Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode: Messianic Checkpoint: The Gospel of Matthew (with Jeff Cavins) - 2025
Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (A), with guest Jeff Cavins (B)

Overview of the Episode's Theme

This special “Messianic Checkpoint” episode is a deep dive into the Gospel of Matthew. After completing a long segment covering the prophets and the period of exile, Fr. Mike and Jeff Cavins help listeners orient themselves at a pivotal part in salvation history. The focus is on how Matthew’s Gospel brings forward the fulfillment of the Old Testament and establishes Jesus as the Messiah in continuity with Israel’s story. The conversation is dynamic and practical, highlighting ways listeners can better understand, appreciate, and live out the teachings presented in Matthew.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Transition from the Prophets to the Messianic Checkpoint

• Fr. Mike notes the completion of a lengthy journey through the prophets (00:51), emphasizing the challenge and the gift of walking through sometimes unfamiliar scripture.
• Jeff Cavins reminds listeners it’s normal to be confused at first, and “one time through the Bible is like an introduction—then, you got the rest of your life to work it out.” (01:27)

2. Introducing the Gospel of Matthew

• Matthew is Jeff’s favorite New Testament book because it is written specifically to the Jewish people, which means it requires an understanding of the Old Testament to fully appreciate (03:25).
• Matthew’s use of genealogy (“Toledot”) at the beginning is an intentional literary device from the Old Testament, signaling fulfillment and continuity (04:09).
• The inclusion of four notable women with complicated histories (Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba) in the genealogy signals that God’s story includes the unexpected and prepares readers for “something…different.” (06:14)
• Matthew structures Jesus' genealogy in three sets of 14 generations—representing six sets of seven. Jesus ushers in the “seventh seven”, which symbolizes fulfillment and completeness of God’s promise (07:17).

3. Connecting Old and New Testaments

• Fr. Mike quotes St. Augustine: “The Old Testament is revealed in the New, and the New Testament is hidden in the Old.” (10:10)
• Matthew repeatedly connects stories, themes, and prophecies from the Old Testament to Jesus' life, starting with genealogy and continuing throughout.

4. Types and Fulfillment: John the Baptist and Jesus’ Baptism/Temptation

• John the Baptist is intentionally presented as a new Elijah (dressed similarly, at the Jordan River), signaling for students of scripture to “listen for things that are being fulfilled.” (11:50)
• Jesus' baptism and subsequent temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 3–4) intentionally mirror Israel’s history:
  • Israel: bondage—Red Sea—wilderness—failed three tests;
  • Jesus: baptism—wilderness—three temptations—faithful Son (14:55).
• Jeff emphasizes: “What Jesus would do, that’s the type of things that we do. And we want to come to know his voice.” (30:41)

5. The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus As New Moses

• The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) is the central concentration of Jesus’ teachings (17:30).
• Jesus fulfills and intensifies the Mosaic law—making the call to holiness more challenging and internal (“The law is not merely external, but it is internal…” (18:55)).
• The three forms of piety (almsgiving, fasting, prayer) are reframed as “weapons” against the lust of the eyes, flesh, and pride of life (20:42).
  • Quote: “These are weapons that we pick up and use in pursuit of the Lord and in battle against our fallen human nature.” (21:24)

6. The Papacy and Church Structure: Matthew 16

• Jeff explains the significance of Jesus giving Peter the keys in Matthew 16, tying it to the Old Testament role of the “prime minister” (al habait), and establishing Peter as the first pope (23:37).
  • Quote: “Whoever has the keys is the prime minister, period… it’s so important to know that Jesus didn’t just establish his kingdom and walk away and say, ‘Hey, hope you guys can make it work.’ He put leadership in place.” (24:23)
• Fr. Mike adds this kingdom is both spiritual and visible, with genuine structure—“not just a vague sense of the church…” (27:17)

7. Personal Reflection on the Church

• Jeff shares a moving story of meeting Pope John Paul II and seeing the keys on his papal garments, realizing the tangible continuity from Peter to the present (28:01).
• Both hosts reflect on the privilege and responsibility of continuing the work of the apostles.

8. Living as Disciples: Following and Walking With Jesus

• Jeff shifts the motif from just “following” Jesus to “walking with Him”, reminding listeners that, especially after the Gospels, “He is inside of you and He’s empowering you.” (30:15)
• Fr. Mike encourages listeners to approach the Gospel as disciples and future teachers—listening attentively because Jesus will “ask you to teach other people to observe all of this” (33:32).
  • Quote: “It is so different to show up to class when you’re just there to learn… versus to teach the class… you’re responsible. That’s a massively different experience.” (35:02)

9. Key Chapters to Pay Attention to in Matthew

• Chapter 19: Jesus’ powerful teaching on marriage
• Chapter 24: Discussion of the end times—the transition from the old age to the new (31:45)
• Great Commission (28:18-20): The send-off to “go and make disciples of all nations…”—the work extends to listeners now.

10. The Baton's Been Passed: A Call to Action

• Jeff closes with this: “If not you, who? If not now, when?… The baton is in your hands now… and it’s your leg. It’s your time to run.” (35:30)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “One time through [the Bible] is like an introduction… you got your rest of your life to work it out.” — Jeff Cavins (01:27)
• “He’s trying to show you that there is something new that is about to begin that is a fulfillment of everything we’ve been through so far this year.” — Jeff Cavins on Matthew’s genealogy (04:09)
• “I never get tired of it. But the more you do it, the easier the story gets. I don’t know if it gets easier to live, but it’s easier to understand the more you do it.” — Jeff Cavins (01:27)
• “The Old Testament is revealed in the New, and the New Testament is hidden in the Old.” — Fr. Mike quoting Augustine (10:10)
• “Ask yourself a question. He’s looking like Elijah. Where was Elijah? Let’s go back and look at Elijah.” — Jeff Cavins on scripture connections (11:50)
• “It’s not just an invisible or spiritual kingdom, although it is that, but it also has structure to it… you can point to, you can see and say, ‘The kingdom is here.’” — Fr. Mike (27:17)
• “What you are going to listen to is what the world is searching for.” — Jeff Cavins on living out the Gospel (35:30)
• “If not you, who? If not now, when? … The baton is in your hands now.” — Jeff Cavins (35:30)

Important Timestamps

• 00:51 – Completing the period of the prophets and transition to the Gospel of Matthew
• 03:54 – Matthew’s purpose and presentation of Jesus as fulfillment
• 06:14 – Genealogy, its structure and significance
• 10:10 – The Old and New Testaments interlocking
• 11:50 – John the Baptist as a new Elijah; Jesus’ baptism and temptations
• 17:30 – Sermon on the Mount as Jesus’ central teaching
• 20:42 – Almsgiving, fasting, prayer as “weapons”
• 23:37 – The papacy, Matthew 16, and continuing leadership in the Church
• 28:01 – Personal reflection: Meeting Pope John Paul II and the continuity from Peter
• 30:15 – Moving from “following” to “walking with” Jesus
• 31:45 – Chapters to focus on: Marriage (19), End Times (24)
• 33:32 – The Great Commission and the call to teach
• 35:30 – “The baton is in your hands now”—a call to action and service

Conclusion

This episode is an encouraging, insightful prep for reading the Gospel of Matthew, integrating deep historical context, literary structure, and practical challenges for spiritual growth. Fr. Mike and Jeff Cavins revisit essential connections between the Old and New Testaments, the structure of the Church, and the transforming power of Jesus’ teachings—culminating in a passionate exhortation to “run your leg of the race” as disciples who both follow and lead.

Final Note:
Fr. Mike closes with gratitude, humor, and a reminder to pray for each other as the community continues this journey:
“The task is huge… That Great Commission. It’s not the small commission. It is the great Commission. It is a big task that is bigger than all of us. And so we just. We need God’s grace, or else it is impossible.” (37:23)