Lecture on the purpose and character of the Gospel of Matthew

1. The Gospel of Matthew

2. The Gospel of Mark
Messiah is consistently misunderstood
Messiah is a suffering servant.
Good News: Kingdom of God has come.

3. The Gospel of Matthew
What does Matthew contain that Mark doesn’t?
What wording is unique to Matthew’s style?
What does Matthew highlight or condemn?

4. Synoptic Connection
91% 58%

5. Synoptic Connection
Question by John the Baptist: Matthew 11:2-6 & Luke 7:18-23

6. Synoptic Connection

7. Synoptic Connection

8. Synoptic Connection
Lord’s Prayer Good Samaritan
Great Commission M L Prodigal Son

9. Birth Narrative
 Genealogy from Abraham & David
 Divine Intervention
 Joseph (Faithful to the Law, yet…)
 Evil King
 Fulfilled Prophecy, i.e. Bethlehem – Micah 5:2
 Magi, Worship, Star, gifts
 Death of the Innocents – Jer. 31:15
 Sojourn to Egypt – Hosea 11:1
 Baptism in Water
The Gospel of Matthew

10. Birth Narrative
 Little mention of Mary (wife of Joseph)
 No shepherds
 No Inn
 No Nazareth
 No Elizabeth
The Gospel of Matthew

11. Genealogy
Abraham: Father of Faith
14
David: King of Israel
14
Exile to Babylon
14
Jesus
The Gospel of Matthew

12. Matthew Mosts
Most familiar
Beatitudes (chpt 5) also Luke chpt 6
Great Commission 28:18-19
Great Commandment 22:37-39
Most Universal – 28:19
Most Anti-Semetic – 27:24-26
Most OT References
Son of David (Mt – 10, Mk -3, Lk – 4)

13. Haggadah
stories about the patriarchs used inform and
instruct the present

14. Moses Motif
Evil King
Oppression
Special Birth
Killing of the Innocents
Sojourn in Egypt
Calling by God
Deliver people from Bondage
Passover Sacrifice
Promised Land
Mandate (Deut. 4:6) The Gospel of Matthew

15. Torah Structure of Matthew
5-7 – Sermon on the Mount
10 – Mission to Israel
13 – Parables
18 – Discourse on church polity
23-25 – Sermon of End Times
The Gospel of Matthew

16. Themes of Matthew
What does the Law mean?
Jesus fulfills the Law (5:17)
The centrality of the Law (5:18)
Re-interpretation of the Law
The Law becomes MORE demanding
Role of a prophet
The Gospel of Matthew

17. Moses Comparison
Evil Pharaoh Pharisees and Scribes
Oppression Rules and Rituals (15:9)
Passover Sacrifice “my blood of the covenant” 26:28
Liberation “you will find rest for you souls” 11:29
New Reality “All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me. 28:18
The Gospel of Matthew

18. Redaction Criticism
Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father
is merciful.
Matt. 5:48Be perfect, therefore, as your
heavenly Father is perfect.
The Gospel of Matthew

19. Antithesis
Murder 5:21-26 Forgiveness
Adultery 5:27-30 Respect
Divorce 5:31-32 Commitment
Oaths 5:33-37 Integrity
Retribution 5:38-42 Humility
Enemies 5:43-48 Love
The Gospel of Matthew

20. Contrasts the Spirit vs. Letter
Prayer 6:5
Rituals 6:8
Fasting 6:16
Giving 23:23-24
Piety 23:25-26
The Gospel of Matthew

21. The Upper Room
Resurrection Story
The Gospel of Matthew

22. Matthew 26:27-29
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them,
saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of
the covenant, which is poured out for many for the
forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of
the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew
with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Mark 14:23-24
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and
they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
The Gospel of Matthew

23. Matthew 4:17
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “repent, for the Kingdom
of heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing
every disease and sickness among the people.
Mark 1:15
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near.
Repent and believe the good news!”
The Gospel of Matthew

24. Matthew 4:17
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “repent, for the Kingdom
of heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing
every disease and sickness among the people.
Mark 1:15
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near.
Repent and believe the good news!”
The Gospel of Matthew

25. The Gospel of Matthew
Jewish heritage established
Authority in Contrast
“he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Mt 7:29
Validity of Judaism
“I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Mt 5:17
Condemns the current practice
“I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the
teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mt 5:20

26. Beatitudes
Why did Matthew add what he added?
Why did he say what he said?
Why did he leave out what he did?

27. Passion Narrative
Why did he say what he said?
Why did he leave out what he did?

28. The Beatitudes
Luke 6
Matthew 5
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the 3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who
now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed
who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
are you when people hate you, when they 6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
exclude you and insult you and reject your righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed
name as evil, because of the Son of Man. are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see
23
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because
God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
great is your reward in heaven. For that is how
will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are
their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But those who are persecuted because of
woe to you who are rich, for you have already righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult
well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of
you who laugh now, for you will mourn and evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and
weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks be glad, because great is your reward in
heaven, for in the same way they persecuted
well of you, for that is how their ancestors
the prophets who were before you.
treated the false prophets.

29. Luke 6
Matthew 5
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the 3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who
now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed
who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
are you when people hate you, when they 6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
exclude you and insult you and reject your righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed
name as evil, because of the Son of Man. are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see
23
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because
God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
great is your reward in heaven. For that is how
will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are
their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But those who are persecuted because of
woe to you who are rich, for you have already righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult
well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of
you who laugh now, for you will mourn and evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and
weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks be glad, because great is your reward in
heaven, for in the same way they persecuted
well of you, for that is how their ancestors
the prophets who were before you.
treated the false prophets.

30. The Gospel of Matthew
Jesus is the new Moses
Fulfills and provides correct interpretation
Jesus affirms Judaism, Condemns its practices
Redefines Jewish practices
Jesus connects the Message to the world
Most Jewish and most anti-semetic
“Go Make disciples of all nations”

31. Mark 4 Matthew 8
35 On that day, when evening had come,
23 And when he got into the
he said to them, "Let us go across to the
other side." boat, his disciples followed him.
36 And leaving the crowd, they took him 24 And behold, there arose a great
with them in the boat, just as he was. And storm on the sea, so that the boat
other boats were with him. was being swamped by the waves;
37 And a great storm of wind arose, and
but he was asleep.
the waves beat into the boat, so that the
boat was already filling. 38 But he was in 25 And they went and woke him,
the stern, asleep on the cushion; and saying,
they woke him and said to him, "Save, Lord; we are perishing."
"Teacher, do you not care if we perish?" 26 And he said to them, "Why are
39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind,
you afraid, O men of little faith?"
and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And
the wind ceased, and there was a Then he rose and rebuked the
great calm. winds and the sea; and there was a
40 He said to them, "Why are you afraid? great calm.
Have you no faith?" 27 And the men marveled, saying,
41 And they were filled with awe, and said
"What sort of man is this, that
to one another, "Who then is this, that
even wind and sea obey him?" even winds and sea obey him?"

32. The Gospel of Mark
Jesus as messiah is a suffering servant.
Authoritative, yet misunderstood
The Gospel of Matthew
Affirms Judaism as it ought to be, reject as it is.
Jesus open the way to the world.
Jewish Messiah from the Jewish God to the Jewish
people in fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures.

33. Matthew
 John Luke Mark


34. The Gospel of Luke