Outline of Matthew
Introduction (1:1–2:23)
A. The record of Jesus’ birth (1:1–25)
1. Genealogical Record (1:1–17)
2. Birth Record (1:18–25)
B. The visit of the wise men (2:1–12)
C. The protection of baby Jesus (2:13–18)
D. The childhood of Jesus (2:19–23)
I. About discipleship (chs. 3–7)
A. Stories (3:1–4:25)
1. The baptism of Jesus (3:1–17)
2. The temptation of Jesus (4:1–11)
3. The withdrawal of Jesus (4:12–17)
4. The early ministry of Jesus (4:18–25)
a. Calling four disciples (4:18–22)
b. Teaching, proclaiming, and healing in Galilee (4:23–25)
B. Sermon: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)
1. The setting of the sermon (5:1)
2. The content of the sermon (5:2–7:23)
a. The values and rewards of Christ’s followers (5:2–12)
b. The distinctiveness of Christ’s followers (5:13–16)
c. The righteousness of Christ’s followers (5:17–6:18)
1) Their righteousness fulfills the OT (5:17–20)
2) Their righteousness exceeds the scribes’ teaching (5:21–48)
a) Teaching on anger (21–26)
b) Teaching on lust (27–30)
c) Teaching on divorce (31–32)
d) Teaching on oaths (33–37)
e) Teaching on retaliation (38–42)
f) Teaching on love and prayer (43–48)
3) Their righteousness exceeds the Pharisees’ practice (6:1–18)
a) A general statement about righteousness (1)
b) Pharisaical giving (2–4)
c) Pharisaical prayer (5–15)
d) Pharisaical fasting (16–18)
d. The commitments of Christ’s followers (6:19–34)
1) Seek heavenly things (19–24)
2) Trust your heavenly Father (25–34)
e. The proper judgment of Christ’s followers (7:1–6)
f. The good Father of Christ’s followers (7:7–11)
g. The love of Christ’s followers (7:12)
3. The conclusion of the sermon (7:13–29)
a. Choose the narrow way (13–14)
b. Reject false prophets (15–20)
c. Do my Father’s will (21–23)
d. Build your house on the Rock (24–29)
II. About authority (chs. 8–10)
A. Stories (8:1–9:38)
1. 1st round of miracle stories (8:1–17)
a. Jesus heals a leper (8:1–4).
b. Jesus heals a Centurion’s servant (8:5–13).
c. Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and many others (8:14–17).
2. A brief discussion of absolute loyalty to Jesus (8:18–22)
3. 2nd round of miracle stories (8:23–9:8)
a. Jesus rebukes the storm (8:23–27).
b. Jesus heals two demon-possessed men (8:28–34).
c. Jesus heals a paralytic man (9:1–8).
4. A brief discussion about Jesus’s ministry and disciples (9:9–17)
5. 3rd round of miracle stories (9:18–34)
a. Jesus heals a ruler’s daughter and a woman (9:18–26).
b. Jesus heals two blind men (9:27–31).
c. Jesus heals a demon-possessed man (9:32–34).
6. Teaching, proclaiming, and healing in cities and villages (9:35–37)
B. Sermon: The Apostles’ Discourse (10:1–42)
1. Preliminary instructions about mission to the Jews (1–15)
2. Forthright explanations about the reality of persecution (16–25)
3. Blunt words about the nature of his message (26–42).
III. About accepting and rejecting Jesus (chs. 11–13)
A. Stories (11:1–12:50)
1. 1st Half (ch. 11)
a. Jesus’ way has been prepared (1–15).
b. This generation misses it (16–24).
c. Those of low estate can come to Jesus (25–30).
2. 2nd Half (ch. 12)
a. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and ministers through the Spirit’s power (1–37).
1) Sabbath controversies with the Pharisees (1–14)
2) Spirit empowerment (15–37)
a) In fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (15–21)
b) To cast out demons (22–37)
b. This generation demands further signs (38–45).
c. Those who do His Father’s will are his true family (46–50).
B. Sermon: The Kingdom Parables (13:1–58)
1. The setting of the sermon (1–2)
2. The content of the sermon (3–50)
a. Parable 1: The Sower (3–23)
b. Parable 2: The Weeds (24–30, 36–43)
c. Parable 3: The Mustard Seed (31–32)
d. Parable 4: The Leaven (33–35)
e. Parable 5: The Hidden Treasure (44)
f. Parable 6: The Pearl (45–46)
g. Parable 7: The Net (47–50)
3. The conclusion of the sermon (51–58)
a. The disciples are now trained scribes for the kingdom (51–52).
b. Nazareth now rejects Jesus’ words and works (53–58).
IV. About conflict and compassion (chs. 14–18)
A. Stories (14:1–17:27)
1. Cycle 1: Conflict, Miracle, and Healing (14:1–36)
a. Conflict Story – The martyrdom of John the Baptist (1–12)
b. Miracle Story – Feeding 5,000 (13–21)
c. Miracle Story – Walking on Water (22–33)
d. Healing Story – Many healings in Gennesaret (34–36)
2. Cycle 2: Conflict, Healing, and Miracle (15:1–39)
a. Conflict Story– Dispute with the Pharisees and scribes (1–20)
b. Healing Story – Healing of the Canaanite woman’s daughter (21–28)
c. Healing Story – Many healings beside the Sea of Galilee (29–31)
d. Miracle Story – Feeding 4,000 (32–39)
3. Cycle 3: Conflict, Death Prediction, Miracle, and Healing (16:1–17:27)
a. Conflict Story – Dispute with the Pharisees and Sadducees (16:1–12)
b. Death Prediction – Jesus speaks with the disciples (16:13–28)
c. Miracle Story – The Transfiguration (17:1–13)
d. Healing Story – Healing of the boy with a demon (17:14–21)
e. Death Prediction – Jesus foretells his death to the disciples (17:22–23)
f. Miracle Story – Peter pays taxes with found money (17:24–27)
B. Sermon: The Kingdom Priorities Discourse (18:1–35)
1. God’s fierce love for his children (1–14)
a. Discourse (1–9)
b. Parable (10–14)
2. God’s tender compassion for his children (15–35)
a. Discourse (15–20)
b. Parable (21–35)
V. About judgment (chs. 19–25)
A. Stories (19:1–23:39)
1. Stories in Judea beyond the Jordan (19:1–20:19)
a. Healings (19:1–2)
b. Conflict with the Pharisees about divorce (19:3–12)
c. Prayer for the little children (19:13–15)
d. Discussion with the rich man (19:16–22)
e. Discussion about who is first and last in the kingdom (19:23–20:16)
2. Stories on the way to Jerusalem (20:17–21:11)
a. Death prediction (20:17–19)
b. Desire for the best seats in the kingdom (20:20–28)
c. Healing of two blind men (20:29–34)
d. Triumphal entry (21:1–11)
3. Stories in Jerusalem (21:12–23:39)
a. Cleansing of the temple (21:12–13)
b. Healing of many blind and lame in the temple (21:14–17)
c. Cursing & withering of the fig tree (21:18–22)
d. Conflict stories (21:23–22:46)
1) With chief priests and elders (21:23–22:14)
2) With Pharisees and Herodians (22:15–22)
3) With Sadducees (22:23–33)
4) With a lawyer (22:34–40)
5) With Pharisees (22:41–46)
e. Rebuke stories (23:1–39)
1) Of scribes and Pharisees (1–36)
2) Of Jerusalem (37–39)
B. Sermon: The Olivet Discourse (24:1–25:46)
1. The introduction of the sermon (24:1–3)
2. The content of the sermon (24:4–25:30)
a. Warning about being led astray (24:4–8)
b. Warning about persecution (24:9–14)
c. Warning about the Abomination of Desolation (24:15–28)
d. Warning about the appearance of the Son of Man (24:29–31)
e. Warning that the temple’s destruction is near (24:32–35)
f. Warning about the suddenness of the end (24:36–25:30)
1) The Son of Man will appear from heaven (24:36–51)
2) Two parables about the end (25:1–30)
a) The parable of the virgins (1–13)
b) The parable of the talents (14–30)
3. The conclusion of the sermon: Separating the sheep from the goats (25:31–46)
Conclusion (26:1–28:20)
A. Preliminary Events of the Passion of Jesus (26:1–56)
1. Preparations for death & burial (1–13)
2. The payment and identity of the Betrayer (14–25)
3. The prediction of the Denier (26–35)
4. Praying at Gethsemane (36–46)
5. Betrayal (47–56)
B. The Trial of Jesus (26:57–27:26)
1. Jesus before the Council (26:57–68)
2. Peter denies Jesus (26:69–75)
3. Jesus before Pilate (27:1–26)
C. The Death of Jesus (27:27–56)
D. The Burial of Jesus (27:57–66)
E. The Resurrection of Jesus (28:1–10)
F. The Appearance & Commission of Jesus (28:11–20)