In Week 11, we'll start the "Matthew track" of our reading by covering the first 15 chapters of Matthew.  In the weeks ahead, we'll get through Hebrews and James.  

Matthew 1–15 shows that Jesus is the promised Savior, fulfilling God’s plan from the Old Testament. Matthew 1 traces Jesus’ family line, proving He is the true King. In Matthew 5–7 (Sermon on the Mount), Jesus teaches that God’s law is deeper than outward actions—it touches the heart. This shows that people cannot earn salvation on their own. Jesus performs miracles in Matthew 8–9, proving His sovereign power over sickness, nature, and sin. In Matthew 13, He teaches parables about God’s Kingdom, showing that only those whom God calls will truly understand. When religious leaders reject Jesus (Matthew 12), it shows that human effort cannot save, only grace through faith can. These chapters emphasize that salvation is God’s work, not ours, and that Jesus is the only way to enter God’s Kingdom.

Let's enter into our rhythm of LEARN, READ, INTERACT.

From How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens, Michael Williams makes these points about Matthew:

Phrase: Torah Fulfillment
Theme: Jesus is the new Moses who reinterprets Torah.
Christ-focus: Jesus fulfills the Torah of Moses (Matthew 5:17-20).
Implications: Our faith in Christ satisfies the demands of Torah (Romans 10:4-13).
Questions: Are you a good person? How good is good enough? Is there any use for the law of God in a Christian's life today?

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