Read the NT in 5 weeks - Matthew

Matthew 5:6
5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

While reading Matthew this time I decided to look for an outline. Of course there are all kinds of outlines on the web, but it is fun to try one myself. I found a few major points that were interesting to me.

1. Prophecies fulfilled
1. 1:1-17; The lineage of Jesus
2. 1:23; His virgin birth
   "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
3. 3:3; John the Baptist
   For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight."
2. Jesus begins His ministry
1. Fasting and temptation in the desert
2. Chapters 5, 6, 7. The new law of the heart and perfection only through His help.
1. "You have heard that it was said to those of old... But I say to you..."
2. 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
3. Increasing his outreach.
3. John the Baptist is beheaded.
1. This really looked like a turning point to me. Persecution increased and the tone of Jesus' ministry seemed to change. Jesus became more critical of the leaders and traditions of the day and Pharasies.
1. 23:13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in."

(And as time to write is fading, I will sum up.)

Jesus went to the cross, all the time He was in control of everything. Died, and was resurrected, and gave us the great commission to go into all the world. Amen.

Read the New Testament in 5 weeks.

John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I have embarked on a Bible reading goal of reading the New Testament in 5 weeks. I split up the New Testament into parts so that I am reading 4 per week for 5 weeks. Also I will quickly re-read a given weeks 4 readings on the 5th day. Resulting in reading the New Testament twice in 5 weeks. For the first week I will be reading Matthew and Mark.

May the Lord guide me while I spend time studying His word in this way. Amen!