Go Bible - Flipbook - Page 18
The Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of
Matthew
Who wrote it?
Probably Jesus’ disciple Matthew (also
called Levi).
What’s it about?
The book of Matthew tells the amazing
story of Jesus—the Savior of the world—
being born on earth as a baby, teaching
large crowds and performing miracles,
dying on the cross, and then rising from
the dead. Jesus is the one all the Old
Testament prophets point to, and in the
New Testament, he’s finally here! Matthew
wrote his account of Jesus’ life especially
for Jewish Christians in the earliest years
of the church.
Where does it take place?
The events in this book happened in Israel
and surrounding lands, all ruled by the
Roman Empire in the first century ad.
When does it take place?
Jesus was born around 6 or 5 bc, and the
three years that Jesus taught and healed
people described in Matthew probably
occurred between ad 26 and 30. Bible
experts think Matthew wrote his Gospel
sometime between ad 60 and 65.
Why does this book matter?
The book of Matthew is the first of
the four gospel accounts of Jesus’ life.
(The others are Mark, Luke, and John.)
The word gospel means “good news.”
Matthew helps us see Jesus for who he
really is—the only one who can save us
and transform our hearts.
How does it fit in God’s story?
Throughout the Old Testament, it’s clear
that God’s people needed him to rescue
them from their sins. Animal sacrifices
couldn’t do it, human kings couldn’t do
it, and false idols definitely couldn’t do it.
Through the prophets, God promised the
people that he would send a Savior, and in
the book of Matthew, we meet him! Jesus
is fully God and fully man, the perfect King
and Priest we all need.
SEEK AND FIND
Matthew is filled with important people, places, events, and
teachings. Try to find the following:
1. The names of Jesus’ twelve disciples
2. The three ways Jesus was tempted in the wilderness
3. Four miracles Jesus performed
4. Three stories related to plants or seeds
Timeline
6/5
BC:
Jesus is born.
AD
26/27:
Jesus begins teaching
and healing.
AD
28:
Jesus chooses the twelve
disciples.
