Christian Scriptures. The Gospel of Matthew : The Jewish Messiah

Transcription

1 Christian Scriptures The Gospel of Matthew : The Jewish Messiah

2 The Author of Matthew Ø Matthew the Tax Collecting Disciple? (9:9 compare Mk. 2:13-14) Ø Editorial Emphasis More Pharisee than Sadducee

3 The Beginning of Matthew s Gospel An account of the Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1

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5 Distinctive Features of Matthew s Genealogy v Three Groups of 14 I. Abraham David II. David Babylonian Exile III. Babylonian Exile Jesus v Mistakes Ø Ø Joram-Uzziah (v.8) One or Four Generations? Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, Amaziah his son, Azariah [a.k.a. Uzziah] his son, Jotham his son (I Chronicles 3:11-12) Babylonian Exile Jesus = 13 Generations

6 Distinctive Features of Matthew s Genealogy v Women 1. Tamar the Canaanite (v.3) Genesis Rahab the Canaanite (v.5) Joshua 2 & 6 3. Ruth the Moabite (v.5) Book of Ruth 4. Bathsheba the Hittite (v.6) II Samuel Mary (v.16)

7 v Why 14? Distinctive Features of Matthew s Genealogy Ø Seven is the Divine Number of Perfection Therefore, Fourteen is Doubly Perfect! Ø The Hebrew Letters for David add up to 14 Ø ךויך = DVD = = 14!

8 The Catch v Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. (v.16) v Mary was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel (v.18, 23) Are any of these distinguished ancestors actually related to Jesus?

9 The Birth of the Messiah as the Fulfillment of Scripture Ø Fulfillment of Prophecy - a Pattern in Matthew: I. Virgin Birth (1:23) Young Woman (Is. 7:14) II. Bethlehem (2:6) Micah 5:2 III.Egypt (2:15) Hosea 11:1 IV.Herod s Infanticide (2:18) Jeremiah 31:15 V. Nazareth (2:23) Branch in Isaiah 11:1

10 Prophecy as Typology in Matthew

11 Jesus the Jewish Messiah: The New David & The New Moses v The New David The Messiah Ø Genealogy Ø Hometown of Bethlehem v The New Moses Ø Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Prophecy Ø Five Prophecies in Birth Narrative Ø Five Teaching Blocks in Matthew Ø Deliverer u Law-Giver Rejected One u Promised Land v Joseph as the New Joseph - Dreams

12 Jesus as the New Law-Giver Ø Jesus as the New Moses and the New Law Ø Five Teaching Blocks New Torah : I. Sermon on the Mount (Ch.5-7) II. Mission (Ch.10) III. Parables (Ch.13) IV. Discipleship (Ch.18) V. Critique of Pharisees and Apocalypse (Ch.23-25)

13 The Beatitudes Ø The Dynamic Commandments of the New Kingdom (5:1-12) v Critique of Roman System of Power and Violence v Critique of Pharisaic Codes of Purity / Blessing / Exclusion

14 Jesus and the Law Ø Jesus and the Law (5:17-20) v What is Jesus Understanding of the Law and Expectations? v Is it Different to Paul s? (See Romans & Galatians) Ø Jesus Followers and the Law (5:21-37) v The Pharisees Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations v Jesus Intensification of the Demands of the Law and the need for Forgiveness?

15 Jesus and the Law Ø Jesus, Retributive Justice and Non- Violence (5:38-48) Principle 1: Do not Repay Evil with Evil No Revenge Principle 2: Refuse to be Oppressed Principle 3: Resist without Sinning Principle 4: Seek to Change the Heart of your Oppressor Principle 5: Repay Evil with Good Love your Enemies (5:44)

16 Jesus and the Law Ø The Fulfillment of the Law: The Golden Rule (7:12) v The Ancient Pedigree of the Golden Rule v Jesus Summary of the Law and the Prophets (Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18) v The Greatest Commandment (24:35-40)

17 Jesus and the Law Ø Jesus, the Law and the Gospel (Hosea 6:6 see Matt. 9:9-13; 12:7; 15:2-6) v Mercy, not Sacrifice Ø The Basis of the Conflict with the Pharisees: v Pharisaic Oral Law / Tradition vs. Commandment of God / Mercy / Forgiveness

18 Jesus Rejected by Jewish Leaders Ø Conflict of Moral Law and Ritual Law Ø Sin, Law and Forgiveness - The News Moses and the New Law of Mercy: v Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (18:21-35) v Parable of the Laborers (20:1-16) - See also Parable of the Two Sons (21:28-32) v Parable of the Tenants (21:33-45) v Parable of the Wedding Feast (22:1-14)

19 Jesus and the Pharisees Ø Hypocrisy The Venom of the Seven Woes against the Pharisees (23:13-36) Ø The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (25:31-46)

20 Jesus Passion in Matthew Ø The Innocence of Rome (?) (27:18, 19, 23-24) and the Guilt of the Jews (27:25) Ø The Real Problem: The Jewish Leadership and their Interpretation of the Law Ø The Crime: King of the Jews (27:11, 29, 37, 42)

21 Jesus Resurrection in Matthew Ø No Messianic Secret at the End of Matthew Ø The Continued Apostasy of the Jews (28:11-15) Ø The Unambiguous Gentile Mission (28:19)

22 The Setting of Matthew Ø Jews and Gentiles in Early Christianity Ø Judaizing Gentiles in the Early Church (Galatians 3; Acts 15)

23 Post-Revolt Judaism Ø Religious / Political Fallout after Jewish Revolt (70 CE) Ø Fall of Jerusalem Decentralized Religious Power from Temple to Synagogues Ø Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai led Pharisees to Jamnia Ø Diversity replaced by homogenized Rabbinic Judaism

24 Revision of Jewish Liturgy Ø Revision of Tefillah (standardized Jewish Prayers) at Jamnia Ø Jamnia Introduced the Amidah ("Standing"), or Shemoneh Esrei ("The 18 Benedictions "), as Central Prayer in Jewish Liturgy that Jews recite Three Times each Day

25 12 th Benediction Ø The Birkat ha-minim (12 th Benediction) is the prayer/curse against heretics: May no hope be left to the slanderers; but may wickedness perish as in a moment; may all Thine enemies be soon cut off, and do Thou speedily uproot the haughty and shatter and humble them speedily in our days. Blessed be Thou, O Lord, who strikest down enemies and humblest the haughty. (Babylonian Recension in the Mishnah)

26 12 th Benediction Ø Earlier version discovered in Egypt in late 19 th Century, possibly dating to end of 1 st Century: May no hope be left to the slanderers; but may the insolent kingdom perish as in a moment; may the Nazarenes and all Thine enemies be soon cut off, and do Thou speedily uproot the haughty and shatter and humble them speedily in our days; and may they be erased from the Book of Life, and may they not be inscribed with the Righteous. Blessed be Thou, O Lord, who strikest down enemies and humblest the haughty." (Earlier Palestinian Recension)

27 Matthew s Community Ø Within the Synagogue A Dispute within Judaism? Ø Outside the Synagogue Persecution and Expulsion

28 Outside the Synagogue I. Negative Attitudes to Jewish Groups ( Ch.23) II. Pharisees and the Synagogue ( their Synagogues - 4:23; 9:35; 10:17; 12:9; 13:54) III. Christ s ekklesia (Church) (16:18; 18:17) as the Synagogue of the Kingdom IV. Transfer of Gospel to New People (21:43) V. Redactional Opposition concerning Theft of Jesus Body (ch.27-28)

29 In Conclusion A Clear Ending to the Gospel Jesus is the Jewish Messiah Mercy, not Sacrifice Compassion is the Foundation of the Law The Unambiguous Gentile Mission (28:19)