Lecture 3 ECEC 29 Dec 21 - HO PDF

New Testament English Christian Education Course In the last session  The 4 living Creatures  The Synoptic Gospel Vs. St. John’s  Genealogy of Jesus Christ.  COMPARISONS OF THE FOUR GOSPEL St. St. Mark St. Luke St. John...

New Testament English Christian Education Course In the last session  The 4 living Creatures  The Synoptic Gospel Vs. St. John’s  Genealogy of Jesus Christ.  COMPARISONS OF THE FOUR GOSPEL St. St. Mark St. Luke St. John Matthew Symbol Man Lion Ox Eagle Culture of The whole the Jews Romans Greeks world original (Church) readers Prominent Power – Grace – Fulfil the Glory - Perform Save Idea Law Divinity Miracles Humanity Divine Portrait of Perfect – Servant of Son – Jesus as King Son of mankind Incarnated a Man Word  Genealogy of Christ Matthew 1:1-16 Luke 3:23-38. 4 Genealogy in St. Matthew Genealogy in St. Luke i. Starts from Abraham to i. Starts from Jesus till Jesus (Speaking to Adam (opposite Jews) – descending to save us. direction = ascending ii. It stresses the fact that after Baptism) He was the son of ii. Total 78 names David. (elongated) reaching iii. It also stresses that Adam because Jesus was the speaking to the fulfillment of prophecy. nations. iv. Mentioned 4 women (3 of them were sinners) iii. Adam son of God.. iv. It stresses the real humanity of Jesus. Genealogy by both the Evangelists was an answer to the starting Gnostic believes against the human nature of Christ 5  NT - Homework # 2 “The barriers are going down” In Christ genealogy according to St. Matthew; Who are the 4 women mentioned in Christ’s genealogy? Why are there women in Christ’s genealogy? Reflect on this, thinking about the barriers put by the Jews at that time… Homework 2 Answers Women in Christ’s genealogy  St. Matthew included women in his genealogy of Christ. It was not customary for Jews to include women in their records.  Even Matthew included some women who had disreputable histories. The women included were: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. 8  The barriers are down (i) The barrier between Jew and Gentile is down. -- Rahab, the woman of Jericho, and Ruth, the woman of Moab, find their place within the pedigree of Jesus Christ. -- In Christ there is neither Jew or Greek. Here, at the very beginning, there is the universalism of the gospel and of the love of God. 9  (ii) The barriers between male and female are down  In no ordinary pedigree would the name of any woman be found; but such names are found in Jesus’ pedigree.  The men and women stand equally dear to God, and equally important to His purposes. 10  (iii) The barrier between saint and sinner is down.  “I am not come,” said Jesus, “to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13). 11 English Christian Education Course The Gospel St. Mathew Today’s Points….  Life of St. Mathew and his call  To Whom did he write? And Why?  Characteristics of the Gospel according to St. Mathew.  The Sermon on the Mountain  The Writer  His name was Levi which in Hebrew means: joined. Mathew means gift of Jehovah, He was the son of Alphaeus (other person than James’ father).  He was a Jewish from Galilee, & he was the chief tax collector at Capernaum , collecting taxes for Herod & the Romans , that’s why they were greatly hated by the Jewish who considered them as traitors.  Later on St. Matthew preached in Ethiopia, Persia & some other places & was martyred for the sake of Christ.  (Synaxarium, Babah the 12th.). His Call As Jesus passed by Mathew’s Office He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left everything & followed Him. See: Mat. 9: 9, Mark 2:14 & Luke 5: 27, 28.  Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house & invited his fellow tax collectors to get acquainted with Jesus. From that time on Mathew followed Jesus & became one of the 12 disciples.  St. Matthew was very humble, he mentioned his name always related to his previous title – tax collector- admitting his past sinful life, he also used to put his name after St. Thomas not before him as the other Gospels. Written to the Jews …. 1. The genealogy of Christ : Abraham the father of the Hebrews and the Davidic Kingdom. 2. The flight of Christ to Egypt: a continuation of the traditional history of the Israelites. 3. Quoting & referring a lot to the O.T. 4. Put emphasis on the situations that involves the traditions, rites, rituals of the Jews & Christ reaction to them. 5. He did not explain the meaning of the Aramaic words he wrote, because he is writing to people who use this same language e.g. “Raca” in (5:22), which is a word of strong abuse meaning empty headed or fool, & “Korban” in (5:23) i.e. (gift.) 6. He was keen to portray the N.T. a fulfillment &completion of the O.T.  Purpose ?! 1-Dogmatic Purpose: Introducing Christ the Anticipated Messiah foretold by the prophets to reign over David’s Kingdom & in Whom all the prophesies & promises of the O.T. are fulfilled. 2-Apologistic Purpose: Defending Christ & Christianity against the Jewish claims & plots, so he detailed Christ’s virginal birth from virgin Mary, Christ’s triumphal Resurrection & the bribe given to the guards by the Jewish leaders to deny the Resurrection. 3-Liturgical Purpose: to be read during the early Christian Liturgical Worship, proving that by the clarity, concision, consistency, & balanced style.  Jewish Christian Study …  “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying.” …  The Kingdom of God (46)  “…The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests & to the scribes & they will condemn Him to death.”  St. Mathew’s Focus 1-The Gospel of the kingdom of God 2- Ecclesiastical Aspect (Starting His Church) 3-Eschatological Aspect (Eschatos = Last) Prepare the church for the 2nd coming. Ch. 24, about the signs of the end ages & in Ch.25 gives us a great parables about the Kingdom of Heaven & us meeting Him on clouds & being with Him for ever 4- Christ in the Gospel is Christ (the Heavenly King)  Is by far the largest of our Lord teachings.  A contrast between the righteousness of the O.T. & that of the N.T.  The law of the kingdom of heaven compared to & fulfilling the law of Mosses in The O.T. Jesus said in His Sermon Sermon on on the Mountain: “Do not the think that I came to destroy the Law or the Mountain Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” In (5:17).  St. Matthew concluded his gospel by a very peculiar statement about the Risen Christ saying to His disciples: “All authority has been given to me in heaven & on earth, go therefore & make disciples of all the nations.” (Mat.28:18, 19). Who is this one who has every authority in heaven & on earth? He is Christ the King of kings & the Lord of lords. Amen. God Bless You