Quiz on the Gospel of Matthew

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MT100 Questions on the Gospel According to Matthew (Mt)

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  •  The level is meant for secondary school students; selected questions could be used for lower ages.
  • The answers are accompanied by citation of verses wherever applicable.  In quiz competitions, to make the exercise more challenging it would be interesting to require citations.
  • The quotations are from RSV.
  1.  How are the readings during Sunday liturgy arranged in the Catholic Church?  The readings are arranged in three-year cycle: Year A – The Gospel of Matthew, Year B -Gospel of Mark, Year C – Gospel of Luke.
  2. How do you determine on a given year which cycle of readings to use on a Sunday?  Divide the year by 3 and pay attention to the remainder (ex. 2014/3, the remainder will be 1). If the remainder is 1, we follow the readings of Year A; if the remainder is 2, we follow the readings of Year B; and if the remainder is 0, we follow the readings of Year C.
  3. Mention the four gospels found in the New Testament: Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke, and Gospel of John.
  4. Which are gospels that are referred to as ‘Synoptic Gospels’? Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, and Gospel of Luke.
  5. Which are the gospels that have the Infancy Narrative (stories about the birth and childhood) of Jesus? Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of Luke.
  6. In what language was the Gospel of Matthew originally written? Aramaic or Hebrew (according to St Jerome).
  7. Who are the probable audience of the Gospel of Matthew?  Judeo-Christians.
  8. List at least three evidences to suggest that Mt was written for the Jewish Christian community?  Mt uses quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures; Mt presents Jesus as the new Moses (Mt 5:1); Mt attempts to balance between the importance of the Law while also including the new interpretation of Jesus (Mt 5:17).
  9. What does Mt 5:1-2 state?  “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them.”
  10. Totally how many chapters and verses are there in the Gospel of Matthew?Chapters: 28, Verses: 1068.
  11. Matthew collects the teachings of Jesus and arranges them in five sections.  Mention them.  1. Sermon on the Mount (Mt chapters 5 to 7); 2. Instruction to the 12 Apostles (Mt 10); 3. Parables of the Kingdom (Mt 13:1-53); 4. Teachings on the Church (Mt 18); and, 5. Teachings on the End-times on Mt Olivet (Mt 24).
  12. Mention at least three major differences between the genealogy of Jesus according to Matthew (Mt 1:1-17) and Luke (3:23-38)? Mt traces the ancestry of Jesus to Abraham while Lk traces the ancestry to Adam; Mt begins with Abraham and comes down to Jesus, whereas Lk begins with Jesus and goes back to Adam; the names of ancestors between David and Jesus are totally different in the two lists, except for Shealtiel and Zerubbabel.
  13. In Mt’s genealogy of Jesus – who is called the Christ – four women are mentioned. Is there a special reason for it? The four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Uriah) had their child through an irregular relationship, or were non-Jews. It shows that in the plan of salvation even non-Jews were included, and that God could work his plan despite human errors.
  14. Who is the fifth woman mentioned in the genealogy? Mary (Mt 1:16).
  15. Of whom was Jesus born? Mary (Mt 1:16).
  16. What is the meaning of Emmanuel?  God with us (Mt 1:23).
  17. What is the meaning of ‘Jesus’? One who saves (Mt 1:21).
  18. What is the meaning of ‘Christ’?  It is Greek for Messiah, which in Hebrew means ‘the anointed one’.
  19. From where did the wise men come from to see the newborn King in Bethlehem? From the East (Mt 2:1).
  20. How many wise men were there who came from the East? The number is not mentioned (Mt 2:1).
  21. What did the wise men offer to Jesus?  Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh (Mt 2:11).
  22. Where did Joseph take Jesus and Mary after the visit of the wise men? To Egypt.
  23. How long did they live in Egypt?            Till the death of Herod.
  24. After the death of Herod, where did the parents of Jesus go to live with him? Nazareth (Mt 2:23).
  25. How did Jesus get the name Nazarene?            Since he lived in Nazareth (Mt 2:23).
  26. Who ruled Judea after Herod?  Archelaus (Mt 2:22).
  27. What was the food of John the Baptist?           Locusts and wild honey (Mt 3:4).
  28. What was the message of John the Baptist?“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 3:2).
  29. What were the three signs that accompanied the Baptism of Jesus? The heavens were opened; he saw the Spirit of God descending; and a voice was heard (Mt 3:16-17).
  30. When Jesus was baptized, how did the Holy Spirit come upon him? In the form of Dove (Mt 3:16).
  31. Contrast the voice heard during the Baptism of Jesus according to Mt and Mk?  In Mt, the voice was addressed to the people (Mt 3:17); and in Mk, it is addressed to Jesus himself (Mk1:11).  Lk too follows the style of Mk (Lk 3:22).
  32. How long did Jesus fast before being tempted by the Devil? 40 days and nights (Mt 4:2).
  33. Where did Jesus go to live after John the Baptist was arrested?Capernaum (Mt 4:13).
  34. What was the first message proclaimed by Jesus according to Mt?“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17).
  35. According to Mt, who are the first two disciples whom Jesus called? Peter and Andrew (Mt 4:18).
  36. Who was the brother of Simon Peter?  Andrew.
  37. Who were the sons of Zebedee?            James and John.
  38. What is the first part of the Sermon on the Mount referred to as (Mt 5:1-12)? The “Beatitudes”
  39. How many Beatitudes are there in Mt?Nine (Mt 5:3-10).
  40. What kind of perfection does Jesus demand in his Sermon on the Mount? Be you perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48).
  41. In which gospels do you find the prayer ‘the Our Father’? Mt 6:9-15 and Lk 11:2-4.
  42. Compare the two occasions of calming the sea.  In Mt 8:23-27, Jesus is in the boat with the disciples; in Mt 14:22-33, Jesus comes walking on the water towards the boat.
  43. Mention two cures explicitly administered to non-Jews by Jesus? To the centurion’s servant (Mt 8:5-13) and to the daughter of the Canaanite woman (Mt 15:21-28).
  44. Name the twelve apostles, as listed in Mt. “The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;  Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him” (Mt 10:2-4).
  45. Who was in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights? Jonah the prophet (Mt 12:40).
  46. What is Jesus comparing the stay of Jonah’s three days in the belly of the fish to?  To his own being buried in the heart of the earth – before his resurrection (Mt 12:40).
  47. Who is ‘the prince of demons’? Beelzebul (Mt 12:24).
  48. Where do you find most of the parables of Jesus?  13th chapter of Matthew.
  49. How many parables did Jesus say, in all?  About 70.
  50. What was the name of the wife of Philip, whom Herod had married? Herodias (Mt 14:3).
  51. If the loaves and the fish that the disciples had with them, prior to the multiplication of loaves, were put together what do they total up to? Five loaves + two fish = Seven (Mt 14:17).
  52. How many baskets of bread were gathered after the miracle of feeding 5000 with five loaves? 12 baskets (Mt 14:20).
  53. What could the numbers mentioned in the miracle of the loaves signify? Seven – perfection in creation; 12 – twelve tribes of Israel; 5 – number of books in the Torah; 5000 – countless number of Jews.
  54. Mention the two occasions in Mt where Jesus fed the multitude. In Mt 14:13-21 and Mt 15:32-38.
  55. Compare and contrast the two occasions when Jesus multiplies bread.  In the first, Jesus feeds 5000 men from five loaves and two fish, in the second he feeds 4000 men from seven loaves; after the first feeding 12 baskets are filled of the leftover, and in the second feeding seven baskets are filled.
  56. Name the place where (in Mt and Mk) Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do you say I am’?  Caesarea Philippi (Mt 16:13).
  57. What was special about Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do you say I am’? It was in a mountainous area and outside the Jewish territory.
  58. When Jesus was transfigured, which apostles were with Jesus? Peter, James and John (Mt 17:1).
  59. Who were the two figures of the Old Testament speaking to Jesus during transfiguration? Moses and Elijah (Mt 17:3).
  60. Why did Peter want to build three tents? He wanted all of them to be there forever.
  61. What was the name of the coin used by the Jews (for the temple tax) during the time of Jesus? Shekel (Mt 17:24).
  62. What was a denarius? It was a Roman currency equivalent of a day’s wage (Mt 20:2).
  63. What was the answer of Jesus when Peter asked about forgiving others? You must forgive not seven times but seventy times seven (Mt 18:22).
  64. According to Jesus, why did Moses allow divorce? Because of the hard-heartedness of the Jews (Mt 19:8).
  65. In Mt, who requested Jesus that her two sons should sit on his either side?  The mother of Zebedee’s son (Mt 20:20).
  66. Contrast the scene of request for the two sons to be seated on Jesus’ either side as narrated by Mt and Mk? In Mt, it is the mother of the sons of Zebedee who makes the request, whereas in Mk (10:35-45) the request is made by the sons themselves.
  67. Who is the Old Testament prophet who had prophesied about the entry of the messiah on the back of a colt? Prophet Zachariah (Zec 9:9).
  68. After the incident of driving out merchants from the temple, where did Jesus spend the night? In Bethany (Mt 21:17).
  69. What was the official title for the emperor of Rome? Caesar (Mt 22:21).
  70. Which was the group of Jewish religious leaders who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead? Sadducees (Mt 22:23).
  71. How many ‘woes’ does Jesus express towards the scribes and Pharisees? Seven (Mt 23:13-36).
  72. What was the concluding warning of Jesus after the parable of the ten virgins? “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Mt 25:13).
  73. In the parable of talents, what did the man who received the five talents do? He had gained another five more (Mt. 25:20).
  74. How many talents did the man who had been initially given five talents possess at the end of the parable? Eleven.  He had made five more, and the one talent taken away from the lazy servant was also given to him (Mt 25:28).
  75. What was a talent? It was a currency coming down from the time of Alexander the Great, equivalent of 3000 shekels (Mt 25:18).
  76. Mention at least four parables that are found only in Mt?The parable of the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:23-35); the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Mt 20:1-16); the parable of the two sons (Mt 21:28-31); the parable of the ten virgins (Mt 25:1-12).
  77. Where did Jesus go after the Last Supper? To the Mount of Olives (Mt 26:30).
  78. Who were the three disciples that Jesus took with him to the place called Gethsemane?Peter and the two sons of Zebedee – John and James (Mt 26:37).
  79. How did Judas betray Jesus? With a Kiss (Mt 26:49).
  80. According to Mt, at Gethsemane, who was the disciple who drew the sword and cut off the ear of one of the slaves of the High Priest?  One of the disciples – not named (Mt 26:51). Only John names him as Peter (Jn 18:10).
  81. Who accused Peter that he was a follower of Jesus? A servant of the High Priest.
  82. Who was the high priest at the time of the trial of Jesus?Caiaphas (Mt 26:57).
  83. Who was Pilate? Roman Governor of Judea at the time of Jesus (Mt 27:2).
  84. What did Judas say to the chief priests when he returned the money?“I have sinned in betraying innocent blood” (Mt 27:4).
  85. What is the name of the plot that was bought with the 30 pieces of silver that Judas had returned to the chief priests and elders? Field of blood (Mt 27:8).
  86. On the way to Golgotha, who was forced to help Jesus carry his cross? Simon of Cyrene (Mt 27:32).
  87. What country is Cyrene in today’s geography? Libya.
  88. According to Mt, Jesus was crucified in Golgotha. What does this place name mean? Place of a skull (Mt 27:33).
  89. When Christ was crucified there was darkness all over the world from the sixth to the ninth hour. What time was it in terms of Western timings? From 12 noon to 3 in the afternoon (Mt 27:45).
  90. What is the meaning of Eli, Eli, lama sabachtahani? My God, My God why have you forsaken me (Mt 27:46).
  91. What was Jesus doing when he said on the cross, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me”? He was praying Psalm 22.
  92. What was the charge written over the crucified Jesus?“This is Jesus the King of the Jews” (Mt 27:37)
  93. What do the letters I.N.R.I. seen on crosses stand for? Iesus Nazarenum Rex Iudeorum.
  94. According to Mt at what time Jesus “yielded up his spirit”? At the ninth hour, that is, about 3 O’ Clock (Mt 27: 46-50).
  95. What did the Centurion say when Jesus died?“Truly this was the Son of God!” (Mt 27:54).
  96. Who gave the tomb for the burial of Jesus? Joseph of Arimathea (Mt 27:57).
  97. After the burial of Jesus all the people went away except two women. Who were they? Mary of Magdala and the other Mary (Mt 27:61), the mother of James and Joseph (Mt 27:56). These were also the first witnesses of the signs of the Resurrection (Mt 28:1).
  98. Mention the occasions when ‘the mother of the sons of Zebedee’ appears in Mt? When requesting Jesus to offer the place on right and left to her sons (Mt 20:20), and the foot of the cross (Mt 27:56).
  99. What did Jesus tell the apostles on the mountain at Galilee as a parting message? “Go therefore, teach all   nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).
  100. What is the final sentence of the Gospel of Matthew? “And lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20).