Gospel of Matthew: Five Discourses

The Gospel according to Matthew:
Five Major Discourses of Jesus
by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

The Structure of Matthew's Gospel:

Most biblical scholars today believe that Mark is the oldest surviving Gospel, and that the author of Matthew used Mark's text as one of his written sources (see the Synoptic Problem). Moreover, if one compares Matthew with Mark, one easily notices that most of the material that Matthew added (i.e., stories and sayings not found in Mark) is contained in five major sermons or discourses. This structure was not invented by modern scholars, but is indicated by the Evangelist himself, who at the end of each of these five discourses writes, "When Jesus had finished saying these things..." (or something very similar; see 7:28, 11:1, 13:53, 19:1, and 26:1).

Introduction: Infancy Narrative: Chapters 1–2

Narrative: 3–4

First Discourse: "Sermon on the Mount": 5–7

Narrative: 8–9

Second Discourse: "Missionary Instructions": 10

Narrative: 11–12

Third Discourse: "Collection of Parables": 13

Narrative: 14–17

Fourth Discourse: "Community Instructions": 18

Narrative: 19–22

Fifth Discourse: "Sermon on Eschatology": 23–25

Conclusion: Passion & Resurrection Narrative: 26–28

The following tables compare the content of these five Matthean Discourses with similar material in Mark and/or Luke.
(click here for an explanation of the Highlighting Colors used below).

I) Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5–7)

Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke
Introduction to the Sermon	5:1-2	--	6:17-20
The Beatitudes	5:3-12	--	6:21-23
Salt of the Earth	5:13	9:50	14:34-35
Light of the World	5:14-16	4:21	8:16
The Law and the Prophets	5:17-20	--	16:16-17
1-On Murder and Wrath	5:21-26	--	12:57-59
2-On Adultery	5:27-30	9:43, 47-48	--
3-On Divorce (dup. Mt 19:9)	5:31-32	10:11-12	16:18
4-On Oaths	5:33-37	--	--
5-On Retaliation	5:38-42	--	6:29-30
6-On Love of One's Enemies	5:43-48	--	6:27-28, 32-36
On Almsgiving	6:1-4	--	--
On Prayer	6:5-6	--	--
The Lord's Prayer	6:7-15	[cf. 11:25]	11:1-4
On Fasting	6:16-18	--	--
Treasures on Earth / in Heaven	6:19-21	--	12:33-34
The Eye as Lamp of the Body	6:22-23	--	11:34-36
Not Serving Two Masters	6:24	--	16:13
Not Worrying (Birds / Lilies)	6:25-34	--	12:22-32
Not Judging	7:1-2	[4:24]	6:37-38
Parable of Speck & Plank	7:3-5	--	6:37-42
Not Profaning the Holy	7:6	--	--
God Answers Prayers	7:7-11	--	11:9-13
The Golden Rule	7:12	--	6:31
Two Roads & Two Gates	7:13-14	--	13:23-24
Trees with Good or Bad Fruit	7:15-20	--	6:43-45
Not just saying "Lord, Lord"	7:21-23	--	6:46
Parable of Two Houses	7:24-27	--	6:47-49
Conclusion: Effect of the Sermon	7:28-29	1:21-22	--

Note: Some of this material comes from Mark (but expanded in Matthew), some from Matthew's own source(s), but most of it from the "Q" source.

II) Missionary Instructions (Matt 10)

Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke
Choosing & Empowering the Twelve	10:1	3:13-15 & 6:7	6:12-13 & 9:1
Names of the Twelve Apostles	10:2-4	3:16-19a	6:14-16
Mission of the Twelve	10:5-16	6:8-11	9:2-5; cf. 10:3-12
Persecutions of the Disciples	10:17-25	[cf. 13:9-13]	12:11-12; 6:40
Have No Fear	10:26-33	[cf. 4:22; 8:38]	12:2-9
Division within Households	10:34-36	--	12:51-53
Costs of Discipleship	10:37-39	--	14:25-27; 17:33
Rewards for Hospitality	10:40-42	9:41	10:16
Conclusion of the 2nd Discourse	11:1	--	--

Note: Some of this material comes from Mark (again expanded in Matthew), but most of it from the "Q" source.

III) Collection of Parables (Matt 13)

Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke
The Parable of the Sower	13:1-9	4:1-9	8:4-8
The Reason for Speaking in Parables	13:10-17	4:10-12	8:9-10
Interpretation of the Parable of the Sower	13:18-23	4:13-20	8:11-15
The Parable of the Tares/Weeds	13:24-30	[sub 4:26-29]	--
The Parable of the Mustard Seed	13:31-32	4:30-32	13:18-19
The Parable of the Leaven	13:33	--	13:20-21
Jesus' Use of Parables	13:34-35	4:33-34	--
Interpretation of the Parable of the Tares/Weeds	13:36-43	--	--
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and of the Pearl	13:44-46	--	--
The Parable of the Net	13:47-50	--	--
Treasures New and Old	13:51-52	--	--
Conclusion of the 3rd Discourse	13:53	--	--
Jesus is Rejected at Nazareth	13:54-58	6:1-6a	4:16-30

Note: The first half of this chapter comes mostly from Mark, while the second half is mostly from Matthew's own source(s).

IV) Community Instructions (Matt 18)

Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke
True Greatness	18:1-5	9:33-37	9:49-50
Warnings concerning Temptations	18:6-9	9:42-50	17:1-2
The Parable of the Lost Sheep	18:10-14	--	15:3-7
On Reproving One's Brother	18:15-18	--	17:3
"Where Two or Three are Gathered Together"	18:19-20	--	--
On Reconciliation	18:21-22	--	17:4
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant	18:23-35	--	--
Conclusion of the 4th Discourse	19:1-2	10:1	--

Note: This chapter begins with Markan material, but most of the material comes from the Q-source or from Matthew's own source(s).

V) Sermon on Eschatology (Matt 23–25)

Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke
Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees	23:1-36	12:37b-40	20:45-47
Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem	23:37-39	--	13:34-35
Prediction of the Destruction of the Temple	24:1-2	13:1-2	21:5-6
Signs before the End	24:3-8	13:3-8	21:7-11
Persecutions Foretold	24:9-14	13:9-13	21:12-19
The Desolating Sacrilege	24:15-22	13:14-20	21:20-24
False Christs and False Prophets	24:23-28	13:21-23	17:23-24
The Coming of the Son of Man	24:29-31	13:24-27	21:25-28
The Time of the Coming: the Parable of the Fig Tree	24:32-36	13:28-32	21:29-33
The Parable of the Flood and Exhortation to Watchfulness	24:37-44	13:35	17:26-36
The Parable of the Good Servant and the Wicked Servant	24:45-51	--	12:41-46
The Parable of the Ten Virgins	25:1-13	--	--
The Parable of the Talents	25:14-30	--	19:11-27
The Last Judgment (The Sheep and the Goats)	25:31-46	--	--
Conclusion of the 5th Discourse	26:1	--	--

Note: Matthew 24 is very similar to Mark 13, but most of Matt 23 and 25 comes from the Q-source and from Matthew's own source(s).