MATTHEW’S IMAGE OF JESUS The True Messiah of Israel

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT MATTHEW’S GOSPEL?  Written in Greek  Composed around CE  Anonymous author (was he the tax collector of Matt 9:9?)  Sources used for Matt’s gospel: Mark, Q, M  Audience: Jewish/Gentile community Matthew believes is the "True Israel"

OUTLINE OF MATTHEW  Who is Jesus? (1:1–4:16)  Jesus’ ministry to Israel (4:17–16:20)  Journey to Jerusalem (16:21–28:20) Passion Resurrection

THREE MATTHEAN OBJECTIVES presents credentials to prove that Jesus is Israel's True Messiah to present Jesus as the Supreme Teacher and Interpreter of Torah (the New Moses or the “Big Cheese” of Torah interpretation) to present instructions to the community for correct belief and behavior, to assure Jesus' approval at the Parousia

JESUS IS ISRAEL’S TRUE MESSIAH  Genealogy: connects Matthew’s gospel with the Jewish Bible  Birth narrative: birth of Jesus shares similarities with an important figure in the Pentateuch (Torah/Law), Moses  Fulfillment quotations from Jewish Bible (also over 60 allusions to Jewish Bible)  All this emphasizes the Jewishness of Jesus

JESUS AS THE NEW MOSES  Birth Narrative (Moses); read Exodus 1-3  Sermon on the Mount (5 blocks of teaching corresponding to 5 books of Torah)  Presents new interpretation of Torah and requires obedience to Jewish Law (Torah)  Jesus does not want to abolish the Law, but has come to “fulfill” the Law

MATTHEW’S INFANCY NARRATIVE 

JESUS TEACHES LIKE MOSES: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Five Discourses correspond to the five books of the Torah/Pentateuch: 1. Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) or the Beatitudes and antitheses 2. Instructions to the Twelve (Matt 10) 3. Parables on the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 13:1-52) 4. Instructions to the church (Matt 18) (only in Matt) 5. Warnings of Final Judgment (Matt 23-25)

INSTRUCTIONS TO MATTHEW’S COMMUNITY  Parousia is “delayed”  How are we to live until Jesus comes again?  Instructions for the “church” in Matt 18

MATTHEW’S UNDERSTANDING OF MESSIAH Matthew blends these Jewish traditions together to create a new image of the Messiah: Torah/Law (Pentateuch) (Moses) Fulfillment Quotations from the prophets of Israel as proof texts that Jesus is the true Messiah of Israel Presents Jesus as a man of Israel, a Torah-obedient Jewish man who, as the Messiah, reinterprets Torah for the renewal of Israel

HIGHER CHRISTOLOGY IN MATTHEW’S GOSPEL  Miraculous birth  Through redaction, we see that Matt characterizes Jesus as a more powerful miracle worker and authoritative interpreter of Torah (teacher)  Post-resurrection appearance  Ends with the Great Commission

OTHER FEATURES IN MATTHEW  Disciples: Not as clueless as in Mark, more sympathetic characterization; however, they are still generally dull-witted; called “men of little faith”  Peter plays a more prominent role  Women: A few more stories about women (genealogy, Pilate’s wife); in contrast to the disciples, they are characterized with more understanding and faith about who Jesus is and his fate

MATTHEAN REDACTION a) adds dramatic details that heighten the power of Jesus to the reader b) omits details of those healed to focus on Jesus and his power and/or authority c) changes Mark's language to liturgical language such as “behold,” "Lord, save," "knelt down before him," etc. d) softens the characterization of the disciples; the Matthean Jesus most often calls them "men of little faith" e) changes Mark's "kingdom of God" to the "kingdom of heaven" f) refers to Jesus primarily as "Lord" rather than “teacher"