The King & His KingdomThe Gospel of Matthew

A complete outline of Jesus' life and teaching — follow the journey of the King all the way from His birth to the empty tomb!

✦
Who Wrote It
Matthew (also called Levi) — a tax-collector who became one of Jesus' twelve apostles and an eyewitness.
When
The late 50s or early 60s A.D.
The Big Theme
“Jesus, the King of the Jews”
3 Things That Make It Special
JewishChurchPreaching

The Journey of the King — 8 Stops

Birth→ Preparation→ Galilee→ Perea→ Judea→ Jerusalem→ Suffering→ Resurrection
1

The Birth & Childhood of Jesus

The King Arrives
1:1 – 2:23
The Shepherds and the Angel, by Carl Bloch

Royal Lineage & Birth

Jesus' family tree proves He is the promised King from David's line — then He is born in Bethlehem.

  • Genealogy of Christ (1:1–17)
  • Birth of Christ (1:18–25)
The Adoration of the Magi, by Peter Paul Rubens

Early Threats & Divine Protection

Wise men visit; God protects baby Jesus from King Herod by sending the family to Egypt, then home to Nazareth.

  • Visit of the Magi (2:1–12)
  • Flight into Egypt & massacre of the infants (2:13–18)
  • Residence at Nazareth (2:19–23)
2

Preparation for His Ministry

Getting Ready
3:1 – 4:11
The Jordan River, where John baptized

The Forerunner

John the Baptist preaches in the wilderness by the Jordan River, getting people ready to meet the King.

  • The forerunner of Christ (3:1–12)
The Baptism of Christ, by Carl Bloch

Baptism & Temptation

Jesus is baptized and the Spirit comes like a dove; then He is tested by the devil in the desert — and wins.

  • Baptism of Christ (3:13–17)
  • Temptation of Christ (4:1–11)
3

The Ministry of Jesus in Galilee

The King's Great Work Begins · the longest section
4:12 – 18:35
The Sea of Galilee at sunrise

Settling in Galilee

Jesus makes Capernaum His base, calls His first four disciples, and tours Galilee teaching and healing.

  • Residence at Capernaum (4:12–17)
  • Call of four disciples (4:18–22)
  • General survey of the Galilean ministry (4:23–25)
The Sermon on the Mount, by Carl Bloch

The Sermon on the Mount

Jesus' famous, free-flowing teaching to His disciples about life in God's kingdom (it includes the Beatitudes).

  • Sermon on the mount (5:1–7:29)
Christ healing the sick, by Carl Bloch

Miracles & the Mission of the Twelve

Jesus performs ten miracles, then sends out His twelve apostles to preach and heal.

  • Ten miracles & related events (8:1–9:38)
  • Mission of the twelve (10:1–42)
The Sower at Sunset, by Vincent van Gogh

Teaching & Growing Opposition

Jesus answers John's question, tells kingdom parables (like the sower) — and the Pharisees start to oppose Him.

  • Christ's answer to John, & related discourse (11:1–30)
  • Opposition from the Pharisees (12:1–50)
  • A series of parables on the kingdom (13:1–58)
An ancient-style boat on the Sea of Galilee

Withdrawals & Conflict

Jesus repeatedly slips away to teach His followers and do miracles — feeding crowds, helping a Canaanite woman — while clashing again with the religious leaders.

  • Withdrawal following John's beheading (14:1–36)
  • Conflict over tradition (15:1–20)
  • Withdrawal to Phoenicia; Canaanite woman's daughter healed (15:21–28)
  • Return to the Sea of Galilee & miracles (15:29–38)
  • Renewed conflict with Pharisees & Sadducees (15:39–16:4)
  • Withdrawal to Caesarea Philippi (16:5–17:23)
Christ and a child, by Carl Bloch

Instruction of the Twelve

Back at Capernaum, Jesus teaches His disciples about the temple tax, humility, forgiveness, and being like a child.

  • Instruction of the twelve at Capernaum (17:24–18:35)
4

The Ministry of Jesus in Perea

On the Road South
19:1 – 20:16
Let the Little Children Come unto Jesus, by Carl Bloch

Teaching on Relationships & Wealth

Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce, blesses the little children, and meets a rich young man.

  • Teaching on divorce (19:1–12)
  • Blessing of the children (19:13–15)
  • Interview with the rich young man (19:16–30)
Harvest time in a vineyard

The Parable of the Laborers

A story about workers in a vineyard, teaching that God is wonderfully generous to everyone in His kingdom.

  • Parable of the laborers in the vineyard (20:1–16)
5

The Ministry of Jesus in Judea

Nearing Jerusalem
20:17 – 20:34
The Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount

Foretelling the End

As they head up toward Jerusalem, Jesus tells His disciples plainly — for the third time — that He will die and rise again.

  • Another prediction of Christ's death & resurrection (20:17–19)
Healing of the Blind Man, by Carl Bloch

Humility & Healing

Jesus teaches that the greatest must serve, then heals two blind men who call out to Him.

  • Ambitious request of Zebedee's sons (20:20–28)
  • Healing of two blind men (20:29–34)
6

The Ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem

The King in the Holy City
21:1 – 25:46
Christ Riding into Jerusalem, by Aelbert Cuyp

Triumphal Entry & the Temple

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey as crowds cheer, then clears the temple of merchants and curses a fruitless fig tree.

  • Triumphal entry (21:1–11)
  • Cleansing the Temple (21:12–17)
  • Cursing of the barren fig tree (21:18–22)
The Tribute Money, by Titian

Confronting the Authorities

The leaders question Jesus' authority; He answers with parables, out-answers every group (“render to Caesar…”), and warns against the Pharisees' hypocrisy.

  • Questioning of Jesus' authority & His parabolic answer (21:23–22:14)
  • Questioning of Jesus by various groups (22:15–46)
  • Jesus' public denunciation of the Pharisees (23:1–39)
The Old City of Jerusalem seen from the Mount of Olives

The Olivet Discourse

On the Mount of Olives, looking over Jerusalem, Jesus gives a long teaching about the end of the age, His return, and being ready.

  • Olivet Discourse (24:1–25:46)
7

The Suffering of Jesus

The King Gives His Life
26:1 – 27:66
Christ in Gethsemane, by Carl Bloch

Betrayal & Gethsemane

Leaders plot against Jesus. He shares the Last Supper, foretells Peter's denial, and prays in the garden before being arrested.

  • Plot against Jesus (26:1–16)
  • The final meal (26:17–30)
  • Prediction of Peter's denial (26:31–35)
  • Events in Gethsemane (26:36–56)
The Denial of Peter, by Carl Bloch

The Trials of Christ

Jesus is put on trial — first by the Jewish leaders (while Peter denies Him), then by the Romans. Judas is filled with regret.

  • Events at the Jewish trials (26:57–27:2)
  • Remorse of Judas (27:3–10)
  • Events at the Roman trials (27:11–31)
Descent from the Cross, by Carl Bloch

Crucifixion & Burial

Jesus is crucified between two others and dies for the sins of the world; His body is taken down and laid in a borrowed tomb.

  • The Crucifixion (27:32–56)
  • Burial (27:57–66)
8

The Resurrection of Jesus

The King Lives Forever!
28:1 – 20
The Resurrection, by Carl Bloch

The Empty Tomb

On Sunday the women find the tomb empty — an angel says He is risen! — and Jesus Himself appears to them.

  • Discovery of the empty tomb (28:1–8)
  • Appearance of Jesus Christ (28:9–10)
The Burial, by Carl Bloch (the sealed tomb the guards watched)

The Soldier's Report

The guards who watched the tomb report what happened, but the leaders bribe them to spread a false story to cover up the miracle.

  • Report of the soldiers (28:11–15)
The risen Jesus with His disciples, by Carl Bloch

The Great Commission

The risen King meets His disciples and sends them into all the world to make disciples — promising, “I am with you always.”

  • The great commission (28:16–20)

✦ Test Yourself ✦

Cover the answers, then tap to check! (Review questions from the outline.)

1. Who authored the book of Matthew?
Show answer
Matthew, also called Levi — an early disciple, and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
2. Approximately when was the book written?
Show answer
The late 50s or early 60s A.D.
3. What has been suggested as the theme of Matthew's gospel?
Show answer
Jesus, the King of the Jews.
4. What three characteristics of the gospel were noted?
Show answer
It is a Jewish gospel; an ecclesiastical (church) gospel; and an evangelistic (preaching) gospel.
5. List the eight sections of the gospel from the outline.
Show answer
  • The birth and childhood of Jesus
  • The preparation for the ministry of Jesus
  • The ministry of Jesus in Galilee
  • The ministry of Jesus in Perea
  • The ministry of Jesus in Judea
  • The ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem
  • The suffering of Jesus
  • The resurrection of Jesus