Gospel of Matthew ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Transcription

1 Gospel of Matthew 9AM ADULT FORMATION MATTHEW 1 ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

2 Intentions for Series Compare the Gospel stories What is similar, what is different? What is the point the author is making? Who is the primary audience? Where does the action take place? Who are the main characters other than Jesus? How does the power structure come into play?

3 Background: Timing 4 BCE 30 CE: Life of Jesus CE: Letters of Paul CE: Mark 70: Destruction of 2 nd Temple CE: Luke, Matthew 95 CE: John 120 CE: Thomas, Peter, etc.

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5 Basic Information The Q Source Q stands for Quelle, a German word meaning Source. Thought to be the common source of material shared between Matthew and Luke Accepted as a common source since early 1900 s Thought to be written around 50 CE, therefore some of the earliest material about Jesus

6 Material from Q Ask and it will be given to you. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for those who know, the door is opened. (Mt 7:7-8, Lk 11:9-11) No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel basket. They put it on a stand so that everyone can see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is clear, your entire body fills with light. But if you eye becomes clouded, your body is in darkness. Be careful that your light never fades into darkness. (Mt 5:15; Lk 11:33-36) If the owner of a house know when a thief is coming, he will be on guard and not let anyone break into the house. You too must be prepared the son of man will arrive when you least expect him. (Mt 24:42-44, Lk 12:39-40)

7 Gospel of Matthew Winged Man

8 Who was Matthew? Early Days Matthew was thought to be the disciple Matthew, the tax collector. This is no longer thought to be true, as if this Matthew were a disciple, he would probably use first person accounts, and there are none in the Gospel.

9 Who is Matthew? Jewish He uses many references to the Hebrew Bible, and argues that Jesus is the Messiah referred to in the Hebrew Bible. This to fulfill the prophecy... (See: 1:22, 2:15, 2:17,2:23, 4:14, 8:17 )

10 Matthew s Community The Harper Collins Study Bible offers: Alexandria, Caesarea, Galilee, southern Syria Best suggestion: Antioch in Syria It was a Hellenistic city. It had a large Israelite population. The Gospel was quoted by Bishop Ignatius of Antioch within a generation of its composition (ca 110)

11 Purpose: This Gospel, with its emphasis on Jesus as authoritative Teacher and its stress on the ethical implications of discipleship, is a powerful catechetical tool. The evangelist may have composed it with the idea of providing a handbook for church leaders to assist them in preaching, teaching, and leading worship. This text is a particularly useful guide for helping believers discern what to keep from tradition and what to let go in changing circumstances. Its strategies for peace-making, reconciliation, and formation of community make this Gospel a potent pastoral aid. In every age it continues to bring new vision and hope to Christians in mission, inviting them into ever deeper relationship with Jesus, who remains always with them. (from New Collegeville Bible Commentary, Daniel Durken, Series Editor, pg 6)

12 Content of Matthew The Genealogy and Itinerary of Jesus (1:1-2:23) The Beginning of Jesus Ministry (3:1 4:25) The Sermon on the Mount (5:1 7:29) The Powerful Deeds of Jesus (8:1 9:38) The missionary Discourse (10:1-42) The Importance of Jesus and the Rejection of Him (11:1 12:50)

13 Content cont d Parables Concerning the Kingdom of God (13:1-52) Miracles and Controversies (13:54 16:4) The Way of the Cross (16:5 17:27) Advice to a Divided Community (18:1-35) Growing opposition to Jesus (19:1 23:39) The Coming of the Kingdom (24:1 25:46) The Death and Resurrection of Jesus (26:1 28:20)

14 Compare Matthew to Mark Mark 4:30-32 The Parable of the Mustard Seed 30 He also said, With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. Matt 13:31-32 The Parable of the Mustard Seed 31 He put before them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

15 Compare Matthew to Mark Mark 4:21-22 A Lamp under a Bushel Basket 21 He said to them, Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Matt 5: You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

16 Questions: Compare these two writings. Which do you prefer? Which points are included in one and not the other? Why, do you think? You might want to look at the verses before and after each scripture.