Bible 120 New Testament
Matthew
Written for a Jewish-Gentile church some years after Jewish-Roman war
66-70
This church was threatened by legalism (Jews) and antinomianism (Gentiles).
To escape both, Matthew wanted to convince readers that Jesus is the Christ,
the fulfillment of OT expectation and the creator of a new people, and
indestructible church. How can one escape legalism and license?
Matthew’s church still interacting with Judaism although it was becoming
more Gentile and less Jewish. Jewish-Roman war had brought the Jewish
Gentile tensions to a pitch. Judaism became more nationalistic, law-centered
with closed Torah and growing Mishnah. Christian Church moved deeper into
Gentile world. Points of tension: Torah, Temple, holy city, purification rites, food
laws, Sabbath, circumcision.
Matthew argues that true Judaism had its fulfillment in Christ and not in
Pharisaic Judaism of Jamnia.
Matthew works on two fronts: 1.) Pharisaic legalism 2.) Antinomian
libertinism
Matthew presents a gospel of gifts (forgiveness of sinners) and demands
righteousness greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees.
Matthew is a church book to meet church needs of evangelism, missions,
apology, teaching, discipline, worship. Worship and teaching may have been the
two dominant concerns.
Structure and Plan
5 discourses in Matthew
1. Sermon on the Mount (5-7)
2. Apostleship (10)
3. Parables of the Kingdom (13)
4. Church Discipline (18)
5. Last things (24-25)
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Bible 120 New Testament
Each ends with, “And it came to pass when Jesus had completed these words
…”
Between discourses there is narrative material. Each block of narrative material
has a theme.
4 Leading Themes
1.
The person of Jesus Christ
Human and divine origin, identity, mission, authority, gifts, demands,
deeds and teachings. Teacher, prophet, Christ and Lord, Servant of Yahweh
2.
Kingdom of Heaven
Used 100 times
Sovereign rule of God
Gifts and demand
Judgment and gospel
Present and future
3.
Church
Church and kingdom are related but not identical
Kingdom is wider than the church
Continuity between Israel and the church
4.
Dispute with Pharisees
Pharisees presented as Jesus opponents
Emphasis on Pharisees guilt in the death of Jesus
Name Matthew
Means gift of Yahweh
Are Matthew and Levi the same person? Both were tax collectors. Not sure if
they are the same person.
Authorship
Tradition says Matthew. Was it a compilation or materials used in the Gospel?
(Papias wrote that Matthew compiled the oracle or logic of Jesus)
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Bible 120 New Testament
AD 70-90 in a Greek speaking community (Palestine, Galilee, Antioch,
Phoenicia, or Caesarea)
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