The Gospel According to Matthew
The New Jerome Biblical Commentary
Dale Maxfield
I. Authorship: Somewhat contrary to what we have learned in class that this is written by the Apostle, Matthew, a relative if Jesus, the JBC says that because it copied so much from Mark, it is improbable that that its present form is the work of an eyewitness apostle. The question is asked why would an eyewitness need to copy from someone who was not? I would respond: to fill in the gaps but my assignment is to outline the JBC so I will do that.
- is considered a mature synthesis
- combines earliest Gospel of Mark and the Q source
- if however, Matthew is the collector of the sayings of Jesus in a collection like Q, then he may have actually begun the Gospel tradition
- as early as 125 A.D. Patristic Father, Papias of Hierapolis, suggests that Matthew compiled a collection of the Aramaic sayings of Jesus
- if not Matthew, the author of the Gospel was at least an early Christian teacher or Church leader
- some feel that this gospel is written for Jewish people who may have been cast outside of Judaism but still considered themselves to be Jewish
- the gospel seems open to the Gentiles but Jewish in tone; perhaps our first “Judeo-Christian” outlook
- Date and Composition: The JBC puts Matthew’s Gospel around 64-69 A.D. and before 110 (again later than what we learned in class.) but even goes as far as to say 80 or 90 A.D.
II. Literary Structure and Content
- the evangelist is a faithful transmitter of traditions of the early Church regarding Jesus and the Christian life and creative in giving new emphases
- Purposes in Writing:
- to instruct and exhort, to provide liturgical and sermon material, to offer a missionary address to outsiders, apologetic and polemics against critics
- he provides 2 broad categories of material: Narratives and Discourses
- primary intent may have been to write a handbook for church leaders to assist them in preaching, worship, mission and polemic; but keeps it focused on Christ and his KINGDOM as the good news of salvation
III. Matthean Theology:
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2 main focuses: Jesus as the Christ and the
- These focuses should not be separated; either focus can be read in the Gospel
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Jesus is royal Son of God and Emmanuel/God with us and
ends with Jesus as the Son of Man, given all authority of the
- The title “Son of God” is of much importance at crucial points of the story like: the baptism, Peter’s confession, the Transfiguration, the trial and the cross
- The title “Son of David” appears 10 times which connotes Jesus as the new Solomon, the healer and wise man
- Jesus speaks as Wisdom incarnate
- The title “Son of Man” runs throughout the Gospel which is based on the mysterious figure in Daniel 7: 13 which also connects with the kingdom theme
- Two other very important characteristics for Matthew are his explicit concern for the Church (not found in the other Gospels) and his special use of the Old Testament
- Although Matthew does not mention deacon, priest or bishop; he does speak of authority figures like Peter, prophets, scribes and sages who share in this authority of Christ
- This authority calls for humility, however; anyone can fall; the church is made up of both saints and sinners
- The Church is called to worldwide mission;
- The Gospel is framed by a covenant formulary in which God is united with his people through Jesus Christ;
- Matthew always want to connect the Old Testament with the New by his use of “fulfillment citations” e.g. “This happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord…”
IV. Conclusion:
- Matthew follows Mark in many areas but supplements his material
- He often uses “inclusios” or bracketing while other times crisscrossing literary elements