The Gospel of Matthew

CLASS NOTES – THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Background for the Gospel of Matthew

Synoptic (from the Greek meaning similar)

About 80% of the Gospel of Mark appears in Matthew, but half of Matthew’s Gospel does not appear in Mark.

Four Source Hypotheses for Matthew and Luke – Mark, Q, M and L

Material in Matthew not found in Mark:

1.  Infancy stories

2.  Sermons

3.  Two miracles (8:5-13 and 12:22-23)

Target Audience for Matthew – Jews and Gentiles

Major theme – Jesus is the Jewish Messiah (and more!).

Authorship – Historically identified as Matthew the Apostle, but anonymous in the text.

Date – 80-90 AD

Why is Matthew first in the NT? - gospel par excellence for teaching

Outline of the book

Origins and Infancy of Jesus(1-2)

Part One:  Proclamation of the Kingdom

·         Narrative: John the Baptist, baptism of Jesus, temptation, Galilee (3-4)

·         Discourse: Sermon on the Mount (5-7)

Part 2:  Ministry and Mission in Galilee

·         Narrative mixed with short dialogue: nine miracles (8-9)

·         Discourse: Mission Sermon (10)

Part 3:  Questioning of and Opposition to Jesus

·         Narrative setting for teaching and dialogue: Jesus and John the Baptist, woes, thanksgiving, Sabbath, Jesus’ family (11-12)

·         Discourse:  Sermon in Parables (13:1-52)

Part 4:  Jesus and the Church

·         Narrative mixed with much dialogue: feeding the 5,000, walking on water, Pharisees, feeding the 4,000, Peter’s confession, transfiguration, passion predictions (13-17)

·         Dialogue:  Sermon on the church (18)

Part 5:  Journey to and Ministry in Jerusalem

·         Narrative mixed with much dialogue: teaching, judgment parables, passion prediction, Palm Sunday, temple cleansing, conflict with authorities (19-23)

·         Discourse:  End of Times Sermon (24-25)

Climax: Passion, Death and Resurrection (26-28)

Major Themes for Matthew

1.  Fulfillment of OT Scriptures – 2:6, 18

2.  Virgin Birth – 1:18-25. 

3.  Christology (or, “Who is Jesus?”) - Jesus as Son of Man and Son of God, Emmanuel, co-equal with Father and Spirit in 28:19.  Also, Jesus as the fulfillment of Moses and David.

4.  Ecclesiology (or, “What is the church?”) – 16:18-19, 18.  Papacy?

5.  Eschatology” (or, “What happens at the end?”) – 24-25. 

6.  Jesus as an ethical teacher – Sermon on the Mount, etc.  20th Century context?  “Challenge” of the kingdom of God.

Reflection Questions

Reflect on both the miraculous (i.e. the virgin birth) and the ethical (i.e. love your enemies) in Matthew.  Which is more challenging for you, and why?

The early church listed Matthew first in the Gospels because it so powerfully captures the teachings of Jesus, while still preserving his mighty works and his death and resurrection.  What would we lose if we had the teachings of Christ, but not the stories of his mighty power?  What would we lose if we had the stories of his miracles and resurrection, but no records of his instructions?

New Testament Background and the Gospel of Mark

CLASS NOTES – NT BACKGROUND AND THE GOSPEL OF MARK

New Testament Background

1.  Hellenization of Israel – beginning with Alexander the Great in 333 BC.
2.  Roman authority in Israel begins in 63 BC.  Then Herod the Great (king 37-4 BC).
3.  Major groups: Pharisees (rabbis, synagogues, resurrection, all Old Testament), Sadducees (controlled Temple, only Torah, priestly class), Herodians (supporters of Herod’s dynasty)

The New Testament is 27 books, written between 41 AD and around 100 AD, all in Greek.

·      Gospel (literally, “good news”) – a new genre.  Not biography, but history designed to persuade to faith.  Written because of death of apostles and delay of Jesus’ return.
·      Synoptic (literally, “see together”) Gospels – Mark, Matthew, Luke
·      Multiple Gospels – Jesus too big to contain in a single work!

Jesus’ life outline:

Born 4 BC, died/rose around 30 AD.  Ministry between 1 and 3 years.  Christ = Messiah.

The Gospel of Mark

Authorship – Published anonymously, but historically ascribed to John Mark, friend and companion to Peter and Paul.
Date – mid 60s AD

Outline of the book:

1.     1:1 through 8:26 – Ministry of healing and preaching in Galilee
2.     8:27-16:8 (+16:9-20) – Suffering predicted; Death in Jerusalem and Resurrection

Themes in Mark

·      Kingdom of God (15 times)
·      Urgency (“at once”); long on action and short on teaching.  Shortest Gospel
·      Authority and power of Jesus – in conflict with demons and Pharisees (1:1-8:26)
·      Suffering and Victory of Jesus – in conflict with the disciples (8:27-16:20)
·      Messianic Secret (Parables, silencing of the demons and miracle recipients, ending)
·      Jesus’ Passion is the crux – 1/3 of the book is the last week of Jesus’ life

Reflection Questions

What picture do you have from Mark about Jesus?  How is Mark’s Jesus similar or different to the way you typically imagine Jesus?

When Jesus brought the kingdom of God to earth, it had an immediate effect in terms of transformations, miracles, exorcisms, etc.  It also produced intense resistance, ultimately resulting in Jesus’ death.  Where is the kingdom of God manifesting in our world in those same ways?