In this opening study of Matthew 1:1-17, Dr. Toby Holt explains the roughly 400 silent years between the Old and New Testaments — and why Matthew begins with a long family tree.

After Malachi, God sent no new word for about four centuries — the calm before the storm. Empires rose and fell, from the Greeks under Alexander to the Romans. Then Matthew, a former tax collector, opens his Gospel by tracing Jesus' line back through David and Abraham, proving He is the promised King. He even includes four Gentile women, a hint that this Savior is for all nations.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was God silent for over 400 years? After Malachi, God had said all that was needed until Christ. Holt calls the silence the hush before God's greatest act.

2. What makes Matthew's Gospel different? Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience and opens with Jesus' royal family tree, showing He is the promised son of David and Abraham.

3. Why do Matthew and Luke give different genealogies? They likely trace different lines — one royal and legal, the other more personal — and both affirm Jesus' place in David's family.

"...from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations." — Matthew 1:17 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

"God with us." In Matthew 1:18-25, an angel tells Joseph that Mary's child will be Emmanuel — God come to dwell with His people. Dr. Toby Holt explains the comfort packed into that name.

Mary was found with child by the Holy Spirit while only engaged to Joseph. He planned to end it quietly until an angel explained the child was from God, giving two names: "Jesus," the Lord saves, "for He will save His people from their sins"; and "Emmanuel," "God with us."

Questions this study answers:

1. What is the difference between God being "for" us and "with" us? A God who is only "for" us helps from a distance; a God who is "with" us draws near and shares our life. Emmanuel means God came to be with His people.

2. What did the angel tell Joseph? That Mary's child was from the Holy Spirit and must be named Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins — turning scandal into salvation.

3. What comfort does "God with us" give the hurting? It assures us we are never alone. The God who came as a baby promises to be with His people always, even in their deepest pain. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, 'God with us.'" — Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus comes to be baptized by John — though He had no sin to wash away. Dr. Toby Holt explains what Jesus meant by "fulfilling all righteousness." John objected, knowing Jesus needed no repentance, but Jesus insisted it was proper "to fulfill all righteousness." Holt explains our salvation needs both Christ's death and His perfect life: forgiveness makes us "not guilty," but we also need righteousness to stand before God — the obedient life of Christ, credited to us. As Jesus rose from the water, the Spirit descended like a dove and the Father spoke — a clear picture of the Trinity.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was Jesus baptized if He had no sin? Not to repent, but to "fulfill all righteousness" and identify with the people He came to save. It marked the start of His public ministry.

2. What does "fulfill all righteousness" mean? It points to Christ's perfect obedience, credited to believers. We are saved not only by His death for our sins but by His righteous life counted as ours.

3. How does the baptism show the Trinity? At one moment the Son was baptized, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven — three persons, one God. "And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" — Matthew 3:17 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

With Scripture. In Matthew 4:1-11, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, where the devil tempts Him three times. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows how Jesus, the second Adam, stood where the first Adam fell. After forty days without food, Jesus faced three temptations: to satisfy His hunger, to prove Himself by a spectacular leap, and to seize the world’s kingdoms by worshiping Satan. Each time, Jesus answered with the Word of God: “It is written.” Dr. Holt explains that where Adam fell in a lush garden, Jesus stood firm in a harsh desert, succeeding exactly where the first man failed. The devil even twisted Scripture to tempt Him, but Jesus used it rightly.

Questions this study answers:

1. What was each temptation aimed at? The first appealed to bodily appetite, the second to pride, and the third to the desire for power. Together they targeted the whole range of human weakness.

2. Why did Jesus answer with Scripture every time? Because God’s Word is the believer’s true weapon against temptation. Jesus modeled how to resist the devil by standing on what is written.

3. How does this connect to Adam in Genesis 3? Adam fell to temptation in a perfect garden, but Jesus, the second Adam, overcame it in a barren wilderness. He succeeded where the first man failed, for our sake. “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” — Matthew 4:10 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Matthew Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

A Roman soldier's. In Matthew 8:5-13, a Gentile centurion shows greater faith than anyone in Israel, and Jesus marvels. Dr. Toby Holt explains what real faith looks like.

A Roman officer came on behalf of his paralyzed servant. He did not ask Jesus to come — he simply said, "Speak a word, and my servant will be healed." As a man under authority who commanded soldiers, he recognized Jesus' authority over sickness itself. Jesus marveled, saying He had not found such faith even in Israel. Holt notes the warning: many outsiders will feast in the kingdom while some who assumed they belonged are shut out.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Jesus marvel at the centurion's faith? Because this Gentile trusted Jesus' word alone, without needing a sign. His simple confidence stood out above all Israel.

2. What was unusual about his request? He said there was no need for Jesus to come to his home; a word would be enough. He understood Jesus' authority was greater than any distance.

3. What warning did Jesus give? That many outsiders would share in the kingdom while some who presumed on their heritage would be left out. Faith, not background, saves.

"Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" — Matthew 8:10 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Questions this study answers:

1. What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle? A disciple follows and imitates his teacher — true of every believer. An apostle was specially sent with Christ's own authority, a unique office.

2. What warnings did Jesus give? That they would be like sheep among wolves, facing rejection, arrest, even betrayal by family. He told them to be wise and to endure.

3. What were the apostles sent to do? To preach, heal, and call people to repentance with Christ's authority, beginning with Israel — carrying His message as His representatives.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." — Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Not who you might expect. In Matthew 5:1-16, Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount by blessing the poor in spirit, the mourning, and the persecuted. Dr. Toby Holt explains the surprising heart of the Beatitudes.

Many in the crowd were ordinary, hurting people pushed aside by the religious leaders. Instead of more rules, Jesus offered blessing. The Beatitudes lift up the humble and broken — the very people the Pharisees looked down on. Holt contrasts these eight blessings with the eight "woes" Jesus later pronounced on the proud. Then Jesus calls His followers to be "salt" and "light."

Questions this study answers:

1. Who was Jesus speaking to? Ordinary, broken people, many poorly taught by the Pharisees. He met them with blessing rather than burden.

2. How do the blessings differ from the woes of Matthew 23? The Beatitudes bless the humble and lowly; the woes warn the proud religious leaders. One lifts up the broken, the other confronts the self-righteous.

3. What does it mean to be salt and light? To live in a way that preserves what is good and shines God's truth into the world — making a visible difference, not blending in.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

No. In Matthew 16:13-28, Jesus promises that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. Dr. Toby Holt unpacks Peter's great confession and Christ's bold promise. Jesus led His disciples to Caesarea Philippi, a center of pagan worship with a cave called "the gates of hell." There He asked, "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." On that confession, Jesus said, He would build His church — and hell could not stop it. Yet when Jesus spoke of His coming death, Peter objected and was sharply rebuked. To follow Christ, we must take up our cross.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Jesus go to "hell's gates"? He took His disciples to a dark center of pagan worship to declare, right there, that His church would triumph over evil. The setting made the promise vivid.

2. What did Peter confess? That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God — the bedrock truth on which Christ builds His church.

3. What does "on this rock I will build my church" mean? Jesus promised an unstoppable church built on the truth of who He is. Even the full force of hell will not overcome it.

"...you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." — Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Questions this study answers:

1. What was the transfiguration? A moment when Jesus' divine glory shone through His human body, letting three disciples see His majesty and become eyewitnesses of who He is.

2. Why did Moses and Elijah appear? Moses represents the law and Elijah the prophets; both point forward to Jesus. They spoke with Him about the death He would accomplish.

3. What was Peter's mistake? He tried to honor Moses and Elijah as Jesus' equals. The Father corrected him, making clear the Son stands above all and must be heard.

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" — Matthew 17:5 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Questions this study answers:

1. Who were the money changers, and what were they doing? They exchanged currency and sold sacrifice animals inside the temple at unfair rates, turning a place of prayer into a place of profit.

2. How does this connect to the cursed fig tree? The tree had leaves but no fruit, just as Israel had the appearance of religion without the reality. Its withering pictured judgment on empty worship.

3. What should God's house be? A house of prayer. Holt urges believers to recover prayer as the true power of the church, not show or profit. "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" — Matthew 21:13 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

God is just and must punish sin, yet how can a just Judge forgive the guilty? The leaders think they have cornered Jesus, but He says, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone first." One by one they leave. He tells her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." The dilemma is answered at the cross.

Questions this study answers:

1. What was the trap set for Jesus? Either answer seemed to doom Him — condemning her broke Roman law, freeing her seemed to ignore God's law. Jesus escaped both without compromising truth.

2. What is the "divine dilemma"? God is perfectly just and cannot ignore sin, yet He desires to forgive sinners. How He does both is the heart of the gospel.

3. How can a holy God forgive the guilty? Justice is not waived but satisfied — at the cross, where Jesus bears the punishment so sinners can go free.

"Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." — John 8:11 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

In Matthew 26:1-30, one of Jesus' own followers sells Him out for thirty pieces of silver. Dr. Toby Holt shows that even this betrayal was part of God's plan to save His people. While a devoted woman poured costly perfume on Jesus to prepare Him for burial, Judas slipped away to deal with the chief priests. At the table Judas calls Jesus only "Rabbi," teacher — never "Lord." That evening Jesus took bread and the cup and gave the Lord's Supper, explaining His blood would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins. What looked like the darkest betrayal was the path by which God brought the greatest good.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Judas betray Christ? He valued money over his Master, handing Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver. He saw Jesus as only a teacher, not as Lord.

2. What did Jesus give His followers at this meal? The Lord's Supper — bread and the cup — as signs of His body and blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins, marking a new covenant.

3. Was the betrayal outside God's control? No. Christ's death was God's plan from before the world began; God brought salvation out of the greatest evil.

"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." — Matthew 26:28 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

In this expository sermon on Matthew 27, Dr. Toby Holt of New Geneva Theological Seminary explains what the darkness, Christ's cry of dereliction, and the torn temple veil signify at the death of Jesus: the atonement. From the sixth hour to the ninth, God the Father imputed the sins of the elect to His Son, poured out His wrath, and forsook Him so that believers would not be forsaken. When Jesus declared 'It is finished,' the veil was rent from top to bottom, opening bold access to God because the debt of sin was fully paid.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What is the main issue in this passage? In this expository sermon on Matthew 27, Dr.

2. How does this text point us to Christ? It shows the need for God's grace and the hope fulfilled in the gospel.

3. How should Christians respond? With faith, repentance, and renewed trust in the Lord's Word.

"Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land." - Matthew 27:45 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Yes — and it changes everything. In Matthew 28:1-15, the tomb is found empty and the risen Jesus meets His followers. Dr. Toby Holt shows why the resurrection is the believer's greatest hope.

At dawn, two women came expecting to anoint a dead body. Instead an angel rolled back the stone as the ground shook and the guards fell like dead men. "He is not here," the angel said, "for He is risen." The women met Jesus on the road and worshiped Him. Holt notes the leaders then paid the soldiers to lie and say the body was stolen — the same way the world still explains away the empty tomb. Because Christ conquered death, all who trust Him will rise too.

Questions this study answers:

1. What happened on the first Easter morning? Women came to a sealed tomb, but an angel announced Jesus had risen, and they met the living Christ on the road. Death could not hold Him.

2. Who saw the risen Jesus? The women at the tomb were the first eyewitnesses, followed by His disciples. Their testimony, not a stolen body, is how the news spread.

3. Why does the resurrection matter for us? Because Jesus' victory over death secures ours. All who trust in Him share His resurrection life; death is beaten, but only through Him.

"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." — Matthew 28:6 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.