1	Matthew: Gospel of the Church Matthaean Themes Infant Jesus of Prague April 15, 2005
2	Matthew Reworks Mark
3	Structure of Matthew Benjamin W. Bacon Widely held structure of Matthew pre-1970 Werner Georg Kümmel Jack Dean Kingsbury Widely held structure post-1970
4	Bacon's Structure of Matthew Based on repeated phrase "when Jesus has finished all these sayings," occurring at Matt 7:28 Matt 11:1 Matt 13:53 Matt 19:1 Matt 26:1
5	Bacon's Structure Five Books – New Torah, New Moses Prologue – the Infancy Narrative Ch 1&2 Book 1 – Sermon on Mount 3:1 -7:27 Book 2 – Discipleship Discourse 7:28-10:42 Book 3 – Parables Discourse – 11:1-13:52 Book 4 – Church Order Discourse 13:53-18:35 Book 5 – Eschatological Discourse 19:1-25:46 Epilogue – the Passion Narrative Ch 26-28
6	Kümmel's Structure of Matthew Based also on repeated phrase, "After these things, Jesus began to…." Matt 4:17 Matt 16:21 Sets out a three part structure to Matthew Including Infancy and Passion as integral
7	Kümmel's Structure of Matthew The origin and birth of Jesus the Messiah Matthew 1:1-4:16 The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Messiah Matthew 7:17-16:20 The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah Matthew 16:21-28:20
8	Roman Empire
9	Inquiring minds….. Who is Matthew? Tax collector and apostle Matt 9:9; 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13 Multi-lingual (Aramaic & Greek) early Jewish Christian Not very well versed in Hebrew Trained scribe of Matt 13:52
10	Inquiring Minds…. Who did he write for? Better educated Jews; wealthier Believe in Jesus Argue over the place of the law Where were they located Galilee Antioch in Syria When did he write his Gospel? Late '70s or '80s
11	Matthaean Themes Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises Matthew has special concern for the Church Matthew emphasizes doing over saying Matthew's portrait of Christ Matthew's portrait of the Disciple
12	Jesus as Fulfillment of OT Promises
13	Jesus Fulfills OT Promises Matthew uses the Old Testament Formula Citations "This occurred in order to fulfill the word of the prophet …. Matt 1:22 Isaiah 7:14 Announcement to Joseph Matt 2:15 Hosea 11:1 Flight into Egypt Matt 2:17 Jeremiah 31:15 Innocents Matt 2:23 Isaiah 11:1 Settle in Nazareth Matt 4:14 Isaiah 8:23-9:1 Early Preaching
14	Jesus Fulfils OT Promises Formula Citations Con't Matt 8:17 Isaiah 53:4 Jesus cures Matt 12:17 Isa 42:1-4 Man w/withered hand Matt 13:14 Isa 6:9 Reason for Parables Matt 13:35 Ps 78:2 Parables Matt 21:4 Zech 9:9 Entry to Jerusalem Matt 27:9 Zech 11:13 Death of Judas
15	Matthew – the Ecclesial Gospel Matthew's concern for the church
16	Concern for the Church The Ecclesiastical Gospel Thought to be handbook for future church leaders Only gospel to use the word "church" e)kklhsi/a Matt 16:18 "You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church" Matt 18:17 "if he refuses to listen, tell it to the church"
17	Church Order Discourse Question of "Who is the Greatest?" Lesson on Humility Question of Temptations (the testing) Don’t cause other to sin Don’t be tempter Eliminate what leads to temptation Parable of the Lost Sheep Father wants none to perish
18	Church Order Discourse Fraternal Correction If brother (or sister) sins against you Tell him/her the fault If does not listen, take one or two others Validated by two or three witnesses If still does not listen, take it to the church IF still does not listen, then excommunicate Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.
19	Church Order Discourse Parable of the Unforgiving Servant First major dramatic parable in Matthew Three sections King with indebted servant Indebted servant with fellow servant King with indebted servant
20	Scene 1 Matt 18:23 Opening of Parable Jointed to context by "for this reason" Dia\ tou=to Kingdom of heaven (unknown) is like A man who wished to settle accounts (known) Servants may be high ranking officials in his kingdom
21	Ten Thousand Talents One talent = 15 years wages 10,000 = 150,000 years wages At $50,000 per year The total owed would be $7,500,000,000 At $30,000 per year The total owed would be $4,500,000,000
22	Scene 1 The Servant Reacts Falls to his knees Worships the king "Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything." Multiple lifetimes would not pay the debt There is an irony here Expectation on part of Audience
23	The Verb a)fi/hmi The Greek Verb a)fi/hmi has a double meaning To cancel (usually a debt/loan) To forgive (usually a sin) Thus far a good example of "Ask and you shall receive"
24	One Hundred Denarii A denarius is 1 days wage At 50,000 a days wage would be $200 At 30,000 a days wage would be $125 Thus $200 vs $7,500,000,000 or .0000000026 or .00000026% Or $125 vs 4,500,000,000 or .000000027 or .0000027% In either case it considerably less
25	Church as the New Israel Man plants a vineyard and leases to tenants Time comes for owner to get rent Sent servant for rent tenants take, beat, and send away empty Sent another servant Tenants beat him Master sends Son Tenants take him and kill him Figure that the inheritance will be theirs
26	A Man Planted a Vineyard Conditions for encounter Owner leaving vineyard in care of others Departure Therefore accounting Matt and Mark see vineyard as Israel Midrash on Isa 5:2-3
27	Isa 5:2-3 Let me sing for my beloved a love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He digged it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.
28	Matthew’s Rendition Matthew had one day of teaching Jesus (legitimate teacher of God’s will) challenger teachers of Israel Matthew sees the church as the true Israel vs Judaism Dual sending of servants Former Prophets Later prophets Killing of son “Outside” vineyard
29	Matthew’s Rendition Giving of vineyard to those who will “give of fruits” Matthew’s use of e)qnoj which refers to Gentiles rather than la/oj which traditionally referred to Israel Matthew’s audience is Chief priests Pharisees
30	Action vs Words
31	Action vs Words Sermon on the Mount "Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord" shall enter the kingdom of heaven But he who does the will of my father who is in heaven Mt 7:21
32	Action vs Words Sermon on the Mount Hear words and do them = house built on rock Rains, floods, winds come House will not fall Hear words and not do them = house on sand Rains, floods, winds come House fell (no foundation) Great was the fall of it
33	Actions vs Words Parable of the Two Sons A Man had two sons First Scenario Comes to one and says Go and work in the vineyard Son says "I don't want to" BUT later regrets it and goes Second Scenario Comes to other and says the same Second son answers "I will But doesn't go
34	Actions vs Words Matthew adds question Which did the will of the father
35	Textual Tradition
36	Matthew's Setting Immediately preceding is question of Jesus' authority in the temple action Brings up the question of John's Baptism and correspondingly John's ministry The Jewish leaders did not listen to John Tax Collectors and Sinners did repent Jewish leaders forced to convict themselves As we saw in the vineyard parable in Matthew
37	Action vs Words Sheep and Goats Son of Man comes, he will judge All peoples Criterion of judgment Works of charity and mercy shown toward Marginal Poor Suffering Jesus identifies himself with these What is done for them; is done for Jesus People are blessed on basis of what done for those in need
38	The Parable This parable brings us to the Parousia The coming of the Son of Man in glory Son of man comes in glory (do/ca) And all the angels with him He will sit on his glorious throne All nations are gathered
39	The Parable Son of Man will separate them AS shepherd separates sheep from goats The Time for conversion and change is past; not is time of judgment Note Judge changes from Son of Man to King (hence the reference to throne)
40	The Parable Those on the right Come, O blessed of my father Inherit the kingdom prepared for you From the foundation of the world I was hungry; you gave me to eat I was thirsty; you gave me drink I was a stranger; you welcomed me I was naked; you clothed me I was sick; you visited me I was prisoner; you came to me
41	The Parable The Response of those on the right Called the righteous (di/kaioi) When did we See you hungry and feed you See you thirsty and give you drink See you a stranger and welcome you See you naked and clothe you See you sick and visit you See you in prison and come to you
42	The Parable King's Response As often as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers you did it to me The presence of Jesus is found in the sick, hungry, thristy etc. "Just" are "Just" because they cared for these "least" Seeing is not enough; it is seeing coupled with action
43	Matthew's Picture of Jesus
44	Christology in Matthew Jesus is Son of David (infancy narrative) But also Son of God Jesus is Son of Abraham (geneology) Betrays Matthew's Jewish background Jesus is the "new" Moses Cf. Bacon outline, Sermon on the Mount Jesus is "God with us" Emmanuel Note beginning 1:23 and End 28:20
45	Christology in Matthew Jesus is "teacher" of the disciples Cf. Discourse in Chapter 10 on Discipleship Cf. Discourse on Church Order ch 18 Cf. Discourse on Final Days ch 24-25
46	Matthew's Portrait of the Disciple
47	Discipleship in Matthew Disciple should be in right relationship with God Forgive always Lord's Prayer and Parable Live ethically (Golden Rule) Cf. the Sermon on the Mount especially Antitheses Disciple should be Vigilant Faithful and Unfaithful servant (24:45-51)
48	Discipleship in Matthew Disciple should be Prepared Parable of the Marriage Feast (22:1-14) The Ten maidens (25:1-13) Disciples should use what God has given to them The Talents (25:14-29)
49	Conclusion Matthew does not wish to present something totally new He presents the completion of what already is "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them…. Not the smallest letter (y), nor the smallest part of a letter ( b k), will pass from the law until is all is accomplished"