Moses and Jesus pp. 85-89

Matthew’s Gospel Written in 70-90 A.D. in Antioch (today’s Turkey), after the destruction of the Temple (70 A.D.) It was written for a Jewish community that was concerned with the division between Jewish followers of Christ (Christians) and those who saw Christ as subversive to Jewish tradition (Rabbinical Judaism). The Pharisees and Rabbis refused followers of Jesus the right to participate in synagogue.

The community of Matthew’s followers had been living the gospel as an oral tradition, before it was written down. The gospel was written down so followers could continue the tradition after the apostles had died. Matthew presents the gospel as a perspective or point of view. He interprets Jesus’ words and deeds to address the concerns of his community (hermeneutics).

It is the only gospel where Jesus speaks of the Church. He wants followers to remain united and not judge one another. He emphasizes Jewish tradition and Jesus’ connectedness to the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament. Matthew’s interpretation has Jesus speaking to the church of 70-90 A.D.

Matthew’s Jesus – The Ultimate Teacher For Matthew, Jesus will be a constant presence in his Church as a teacher. The Gospel starts with a genealogy of Jesus linking Jesus to Abraham (1st Patriarch of Judaism) and King David (the house from which the Messiah was to come) The genealogy ends with Joseph. While Joseph is not Jesus’ father, we are told Jesus’ origins are of God as Mary conceives of the Holy Spirit.

At the end of the Gospel, Jesus is risen and instructs the apostles to teach the world about the him (make disciples of all nations, baptize and teach them to obey all that has been commanded.) Matthew presents Jesus as the long awaited Messiah, who brings the teaching of Moses to perfection.

Jesus took the Torah and its commandments and gave them a more spiritual interpretation, rather than a literal interpretation. Jesus is seen as a fulfillment of the Torah and as the new Torah. Jesus’ life is often compared to that of Moses in Matthew’ s gospel.

Jesus and Moses Both threatened as infants Moses was protected from Pharaoh; Jesus from Herod Moses leads Israel from Egypt to the promised land; the Holy Family flees from the promised land to Egypt. Both teachers of God’s Law

Matthew inserted 5 teachings of Jesus into his account which was otherwise very similar to Mark’s; Moses left 5 teaching (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) Moses taught the Torah to Israel; Jesus teaches the new law to the Church. Jesus makes five direct comparisons between his teaching and Moses’ teaching (Matthew 5.21-48 - teachings about anger, adultery, divorce, oaths and retaliation) Matthew passes on to us, Jesus’ authority as teacher.

In the Old Testament Moses receives and delivers the Torah from Mount Sinai. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount (the new Torah) on a mount. Jesus provides a platform for the life of his disciples through teachings and beatitudes (blessings).