Formed in God’s Story: Matthew 14–28

The second half of Matthews’ Gospel resumes over seven Wednesdays from 18 October 2023 (7–9 pm) at Riverview Church (Perth, Western Australia).

The full notes and podcasts will be available here each week. If you plan to attend in person, please register. Either way, there’s no cost.

Links for the first half of Matthew (Chapters 1–14) are available below.

Matthew keeps emphasizing Jesus’ authority. Chapter 16 turns a corner when someone finally realizes who is the king of this kingdom Jesus keeps talking about.

That’s when Jesus begins explaining the meaning of the cross. His assassination is the ultimate expression of the rebellion against heaven’s reign by those in power. He believes authority is given by heaven, not taken by force.

This conflict of the powers occupies the whole of Matthew 21–28. When the long-awaited king finally arrives at the capital, he finds his Father’s house occupied by bandits who want to kill him to take his authority. They’re not serving God; they’re actors playing a self-serving role. The temple and its city will fall, but God will give dominion to the son of man. The temple authorities hand the king of the Jews over to those who rule them, but God raises him up and gives him all authority. That’s how God’s anointed rescues the earth from the reign of evil, restoring heaven’s reign.

Bookmark this page for the notes and podcasts each week:

Week 8: Seeing the king (Mt 15–16) — Notes for 18 October 2023.
• Who can see Jesus’ authority? (Mt 15) — Podcast to follow
• Heaven reveals who Jesus is (Mt 16) — Podcast to follow

Week 9: The community of the king (Mt 17-18) — Notes for 24 Oct to follow.
• Heaven reveals Jesus’ authority (Matthew 17) — Podcast
• The community of the Christ (Matthew 18) — Podcast

Week 10: The life of his kingdom (Mt 19-20) — Notes for 1 Nov.
• Relationships in his kingdom (Mt 19) — Podcast
• Turning everything upside down (Mt 20) — Podcast

Week 11: Temple versus king (Mt 21–22) — Notes for 8 Nov.
• The temple rejects the king (Mt 21) — Podcast
• The temple questions the king (Mt 22) — Podcast

Week 12: King versus temple (Mt 23–24) — Notes for 15 Nov.
• The king berates the temple leaders (Mt 23) — Podcast
• The temple will fall, but Christ will be king (Mt 24) — Podcast

Week 13: Handing over their king (Mt 25–26) — Notes for 22 Nov.
• The values of the king (Mt 25) — Podcast
• The betrayal of the king (Mt 26) — Podcast

Week 14: The death and resurrection of the king (Mt 27–28) — Notes for 29 Nov.
• The king is crucified (Mt 27) — Podcast
• The king is raised up (Mt 28) — Podcast

And here are the notes and podcasts for Weeks 1–7 (Matthew 1–14).