B. W. Bacon divides up Matthew into five books, with a prologue with chapters 1-2, and an epilogue with chapters 26-28. Book one covers chapters 3-7, and each of the books ends with a phrase like 7:28a, "When Jesus had finished saying these things..." and these are found in 7:28, 11:1, 13:53, 19:1 and 26:1. Each book has a narration, and in these chapters it covers John the Baptist and how he baptized Jesus, the temptation of Jesus, the calling of the first disciples, and the beginning of Jesus' public ministry of healing and teaching. Chapters 5-7 cover one of Jesus' teaching moments often called the "Sermon on the Mount." Jesus said in 5:17, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them." Dr. Martin said, "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed." Jesus' words were unlike any other teacher, and throughout this section Jesus would say, "You have heard it said, but I say..." Jesus is the authority! This discourse ends with two roads, the narrow or the wide. Those who follow the narrow road, know the Lord Jesus, and those who choose the wide road, the way of the world, Jesus will say, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers" (7:23). The last illustration is the wise builder who built his house on a rock, and the foolish builder who built his house on sand. The one who chooses Jesus as their foundation to life, will stand even through the rains and winds. 7:28-29 tell us, "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as One who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law!" His words bring life!
