© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter 8 Matthew’s Portrait of Jesus: The Great Teacher

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Key Topics/Themes Matthew an abbreviation of Mark Five blocks of teaching material Jesus as inaugurator of a New Covenant Jesus as interpreter of Mosaic Law Jesus as fulfiller of messianic prophecy Interest in establishment/mission of the Church

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Relation to the Hebrew Bible Matthew’s interest in Jesus’ Hebrew lineage Women in Jesus’ lineage Jesus as fulfiller of messianic prophecy in Hebrew Bible Jesus as teacher and fulfiller of principles of the Mosaic Torah

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Authorship and Purpose Matthew and Judaism Date and place of composition Author’s purposes  Demonstrate Jesus’ credentials as Israel’s true Messiah  Present Jesus as supreme interpreter of Mosaic Torah  Instruct Christian Church

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Sources and Organization Structure and use of sources  Use of Mark  Q  M  Matthew’s editing of Mark Organization of Matthew

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Introduction: Infancy Narrative (1:1-2:23) Full of proof texts from Hebrew Bible Matthew’s reading of Hebrew Bible Identity of the Magi The star Bethlehem Herod attempts to kill Jesus

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Beginning of Jesus’ Proclamation (3:1-4:25) The temptation Expansion of Mark’s version into three scenes  Tempted to fulfill personal need  Tempted to gain public acclaim  Tempted to gain worldly power by cruelty and violence

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. First Discourse: Sermon on the Mount (5-7) The Beatitudes The antitheses Jesus’ assertion of personal authority to interpret the Hebrew Scriptures

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. First Narrative Section: Ten Miracles (8:1-9:38) Based largely on Markan material Story about the faith of a Gentile soldier

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Second Discourse: Instructions to the Twelve (10) Apostles instructed for missionary service among Jews Strong eschatological tone Son of Man to have come before missionary trip is complete

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Second Narrative Section: Questions/Controversies (11:1-12:50) Jesus and John the Baptist  John questions Jesus’ messiahship  Jesus’ response a summary of his mighty works Harsh sayings against those who reject Jesus’ message

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Third Discourse: Parables on the Kingdom (13:1-52) The reason outsiders do not understand Jesus’ parables The Twelve as insiders who do understand Images of the kingdom in the parables of Jesus

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Third Narrative Section: Rejection to Transfiguration (13:53-17:27) Matthew’s close following of Mark at this point Peter and the Church  Peter as the “rock” on which the Church will be built  Peter awarded spiritual powers that are honored in heaven and earth

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Fourth Discourse: Instructions to the Church (18) Disparate sayings brought together by Matthew and applied to the church Instructions for administering a Christian community The right of congregations to ostracize disobedient members

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Fourth Narrative Section: Jerusalem Ministry (19:1-22:46) Discipleship and suffering Entrance into Jerusalem The church as the true Israel

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Fifth Discourse: Warnings of Final Judgment (23-25) Woes against scribes and Pharisees Coming destruction of the Temple An ethical paradox: forgiveness or judgment? Misuse of Matthew to promote anti-Semitism The fall of Jerusalem and the Parousia

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Fifth Narrative: Passion and Resurrection (26-28) Miraculous signs The centurion’s reaction An empty tomb Plot to discredit the Resurrection Postresurrection appearances and the great commission

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Summary A comprehensive summary of Jesus’ teaching Jesus the fulfillment of Hebrew Scriptures Jesus the authoritative interpreter of Mosaic Torah

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Summary (continued) Balances Mark’s emphasis on Jesus’ deeds with emphasis on his teachings Shifts Mark’s emphasis on eschatology by stressing obedience of the church as it awaits Christ’s return