Lana Bello - Ch 5 Matthew's Gospel PDF

Lana Bello Pg. 87 1. The author of the gospel of Matthew wrote for a specific group of people: the Jewish followers of Jesus. What religious challenges were these people facing? - The Jewish followers of Jesus were concerned with the division that had arisen between...

Lana Bello Pg. 87 1. The author of the gospel of Matthew wrote for a specific group of people: the Jewish followers of Jesus. What religious challenges were these people facing? - The Jewish followers of Jesus were concerned with the division that had arisen between those who followed Jesus and those who saw him as subversive to the Jewish tradition. With the destruction of the temple, a split developed between the Jewish rabbis and the Jewish followers of Jesus. 2. How did the Church emerge out of the situation? - The two groups went their separate ways. Those who followed the rabbbis and the Pharisees formed Rabbinic Judaism, which remains the main form of Judaism today. Those who followed Jesus became known as Christians and formed the early Church. 3. What did Matthew's gospel seek to accomplish? - Matthew wrote these traditions down so that the community could continue to follow Jesus after the death of the twelve apostles. Matthew’s gospel therefore offers a particular perspective on Jesus. He interpreted (hermeneutics) the meaning of Jesus’ words and deeds for his time to address the concerns of his community. Matthew warned the followers of Jesus to remain united, to refrain from judging one another, to accept the sinner among them, and to accept a stable structure. Matthew’s is the only gospel in which Jesus speaks of the church. Pg. 89 1. How does Matthew portray Jesus as a teacher? - The gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as a teacher through the beginning of the text which establishes Jesus’ authority to teach. It gives a genealogy of Jesus linking Jesus clearly to two major figures in the story of Israel: Abraham, the father of Judaism, and King David, out of whose house would come the Messiah. The end of Matthew’s gospel tells the story of the risen Jesus instructing his disciples to teach the world about him. The middle of Matthew’s gospel is the story about Jesus the supreme teacher. The time and space between the resurrection of Jesus and “the end of the age” is to be filled with the teaching of Jesus. Matthew’s gospel portrays Jesus as the one who brings the teaching of Moses to perfection. 2. How does Matthew compare Jesus and Moses?  - Matthew compares Jesus to Moses by presenting Jesus as a teacher who fulfills and completes the Torah, or Jewish law, that Moses brought to Israel. While Moses taught the Israelites how to live according to the commandments, Jesus offers a new, more spiritual understanding of the Torah. This new interpretation emphasizes love and inner transformation, encouraging followers to live with the law "written in their hearts" rather than simply following external rules. - Matthew also draws parallels between their lives. Both Moses and Jesus face life-threatening dangers as infants—Moses from Pharaoh, and Jesus from King Herod. In another connection, Joseph and Mary take Jesus to Egypt to escape danger, reversing Moses' story of leaving Egypt to lead the people to freedom. - To further show Jesus as a new Moses, Matthew organizes his Gospel with five major teachings from Jesus, echoing the five books of the Torah. In each of these teachings, Jesus uses the structure, “You have heard that it was said…but I say to you…” (Matthew 5:21-48), which reinterprets and completes the Torah rather than replacing it. By setting up these parallels, Matthew presents Jesus not just as a prophet like Moses but as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s law, teaching a new way that invites people to follow God’s will with love and sincerity. 3. What is he seeking to demonstrate? - In the Gospel of Matthew, the author seeks to demonstrate that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law brought by Moses. By comparing Jesus to Moses, Matthew highlights that Jesus completes and deepens the teachings of the Torah, offering a more spiritual interpretation of the law. He emphasizes Jesus’ authority as a teacher, showing that Jesus teaches with a unique understanding that sets him apart from the religious leaders of the time. While continuing the work of Moses, Jesus also transforms how the law should be understood, focusing on love and personal connection rather than strict adherence to rules. Furthermore, Matthew conveys that Jesus’ teachings are meant for all people, not just the Jewish community, expanding the reach of God’s message. Overall, Matthew illustrates that Jesus is a pivotal figure in God’s plan, bridging the old Jewish traditions with a new way of living.