Sermon – Year A – The Gospel of Matthew
Sermon Preached by Reverend Tracey Gracey on Sunday, 7 December, 2025
The Season of Advent marks the beginning of a new Church year and a new journey with a specific Gospel. This year, we will engage with the Gospel of Matthew, which will shape our readings and reflections, offering insight into the ministry of Jesus, his encouragement of his disciples, and his walk toward the cross.
This dot-point sermon sets the scene for the year ahead, introducing Matthew’s unique voice and offering insight into how this gospel can speak into our own faith story.
Authorship & Background
- Traditionally attributed to a tax collector (Matthew/Levi).
- Some scholarly tension around whether the tax collector was the writer.
- Likely written after the destruction of the Temple (70 CE).
- Written by someone deeply grounded in Jewish Scripture.
- Strong Old Testament knowledge — no need to explain Jewish customs.
- Written for a community of Jewish followers of Jesus navigating new identity.
- Matthew contains more references to synagogues than other gospels.
- Jesus is portrayed as a new Moses.
- Parallels between Jesus’ and Moses’ birth stories.
- Both face hostile rulers.
- Both are saved through parental action and divine guidance.
Structure of Matthew
- Gospel organised around five major teaching blocks, echoing the Five Books of Moses, which more commonly know as the Torah.
- Torah lays the foundation of Jewish law, story, and identity.
- Genesis
- Genesis is the book of beginnings, where God creates the world and begins a relationship with God’s people.
Matthew’s link: The Sermon on the Mount gives a new beginning and a new way of living with God. - Exodus
- Exodus tells how God rescues the people from Egypt and sends them out as a new community.
Matthew’s link: Jesus sends his disciples out in mission with courage and trust. - Leviticus
- Leviticus teaches God’s people how to live holy, everyday lives close to God.
Matthew’s link: Jesus’ parables show what God’s kingdom looks like in ordinary, daily life. - Numbers
- Numbers tells the story of God’s people learning to live together, trust God, and face challenges on the journey.
Matthew’s link: Jesus teaches how his community should forgive, reconcile, and care for one another. - Deuteronomy
- Deuteronomy is Moses’ final reminder to stay faithful and choose God’s way as the people step into a new future.
Matthew’s link: Jesus’ final teaching calls his followers to be faithful as God’s future draws near.
- Matthew’s writings follow a Clear rhythm of action → teaching → action.
- Strong emphasis on Jesus as Teacher.
- Includes:
- A long genealogy (Chapter 1)
- Joseph’s perspective in the birth narrative.
- The visit of the Magi (Chapter 2)
- The Magi — outsiders who recognise Jesus.
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7)
- Jesus ascends a mountain like Moses to give a new way of life.
- Presents a vision for God’s kingdom, not a list of rules.
- Includes:
- Beatitudes — who is blessed (poor in spirit, merciful, peacemakers…).
- Salt and light — discipleship as gentle influence.
- Jesus’ “You have heard it said… but I say to you…” teachings.
- Deepening of commandments: anger, lust, honesty, love of enemies.
- Lord’s Prayer.
- Teaching on giving, fasting, and prayer done in secret. Teaching against worry: “Do not be anxious… seek first the kingdom.”
- The Golden Rule.
- Wise and foolish builders — discipleship as action.
- The Parables of the Kingdom.
- Peter’s confession.
- Expanded role for Peter.
- Community teaching.
- Final teachings on judgment and the end
- The Great Commission – sending out of the disciples
Portrait of Jesus in Matthew
- Jesus as Teacher, Healer, and King.
- Authority is a central theme:
- Teaches with authority.
- Heals with authority.
- Forgives sins with authority.
- Commissions disciples with authority.
- Jesus as fulfiller of the Law, not abolisher of it.
- Jesus as Emmanuel — God with us (beginning and end of the gospel).
- Jesus as the beginning of a new age.
Themes for the Congregation
- Fulfilment of Scripture — God’s promises coming to completion in Jesus.
- Presence — God with us always.
- Discipleship — faith expressed through action (forgiveness, mercy, justice, compassion).
- Kingdom of Heaven — Matthew’s preferred phrase; God’s rule breaking into real life.
- Righteousness — deeper than rule-keeping; about the heart and intention.
- Community — instructions on reconciliation, forgiveness, humility, and care.
Unique Features of Matthew
- Only in Matthew:
- The parable of the sheep and goats.
- Pilate washing his hands.
- The guards at the tomb.
- Earthquake at the resurrection.
- The coin in the fish’s mouth.
Challenging Aspects in Matthew
- Considered by many to be the most challenging gospel.
- Contains harsh parables (wedding banquet, outer darkness, furnace of fire).
- Long critiques of religious hypocrisy (“woes” to the Pharisees).Weeping and gnashing of teeth
- Strong language around judgment and righteousness.
- Emphasis on discipleship that demands commitment and authenticity.
Ending of Matthew
- Violent arrest and death of Jesus.
- Dramatic creation events: darkness, earthquake.
- Jesus experiences abandonment: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
- Jesus dies appearing as a failure, yet is raised by God.
- Ends with worship and doubt together: “Some doubted.”
- Final command: the Great Commission — go, teach, baptise.
- Final promise: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Summary for Congregation
- Matthew writes for people whose world has been rocked.
- He gives them — and us — a Jesus who teaches, heals, challenges, fulfils, and stays with his people.
- Matthew invites a community to live out the kingdom with mercy, justice, courage, and compassion.
- This gospel offers both a portrait of Jesus and a window into the struggles and hopes of an early Christian community.
Linking Matthew, John the Baptist, and Advent
- As we enter Year A, Matthew introduces Jesus through the voice of John the Baptist.
- John prepares people for God’s new age — honesty, change, and clearing space for what matters.
John the Baptist’s Message
- John tells the people to “prepare the way.”
- John calls people to change direction — to realign their lives.
- John says, “bear fruit worthy of repentance.”
- John’s message isn’t about fear; it’s about making room for God’s presence.
Advent’s Invitation
- Advent invites us to “prepare the way.”
- Advent invites us to change our priorities — to clear the clutter and open space for God.
- Advent invites us to bear fruit in love, generosity, and justice.
- Advent slows us down so we can listen, reflect, and welcome Christ with open hearts.
Linking John the Baptist & Advent Together
- John begins the gospel by helping us get ready; Advent begins the Church year by helping us do the same.
- Both call us to honesty, reflection, and real change.
- Both invite us to make a straight path for God’s love to reach us again.
- Matthew’s gospel and Advent together encourage us to be people whose lives show compassion, mercy, hope, and the fruit of God’s kingdom.