In this essay, I use Beale and Gladd’s understanding of mystery and cognitive peripheral vision to illuminate Jesus’ self-presentation as the messiah through his statements in Matt 12:42 considered in the wider context of Matt 12:1-45. By his claims in Matt 12:42 Jesus hinted at multiple mysteries of the messiah–namely, that the messiah will have a positive relationship with the Gentiles; that he uses his wisdom to answer the Pharisees’ questions and to judge the religious leadership of Israel rather than the Gentiles; that his spiritual wisdom exceeds that attributed Solomon; and that his judgment extends to the living and the dead.