 40:3, culminating in His own baptism, in which He identified Himself with the remnant of His people. This was followed by His official anointing in view of His public ministry. One thing remains: is He capable of bringing in the blessing of His people? Thus, in Mat 4:1-25, we see Him tested and completely victorious over the enemy, the devil. He overcomes as Man; Son of David; Son of Man; the three spheres He fills and which are developed in this Gospel.
Mat 5:1-48, Mat 6:1-34, Mat 7:1-29 : In these chapters we have the King setting before His disciples the principles of the Kingdom, also at this early date presenting it with His rejection in view. In Matthew the Kingdom is always looked at as at hand, never as set up, He is prepared for His rejection and for this He prepares His disciples.
Mat 8:1-34, Mat 9:1-38 : If in Mat 5:1-48, Mat 6:1-34, Mat 7:1-29 we have the word of the Kingdom, in these two chapters we have the power of it. First the word declaring the moral principles, then the exercise of power demonstrating His ability to effect it. Everything is now ready to set up the Kingdom and He has proved His power to bring it in.
Mat 10:1-42, Mat 11:1-30, Mat 12:1-50 : Mat 10:1-42 : Here we find He commissions His disciples to go and proclaim that it is at hand (Mat 10:7). They have both the authority to preach the word of it, and to exercise its power (Mat 10:7-8). Yet again, He prepares them for rejection. This is the Gospel which the remnant shall take up at the close of the present dispensation. C.f. Mat 10:23 with Mat 10:40-42 and compare with Mat 25:31-46.
Mat 11:1-30, Mat 12:1-50 : As foreshadowed by our Lord in chapter 10, so we find in Mat 11:1-30, the testimony is rejected. Hence we find the Lord upbraiding the cities where the mightiest testimony had been rendered, but they rejected it and by doing so they rejected Him — the King is in rejection. Yet, worse is to follow, for in Mat 12:1-50, He rejects them. Solemn indeed that they should reject Him — but how dreadful that He should reject them! The Lord then warns them of the seriousness of the road they were embarking on (Mat 12:31-37), referring prophetically, I think, to their impending rejection of the Holy Spirit’s witness, and their stoning of His voicepiece, Stephen! Then in the picture of His mother and His brethren, He breaks His links with Israel after the flesh, (Mat 12:46-50). This is the main division of this Gospel. Note: for the first time, Mat 12:14, they take council to destroy Him.
Mat 13:1-58, Mat 14:1-36, Mat 15:1-39, Mat 16:1-28, Mat 17:1-27, Mat 18:1-35 : We now have a fresh start and in this section that which covers this present dispensation. Thus we have in the Sower a fresh start in a larger sphere. He leaves the House (Israel) and sits by the sea side, (Gentiles). C.f., Act 10:6. In the parables the Lord propounds, He shews the progress of the Kingdom in its present mystery form during His absence. That this follows His death is clear for it is His field, (Mat 13:24, Mat 13:31). "A field," Mat 13:44, becomes His field, Mat 13:24, Mat 13:31. He bought it by His blood. Now we have the Lord in the outside place.
Mat 14:1-36 : Herod’s court pictures the world. The lust of the flesh, Mat 14:3; the lust of the eye, Mat 14:6; and the pride of life, Mat 14:9; but the Lord is outside, Mat 14:13, and all who sought Him, followed Him, and joined Him in the desert. The Head, Mat 14:19; the Priest, Mat 14:23; the Lord, Mat 14:28. He is eminently able to support His own in the outside place.
Mat 15:1-39 : Shows the transfer from Judaism to Christianity. No longer is it a question of meats and drinks but of man’s moral state.
Mat 16:1-28 : We have the revelation of the church based upon His death which He mentions for the first time, in this chapter.
If, in the ways of God, He is put to death, the way is but opened for the church of God, subject of the purpose of God, to be brought into the light of divine revelation.
Mat 17:1-27 : He shows the three disciples the Kingdom in glory so that it is not set up in manifestation here, Christ is glorified above.
Mat 18:1-35 : We have instructions as to how we are to treat one another as being left here in the world. So the church is seen in responsibility hence we have the church, Mat 16:1-28, in the Kingdom, Mat 17:1-27.
Mat 19:1-30, Mat 20:1-34, Mat 21:1-46, Mat 22:1-46, Mat 23:1-39 : We have in these chapters the public presentation of the King to Israel, in accordance with Zec 9:9. Then we see how the events of Zec 11:1-17 are fulfilled. He commences with the leaders. We have three parables brought out: the two sons; the vineyard; the marriage feast. They cover: First, from Sinai to Christ. Second, His presentation and rejection. Third, the rejection of the Holy Spirit. The testimony of God, of Christ, then of the Spirit, all rejected, ending in their city being burned up, Mat 22:7, and the Gospel going to the Gentiles.
Zec 11:1-17 should be compared at this point for it sets forth what we have in these chapters right up to His death. The three shepherds of Zec 11:8, are, so we find here, the Herodians; Sadduccees; Pharisees. He loathed them and they loathed Him. Thus after exposing them He leaves the Temple desolate, and the covenant is broken, Zec 11:10.
Mat 24:1-51, Mat 25:1-46 : C.f., Zec 11:11. The poor of the flock wait upon Him for the word of the Lord. In these two chapters the Lord unfolds the history of the nation and the events between His departure and His return. These two chapters are in three sections, thus, Mat 24:1-44 : We have the history of Israel;
Mat 24:51, Mat 25:1-30 : The present period;
Mat 25:31-46 : The coming of the Son of Man.
Mat 26:1-75, Mat 27:1-66, Mat 28:1-20 : We have first, in this last section, our Lord’s last words to His own. The Supper is here linked with the Pass-over and out to all. Note, not "for you", as in Luke, but "for many." As to Judas — the disciples say, "Lord, is it I?" He says, "Master, is it I?" In comparing the gospels as to these last acts it may be seen that in Matthew we have the Sin offering; in Mark, the Trespass offering; in Luke, the Meat offering; finally in John, the Burnt offering.
Luke shows us that Perfect Man tested in the Garden, but in Matthew we have Isa 53:1-12 and also Psa 22:1-31 carried through on the Cross. At His death we have many acts of power recorded here. The veil is rent; graves were opened; earth quaked; rocks rent; saints arose. Such events as will yet be seen when He brings in the Kingdom in Power.
Lastly we have the Resurrection. Here we have the women taking hold of His feet. He will bring in salvation by subduing all beneath His feet. In the account in Luke’s Gospel we have "hands and feet," Luk 24:39; in John, hands and side. He meets them in Galilee, the place from which He started at the outset of this Gospel, and gave them their commission to preach and teach in the light of that revelation which He had made — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This Gospel was carried on until the stoning of Stephen, when the Gospel of the glory was brought in by Paul. The Lord’s words are, "Teaching them whatsoever I have commanded you," C.f. Mat 5:21-22, the law says — but I say, etc. Also He is with them to the end of the age.
Obviously the following was given prior to his homecall in 1977.
