Mathematical Equations for Matthew
About this article
This activity from the Teaching Activities Manual for "The Catholic Youth Bible" provides an overview of the Gospel of Matthew by challenging the students to solve and create mathematical equations using various facts from the Gospel.
- Explain to the students that this activity is designed to familiarize them with the Gospel of Matthew. Mention that it asks them to solve and create some mathematical equations based on the Gospel.
- Write the following examples on the board, and ask the students to use their Bible to find the answers. Invite the students to share their findings.
- Add the number of gifts from the Wise Men to the number of parables found in Matthew, chapter 13, and then multiply the result by the number of blind men healed in Matthew 20.29–34. [(3 + 7) x 2 = 20]
- Solve for the number of healings in Matthew 9.1–34 to the power of 2, multiplied by the number of people Jesus fed in Matthew, chapter 15, and divided by the number of people fed in Matthew, chapter 14. [62 x 4,000 divided by 5,000 = 28.8]
- Divide the class into groups of four. Challenge the groups each to come up with five equations of their own, ranging from very simple to extremely challenging. Give the groups an index card for each equation, and ask that the equation appear on one side and the answer or explanation on the other.
- Invite the groups to exchange their completed equation cards and solve the problems. Afterward, call the students to share some of their initial impressions of Matthew's Gospel.
Acknowledgments
Copyright © 2009 Saint Mary's Press. Permission is granted for this article to be freely used for classroom or campus ministry purposes; however, it may not be republished in any form without the explicit permission of Saint Mary's Press. For more resources to support your ministry, call 800-533-8095 or visit our Web site at www.smp.org.Published January 1, 2000.
