Matthew

28 chapters

Chapter summaries

The Douay-Rheims’ own argument for each chapter. Tap a number above to read.

1. 1The pedigree of Jesus, to shew that he is Christ, promised to Abraham and David. 18. That he was conceived and born of a Virgin, as Isaias prophesied of him.
2. 2The Gentiles come unto Christ with their offerings, and that so openly that the Jews can not pretend ignorance. 3. The Jews with Herod conspire against him. 13. He thereupon flieth from them into Egypt. 16. They afterward, seeing their subtlety prevailed not, imagined to oppress him by open persecution. 19. But they at length died and he returneth to the land of Israel: all according to the Scriptures.
3. 3John Baptist by his Eremite's life by his preaching and Baptism, calleth all men to penance, to prepare them to Christ. 7. He preacheth to the Pharisees and Sadducees, threatening to them (unless they truly do penance) reprobation here, and damnation hereafter; and for salvation sendeth them to Christ and his Baptism. Which being far more excellent then John's, yet Christ himself among those penitents vouchsafeth to come unto John's Baptism. Where he hath testimony from Heaven also.
4. 4Christ going into the desert, to prepare himself before his Manifestation, entreateth the Devil's temptations. 11. Beginning in Galilee, as the Prophet said he should; 18. he calleth four Disciples, and with his preaching and miracles draweth unto him innumerable followers.
5. 5First, 3. he promiseth rewards, 13. and he layeth before the Apostles their offices. 17. Secondly, he protesteth unto us that we must keep the commandments, and that more exactly then the Scribes & Pharisees, whose justice was counted most perfect; but yet that it was unsufficient, he sheweth in the precepts of 21. Murder, 27. Adultery, 31. Divorce, 33. Swearing, 38. Revenge, 42. Usury, 43. Enemies.
6. 6In this second chapter of his Sermon, he controlleth the Pharisees' justice (that is, their alms, prayer, and fasting) for the scope and intention thereof, which was vain glory. 19. Their end also was to be rich, but ours must not be so much as in necessities.
7. 7In his third and last Chapter of his Sermon, because we know not men's ends, he biddeth us beware of judging. 6. and never the less to take open dogs and swine (so he calleth them) as they be. 7. If these works of justice seem too hard, we must pray instantly to him that giveth them. 11. In the conclusion, he giveth one short rule of all justice. 13. and then he exhorteth with all vehemency to the strait way, both of the Catholic faith, 21. and also of good life; because only faith will not suffice.
8. 8Immediately after his Sermon (to confirm his doctrine with a miracle) he cureth a Leper, 5. But about him and all other Jews, he commendeth the faith of the Centurion, who was a Gentile, and foretelleth by that occasion, the vocation of the Gentiles, and reprobation of the Jews. 14. In Peter's house he sheweth great power. 18. In the way to the sea he speaketh with two, of following him: 23. upon the sea he commandeth the tempest: 28. and beyond the sea he manifesteth the Devil's malice against man, in an herd of swine.
9. 9The Masters of the Jews he confoundeth both with reasons and miracles: defending his remitting of sins, 9. his eating with sinners, 14. and his condescending to his weak Disciples, until he have made them stronger. 18. shewing also in true miracles, the order of his providence, about the Jews and Gentiles, leaving the one, when he called the other: 27. he cureth two blind men, and one possessed. 35. And having with so many miracles together, confuted his enemies, and yet they waxing worse and worse, upon pity toward the people, he thinketh of sending true pastors unto them.
10. 10He giveth to the Twelve the power of Miracles, 5. and he sendeth them to the lost sheep of the Jews, 5. with instructions accordingly: 10. and by occasion of the sending, foretelleth of the persecutions after his Ascension, arming them and all other against the same, 40. and also exhorting the people to harbour his servants in such times of persecution.
11. 11John the Baptist in prison also doing his diligence, sendeth some of his Disciples to Christ: that as they heard, so they might also see his miracles with their eyes. 7. Afterward Christ declareth how worthy of credit John's testimony was: 16. & inveigheth against the Jews, who with neither of their manners of life could be won: 20. no nor with Christ's infinite miracles: 25. praising God's wisdom in this behalf, 27. and calling to himself all such as feel their own burdens.
12. 12The blindness of the Pharisees about the Sabbath he reproveth by Scriptures, by reason, and by a miracle. 14. and his death being therefore sought by them, he meekly goeth out of the way, according as Isaias had prophesied of him. 22. His casting out of Devils also he defendeth against them. 31. and setteth forth the danger they stand in for their horrible blasphemy. 38. and because they ask yet for a sign, he sheweth how worthily they shall be damned. 43. foretelling how the Devil shall possess their Nation, 66. and testifying that although he be of their blood, yet not they for this, but such as keep his commandments, are dear unto him.
13. 13Speaking in parables (as the Scriptures foretold of him, and as meet was for the reprobate Jews:) he sheweth by the parable of the Sower, that in the Labours of his Church, three parts of four do perish through the fault of the hearers. 24. and yet, by the parable of good seed and cockle (as also of the Net) that his servants may not for all that, never while the world lasteth, make any Schism or Separation. 31. And by parables of the little Mustard-seed and Leaven, that notwithstanding these three parts perishing, and over-sowing of cockle, yet that fourth part of his good seed shall spread over all the world. 44. And withal, what a treasure, and pearl it is. 53. After all which, yet his own country will not honour him.
14. 14Hearing the unworthy Decollation of John Baptist by Herod, 13. he betaketh him to his usual solitariness in the desert, and there feedeth 5000 with five loaves. 23. And then after the night spent in the mountain in prayer, he walketh upon the sea (signifying the wide world) 28. yea and Peter also: whereupon they adore him as the Son of God. 35. And with the very touch of his garment's hem he healeth innumerable.
15. 15The Pharisees of Jerusalem coming so far to carp him, he chargeth them with a tradition contrary to God's commandment. 10. And to the People he sheweth the reason of that which they reproved: 15. & again to his Disciples, shewing the ground of the Pharisaical washing ( to wit, that meats otherwise defile the soul ) to be false, &c. 21. then he goeth aside to hide himself among the Gentiles, where, in a woman he findeth such faith, that he is fain, lest the Gentiles should before the time extort the whole bread, as he had a custom, to return to the towns. 34. where (all contrary to those Pharisees) the common People seek wonderfully unto him: and he after he hath cured those diseased, feedeth 4000 of them with seven loaves.
16. 16The obstinate Pharisees and Sadducees, as though his foresaid miracles were not sufficient to prove him to be Christ, require to see some one from Heaven. 5. whereupon forsaking them, he warneth his Disciples to beware of the leaven of their doctrine: 13. and Peter ( the time now approaching for him to go into Jewry to his Passion ) for confessing him to be Christ, he maketh the Rock of his Church; giving fulness of Ecclesiastical power accordingly. 21. And after he so rebuketh him for dissuading his Cross and passion, that he also affirmeth the like suffering in every one, to be necessary to salvation.
17. 17As he promised, he giveth them a sight of the glory, unto which suffering doth bring: 9 and then again doth inculcate his Passion. 10 A Devil also he casteth out which his Disciples could not for their incredulity and lack of praying and fasting. 22 being yet in Galilee, he revealeth more about his Passion. 24 and the tribute that the Collectors exacted for all, he payeth for himself and Peter: declaring yet withal his freedom both by word and miracle.
18. 18To his Disciples he preacheth against ambition the mother of Schism. 7. foretelling both the author whosoever he be, and also his followers, of their woe to come. 10. and shewing on the contrary side, how precious Christian souls are to their Angels, 15. charging us then sore to forgive our brethren, when also we have just cause against them, be it never so often, and to labour their salvation by all means possible.
19. 19He answereth the tempting Pharisees, that the case of a man with his wife shall be ( as in the first institution it was) utterly indissoluble, though for one cause he may be divorced. 10. And thereupon to his Disciples he highly commendeth single life for Heaven. 13. He will have children come unto him. 16. He sheweth what is to be done to enter into life everlasting, 20. what also, for a rich man to be perfect: 27. As also what passing reward they that have which follow that his counsel of perfection: 25. yea though it be but in some one piece.
20. 20To shew how through God's grace the Jews shall be overrun of the Gentiles, although they begin after, he bringeth a parable of men working sooner and later in the vineyard, but the later rewarded in the end even as the first. 17. He revealeth more to his Disciples touching his passion: 20. Bidding the ambitious two suitors to think rather of suffering with him: 24. And teaching us (in the rest of his Disciples) not to be grieved at our Ecclesiastical Superiors, considering they are (as he was himself) to toil for our Salvation. 29. Then going out of Jericho, he giveth sight unto two blind.
21. 21Being now come to the place of his passion, he entereth with humility and triumph together: 12. Sheweth his zeal for the house of God joined with great marvels. 15. And to the Rulers he boldly defendeth the acclamations of the children, 18. He curseth also that fruitless leafy tree: 23. avoucheth his power by the witness of John: 28. and foretelleth in two parables their reprobation ( with the Gentiles vocation ) for their wicked deserts, 42. and consequently their irreparable damnation that shall ensue thereof.
22. 22Yet by one other parable he foresheweth the most deserved reprobation of the earthly & persecuting Jews, and the gracious vocation of the Gentiles in their place. 15. Then he defeateth the snare of the Pharisees and Herodians about paying tribute to Caesar. 23. He answereth also the invention of the Sadducees against the Resurrection: 34. and a question that the Pharisees ask to pose him: turning and posing them again, because they imagined that Christ should be no more then a man: 46. and so he putteth all the busy sects to silence.
23. 23The Scribes and Pharisees after all this, continuing still incorrigible, although he will have the doctrine of their Chair obeyed, yet against their works (and namely their ambition) he openly inveigheth, crying to them eight woes for their eightfold hypocrisy and blindness: 34. and so concluding with the most heavy reprobation of that present Generation and their mother city Jerusalem, with her Temple.
24. 24To his Disciples (by occasion of Jerusalem and the Temple's destruction) he foretelleth, 4. what things shall be before the consummation of the world, as specially 14. the Church's full preaching unto all Nations: 15. then, what shall be in the very consummation, to wit, Antichrist with his passing great persecution and seduction, but for a short time: 29. then incontinent, the Day of judgment, to our great comfort in those miseries under Antichrist. 35. As for the moment, to us it pertaineth not to know it. 37. but rather every man to watch, that we be not unprovided when he cometh to each one particularly by death.
25. 25Continuing his Sermon, he bringeth two parables, of ten Virgins, and of Talents, to shew how it shall be in Doom's day with the Faithful that prepare, and that prepare not themselves. 31. Then also without parables he sheweth that such Faithful as do works of mercy, shall have for them life everlasting: and such as do not, everlasting damnation.
26. 26To the Council of the Jews, Judas by occasion of Marie Magdalen's ointment, doth sell him for a little. 17. After the Paschal lamb, 26. he giveth them that bread of life (promised John 6.) in a mystical Sacrifice or Separation of his Body and blood. 31. and that night he is after his prayer 47. taken of the Jews (Judas being their Captain) and forsaken of the other eleven for fear. 57. is falsely accused, and impiously condemned of the Jews' Council, 67. and shamefully abused of them: 69. and thrice denied of Peter: All even as the Scriptures and himself had often foretold.
27. 27The chief of the Jews accuse him to Pilate the Gentile (his betrayer, and the Judge, and the Judge's wife, testifying in the meantime manifestly his innocency:) 20. and persuade the common People also, not only to preserve the murderer Barabbas, but also to cry, Crucifige: (all, to the reprobation of their whole Nation, and nothing but fulfilling the Scriptures) 27. after many illusions, 31. he is crucified by the Gentiles. 38. Which the Jews seeing, do triumph as if they had now the victory. 45. But even then by many wonderful works he declareth his might, to their confusion. 57. Finally being buried, they to make all sure, set soldiers to keep his sepulchre.
28. 28He riseth again the third day, & ( the blind most obstinate Jews by bribery working to their own reprobation ) he appeareth to his Disciples in Galilee ( as before his Passion he foretold them Mat. 26. and now after his Resurrection, first the Angel, then also himself appointed by the women ) 18. and sendeth them to all Nations, to build his Church among the Gentiles.