Notes on Matthew PDF

The Gospel According to Matthew (Backgrounds) “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Mt 27:37) Significance of GMatt: GMatt is the only Gospel to mention: The story of the magi after Jesus’ birth (2:1-23)... The Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:29)… including th...

The Gospel According to Matthew (Backgrounds) “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Mt 27:37) Significance of GMatt: GMatt is the only Gospel to mention: The story of the magi after Jesus’ birth (2:1-23)... The Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:29)… including the Beatitudes (5:3-12), the Lord’s Prayer (6:9-13), and the Golden Rule (7:12)... The Great Commission (28:19-20)... GMatt is the most Jewish of the 4 Gospels… GMatt was the favorite Gospel in the early church… GMatt was always placed first in collections of the four Gospels… Historical Backgrounds of GMatt: Author: Matthew?... or a disciple of Matthew?... an unknown Jewish-Christian?... Technically, anonymous (see Matt 9:9; 10:3 where “Matthew” is mentioned but not identified as the author in any kind of way) Acc. to church tradition (Papias): Matthew wrote first (???) and in Hebrew (???) Maybe Matthew wrote a doc that was used as a source for our GMatt?... Matthew as a person: tax-collector (only in Mt 9:9; 10:3); son of Alphaeus (bro of James, son of Alphaeus?)... Levi (not Matthew) is the name in Mk 2:14; Lk 5:27... Recipients: maybe Antioch of Syria?... Target audience seems urban & Jewish... so maybe Antioch of Syria? Alexandria, Egypt? Very Jewish… but the Greek version (LXX) of OT is quoted, not the Hebrew... Ignatius of Antioch (ca. 110 CE) and Didache (ca. early 100s) are familiar with GMatt... GMatt was popular among Jewish-Christians such as the “Ebionites” and “Nazarenes”... other Jewish-Christian gospels similar to GMatt later circulated in these circles which are no longer extant today (“Gospel of the Hebrews,” “Gospel of the Nazarenes,” etc.)... Date: 70-90 CE?... After GMark (~70 CE)... but before Ignatius of Antioch (ca. 110 CE)... Apocalyptic “inbreaking” sounds both imminent (Mt 10:23)... and yet in the distant future (Mt 24:14)... destruction of Jerusalem seems to be in the past (Mt 22:7)... Written in a context of tension between Christian communities & Jewish synagogues... Sources: Definitely, Gospel of Mark... Also, special “Matthean material” (sometimes called “M”)... ~20% of GMatt is unique... Possibly, a collection of Jesus’ sayings/teachings (aka, “Q”)... Structure: GMatt has three very noticeable overlapping patterns of structure: Geographical structure based on GMark: Preliminary events in/around Judea (Mt 1:1-4:11; cf. Mk 1:1-13) Jesus’ ministry in/around Galilee (Mt 4:12-18:35; cf. Mk 1:14-9:50) Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (Mt 19:1-20:34; cf. Mk 10:1-52) Jesus’ death in Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-28:15; cf. Mk 11:1-16:8) Transitional structure based on two key transitional statements (4:17; 16:21): Preliminary events including: Jesus’ ancestry, infancy, baptism, and temptations (Mt 1:1-4:16) Transition: “From that time on, Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Mt 4:17) Public ministry including: Jesus’ mighty deeds, teachings, and controversy (Mt 4:17-16:12) Transition: “From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things... and be killed, and... be raised.” (Mt 16:21) Rejection and death including: Jesus’ predictions, journey, suffering, death, and resurrection (Mt 16:13-28:20) Five large sermons, all with the same concluding statements: “When Jesus had finished these sayings...” (Mt 7:28-29; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1-2; 26:1) (1) Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) (2) Sending of the Twelve (Mt 10:5-42) (3) Parables of the Kingdom (Mt 13:1-52; cf. Mk 4) (4) Sermon on Humility & Forgiveness (Mt 18:1-35) (5) Olivet Discourse (Matt 24-25; cf. Mk 13) Christology: Jesus in GMatt (above & beyond GMark): Jesus is miraculously born as the son of God (Mt 1:18-25) Jesus is said to be “Immanuel” = “God with us” (Mt 1:23) Jesus is publicly announced as the “son of God” at his baptism (“This is my son...” in Mt 3:17) Jesus is worshipped as God (Mt 2:11; 14:33; 28:9,17)... only God is worshipped (Mt 4:10)... Jesus is challenged as the “son of God” in his temptations (Mt 4:1-11) Jesus is proclaimed to be “son of God” at key moments (Mt 14:33; 16:15-20; 27:54) Jesus is explicitly granted divine authority over all things (Mt 11:27; 28:18)... Jesus is equal with Father & Holy Spirit (see Trinitarian statement in 28:19)... and GMatt does not include GMark’s refs to the “one God” (cf. Mk 2:7; 10:18; 12:29)... Jesus’ ancestry from David is emphasized (1:1-17; “son of David” 10x in GMatt; etc) GMatt uses titles for Jesus much more often than GMark, such as “Christ” (14x in GMatt)... and even “King of the Jews” at Jesus’ birth (Mt 2:2). Jewish Things in GMatt (above & beyond GMark): Usage of the Jewish scriptures (OT) in GMatt: GMatt explicitly quotes the OT fulfilled 19x (Mt 1:22-23; 2:5-6; 15, 17-18, 23; 3:3; 4:13 16; 11:10; 12:17-21; 13:14-15, 35; 15:7-9; 21:4-7, 13, 16, 42; 22:43-44; 26:31; 27:9)... the Greek OT (LXX) is quoted, not the Hebrew (cf. Mt 1:22-23; Isa 7:14 LXX)... Jesus in GMatt interprets the OT independently of the Jewish scribes (Mt 5:17-48; 7:28-29)... AND Jesus authorizes his followers with the privilege to interpret the OT... “binding” and “loosing” (Mt 16:19; 18:18) = to declare an OT law is applicable or inapplicable to a situation... Jesus in GMatt emphasizes mercy (Mt 9:13; 12:7; 23:23; cf. Hosea 6:6) and love (22:37-38), not regulations & rituals... Jewish expressions in GMatt “Kingdom of heaven” (32/37 times) instead of “kingdom of God”... circumlocution for “God” Jesus’ genealogy (Mt 1:1-17): traced to Abraham... through Judean descendants of David... in 3 groups of 14 generations (based on the numeric value of the name David = 14)... Peter (leader among Jewish-Christians) figures even more prominently in GMatt than GMark (Mt 14:28-31; 16:17-19; 17:24-27; 18:21-22)... Hostility toward Jewish Leaders in GMatt: All Jewish leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, chief priests, elders) are always portrayed negatively in GMatt… Scathing criticism of Jewish leaders as “hypocrites” in the “7 Woes” (Mt 23:1-36)... The “Blood Curse” blames Jewish leaders for the death of Jesus (Mt 27:22-25)... Destruction of Jerusalem (70 CE) is blamed on Jewish leaders (Mt 22:7; 23:34-38)... Distancing from “their” scribes (Mt 7:29) and “their” synagogues (4:23; 10:17; 13:54)... Tension between Jesus & Jewish leaders mirrors the escalating tension between early Christians & the Jewish synagogue in the decades after the destruction of Jerusalem (see Mt 28:15)… Discipleship in GMatt: “Church” context (Mt 16:18; 18:17)… GMatt is the only Gospel to use the word “church”... Emphasis on inner purity of the heart (Mt 5:8) and private devotion to God (Mt 6:1-13)... Hypocrisy and empty rituals are condemned (Mt 5:20; 7:3-5; 23:1-36)... Emphasis on actively “doing the will of God” (Mt 7:21)... and care for those in need (Mt 25:31-46)... Emphasis on mercy (Mt 9:13; 12:7; 23:23; cf. Hosea 6:6) and love (22:37-38), not regulations & rituals... Doubt (Mt 14:31; 28:17) and fear (Mt 14:26; 17:7; 28:8) occurs at key moments... but the “seed of faith” (Mt 13:23; 17:20) grows to maturity... the disciples are often labeled as people of “little faith” (Mt 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20)... Expectation to make disciples of “all nations/Gentiles”... by baptizing and teaching (Mt 28:18-20)...  The Gospel According to Matthew (Content) “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Mt 27:37) Mt & Lk include 3 big things above & beyond Mark: birth, teachings, resurrection appearances Title: “Book of the origin of Jesus, the Christ, son of David, son of Abraham” (Mt 1:1). The Beginning according to GMatt: Infancy Narratives (Matthew chaps 1-2) In NT, only Mt & Lk say anything about Jesus’ birth... and only in their opening 2 chaps... but they don’t describe the same events. Matthew describes after Jesus was born, magi come from the east to a house... Luke describes the day of Jesus’ birth when angels appear to shepherds and they come to the manger scene. Mt 1-2 & Lk 1-2 is unique material in each. The genealogy of Jesus (Mt 1:1-17; cf. Lk 3:23-38)... traced through David to Abraham... Four (or five) women included! (1:3, 5, 6, 16)... Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary... 3 groups of 14 descendants (1:17)... based on the numeric value of “David” In GMatt, God uses dreams to speak to Joseph (1:20; 2:13, 19, 22) and the magi (2:12)... Mary was “betrothed” to Joseph (1:18-25) in Bethlehem (no mention of Nazareth til later)... Magi from the east follow a star... inquire of Herod the Great... go to Bethlehem... give gold, frankincense, myrrh (cf. Isa 60:1-6)... and worship Jesus... Joseph, Mary, Jesus flee to Egypt... Herod slaughters infants of Bethlehem... After Herod dies, they go from Egypt to Nazareth... since Herod’s son ruled Jerusalem area GMatt emphasizes Jewish scriptures fulfilled with the events of Jesus’ birth... regarding: virgin (Isa 7:14 LXX), Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), Egypt (Hosea 11:1b), weeping (Jer 31:15), and Nazarene (unknown quote, but maybe the “branch/netzer” in Isa 11:1?) Early episodes of Jesus’ ministry (Matthew chaps 3-4): The baptism of Jesus (3:1-17): Mt closely follows Mk, except Matthew includes: John’s preaching about repentance (3:7-12)... John’s objection (3:14-15): Why was Jesus baptized by John instead of vice versa?... The heavenly voice speaks publicly about Jesus in third-person (3:17): “This is my son...” The temptations of Jesus in the Judean wilderness (4:1-11)... after 40 days... challenging Jesus as to what kind of messiah he will be. Mk didn’t describe the temptations, Mt & Lk do: To turn stones to bread (4:1-4)... To jump from the pinnacle of the temple (4:5-7)... To receive the kingdoms of the world (4:8-11)... Jesus’ ministry begins in Galilee (4:12-25): Capernaum seems to be Jesus’ “homebase” for ministry (4:13)... in Galilee (Mt 4:14-16; Isa 9:1-2)... Five Big Sermons in Matthew: ❶ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) ❷ Sending of the Twelve (Matthew 10) ❸ Parables of the Kingdom (Matthew 13; cf. Mark chap 4) ❹ Sermon on Humility and Forgiveness (Matthew 18) ❺ Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25; cf. Mark 13) (1) The Sermon on the Mount (chaps 5-7): The Beatitudes (“Blessed are...”) (5:3-12)... Metaphors: disciples are to be salt of the earth and light of the world (5:13-16) The “Six Antitheses” (5:17-48) as Jesus interprets the Torah... “You’ve heard it said... but I say unto you...” Regarding murder & anger (5:21-26)... Regarding adultery & lust (5:27-30)... Regarding divorce & immorality (5:31-32)... Regarding vows & truthfulness (5:33-37)... Regarding retaliation & forgiveness (5:38-42)... Regarding neighbors & enemies (5:43-48)... Avoid publicizing your spirituality (6:1-18) regarding... Giving (6:2-4)... Praying (6:5-15)... and the Lord’s Prayer (6:9b-13) Fasting (6:14-18)... Treasure in heaven, not earth (6:19-34)... compare the birds of the air & lilies of the field “Seek first God’s kingdom... and all these things [necessities] will be added to you” (6:33) Active obedience (7:1-27) regarding... Not judging (7:1-6)... Praying (7:7-11)... The Golden Rule: Do unto others (7:12)... The difficult, narrow way (7:13-14)... Wolves vs. Sheep... Good trees & bad fruit (7:15-20)... Doing God’s will (7:21-23)... Hearers & Doers: The Parable of the House on the Rock (7:24-27) (2) Sending of the Twelve (Mt 10:5-42): Sent only to Israel (10:5)... to preach, heal, cast out demons (10:7-8a)... Limitations regarding travel and support (10:8b-13)... Opposition (10:14-16)... Apocalyptic imminency (10:17-25, esp. v. 22-23)... (3) Parables of the Kingdom (Mt 13:1-52; cf. Mark 4) Parable of the Sower and 4 Soils (Mt 13:1-9; cf. Mk 4:1-9)... Reason for the secrecy of parables (Mt 13:10-17)... Interpretation of the Parable of the Sower and the 4 Soils (Mt 13:18-23; cf. Mk 4:13-20)... Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Mt 13:24-30)... Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mt 13:31-32; cf. Mk 4:30-32)... Parable of the Yeast (Mt 13:33)... Interpretation of the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Mt 13:36-43)... Parable of the Hidden Treasure in a Field (Mt 13:44)... Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Mt 13:45)... Parable of the Net in the Sea (Mt 13:47-50)... Parable of Treasures New and Old (Mt 13:51-52)... (4) Sermon on Humility & Forgiveness (Mt 18:1-35): Regarding greatness (Mt 18:1-5)... be “child-like” (humble, honest, innocent, trusting) Regarding temptations & stumbling (Mt 18:6-9)... Parable of the 100 Sheep (Mt 18:10-14; cf. Lk 15:3-7)... Correcting a brother (Mt 18:15-20)... “church discipline”... Regarding forgiveness (Mt 18:21-22) = unlimited forgiveness, not 3x, nor 77x (or 70 x 7)... Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (18:23-35) = reciprocity in forgiveness to others... (5) Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25; cf. Mark 13) Setting: Mount of Olives opposite the Temple (Mt 24:1-3; cf. Mk 13:1-4)... False messiahs and turmoil (Mt 24:4-8; cf. Mk 13:5-8) Opposition to the Good News (Mt 24:9-14; cf. Mk 13:9-13) The “Abomination of Desolation” (Mt 24:15-25; cf. Mk 13:14-23; Lk 21:20-24) = Roman desecration and destruction of Temple and Jerusalem (70 CE)... Coming of the Son of Man at the end of the age (Mt 24:26-31; cf. Mk 13:24-27) Timing and Preparedness (Mt 24:32-36; cf. Mk 13:28-37) Matthean material in Olivet Discourse beyond GMark 13: Suddenness as in Noah’s Days (Mt 24:37-41)... Suddenness as a Thief (Mt 24:42-44)... Suddenness as a Returning Master (Mt 24:45-51)... Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Mt 25:1-13) = Be prepared! Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30) = Be productive! Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Mt 25:31-46) = Be compassionate! Other teachings in Matthew: Marriage and divorce (Mt 19:1-12; cf. Mk 10:1-12)... “except immorality” (also Mt 5:32) Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Mt 20:1-16)... first shall be last, last first... Parable of the Two Sons (Mt 21:28-32)... Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Mt 22:1-14; cf. Lk 14:16-24)... Seven Woes/Curses against Scribes and Pharisees as “Hypocrites” (Mt 23:1-36)... Matthew’s Passion Narrative (Matthew 26-28) GMatt follows GMark’s Passion Narrative closely... much more closely than Luke follows Mark... Above and beyond GMark, Matthew uniquely mentions: The death of Judas Iscariot by hanging (Mt 27:3-10; cf. Acts 1:15-20)... because Judas regrets what he did... GMatt indicating Jesus’ innocence! Pilate’s wife and her dream (27:19)... GMatt indicating Jesus’ innocence! Pilate washes his hands... and the Judean “blood curse” (27:24-25)... again, Jesus’ innocence! Earthquake, tombs opened, and dead raised (27:51-53) = Nearness of end! The guards at the tomb of Jesus (27:62-66; 28:11-15)... Risen Jesus meets the women disciples as they were leaving the empty tomb (28:9-10)... Risen Jesus meets 11 disciples on a mtn in Galilee & gives “Great Commission”... to make disciples of all nations/Gentiles, baptizing & teaching (28:16-20; cf. Mk 14:28; 16:7)...  EARLY CHRISTIAN WRITERS DESCRIBE THE WRITING OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL 1. Papias Expositions of Oracles of the Lord (ca. 130) in Eusebius (ca. 325) Church History 3.39.15: “So then Matthew wrote [compiled? composed? arranged?] the oracles [the sayings? OT testimonia? the Gospel?] in the Hebrew language [Aramaic language? Hebrew literary style?] and every one interpreted [translated? transmitted?] them as he was able.”1 2. Justin Martyr Dialogue with Trypho 103 (ca. 150)2: Justin quotes a variant form of Matt. 3:17 and 4:9, 10 and states that this “is recorded in the memoirs of the apostles.” (103) Justin states, “and these words are recorded in the memoirs,” and then quotes Matt. 5:20. (105) Justin states “it is written in the memoirs” and then quotes Matt. 12:38. (106) 3. Irenaeus Against Heresies 3.1.1 (ca. 180): “Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect,...”3 4. An Ancient Prologue [the so-called “Anti-Marcionite Prologues”] (ca. 160-180): {{none}} 5. Muratorian Fragment (ca. 170-180): (The Muratorian Fragment is lacunose regarding Matthew.) 6. Clement of Alexandria Hypotyposis (ca. 200) in Eusebius (ca. 325) Church History 6.14.5-6: “‘The Gospels containing the geneaologies [i.e., Matthew and Luke],’ he [Clement] says, ‘were written first.’”4 7. Tertullian Against Marcion 4.2 (ca. 205): “We lay it down as our first position, that the evangelical Testament has apostles for its authors, to whom was assigned by the Lord Himself this office of publishing the gospel. Since, however, there are apostolic men also, they are yet not alone, but appear with apostles after apostles;... Of the apostles, therefore, John and Matthew first instill faith unto us; whilst of apostolic men, Luke and Mark renew it afterwards.”5 8. Origen Commentary on Matthew (ca. early 200s) in Eusebius Church History 6.25.5: “I have learned by tradition that the first [gospel] was written by Matthew, who was once a publican, but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ, and it was prepared for the converts from Judaism, and published in the Hebrew language.’”6 1 Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, eds. A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, vol. 1: Eusebius. 2 Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds. The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1: The Apostolic Fathers, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus. 3 Ibid. 4 Schaff and Wace, eds. 5 Roberts and Donaldson, vol. 3: Tertullian. 6 Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, eds. A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, vol. 1: Eusebius. 9. Eusebius Church History 3.24.5-6 (ca. 325): “Nevertheless, of all the disciples of the Lord, only Matthew and John have left us written memorials, and they, tradition says, were led to write only under the pressure of necessity. For Matthew, who had at first preached to the Hebrews, when he was about to go to other peoples, committed his Gospel to writing in his native tongue, and thus compensated those whom he was obliged to leave for the loss of his presence.”7 10. Jerome Preface to Commentary on Matthew (ca. 398) “The first evangelist is Matthew, the publican, who was surnamed Levi. He published his Gospel in Judaea in the Hebrew language, chiefly for the sake of Jewish believers in Christ, who adhered in vain to the shadow of the law, although the substance of the Gospel had come.”8 11. Jerome Lives of Illustrious Men 3 (ca. 398) “Matthew, also called Levi, apostle and aforetimes publican, composed a gospel of Christ at first published in Judea in Hebrew for the sake of those of the circumcision who believed, but this was afterwards translated into Greek though by what author is uncertain. The Hebrew itself has been preserved until the present day in the library at Caesarea which Pamphilus so diligently gathered. I have also had the opportunity of having the volume described to me by the Nazarenes of Beroea, a city of Syria, who use it. In this it is to be noted that wherever the Evangelist, whether on his own account or in the person of our Lord the Savior quotes the testimony of the Old Testament he does not follow the authority of the translators of the Septuagint but the Hebrew. Wherefore these two forms exist ‘Out of Egypt have I called my son,’ and ‘for he shall be called a Nazarene.’”9 12. Chrysostom Homilies on Matthew 1.7 (ca. 400) “Of Matthew again it is said, that when those who from amongst the Jews had believed came to him, and besought him to leave to them in writing those same things, which he had spoken to them by word, he also composed his Gospel in the language of the Hebrews.”10 7 Ibid. 8 Schaff and Wace, eds., Second Series, vol. 6: St. Jerome. 9 Schaff and Wace, eds., Second Series, vol. 3: St. Theodoret, Jerome, Gennadius, Rufinus. 10 Philip Schaff, ed., A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series, vol. 10: Saint Chrysostom.