Greg Donovan

Matthew

Written by

EvanDonovan

in

Literary Style and Beauty:  Macrostructure

I suggest we can see the whole of Matthew as designed to reflect the whole Old Testament.

  1. Fulfillment of the Five Books of Moses:  Matthew 1:1-7:29
    1. In historical narrative:  Jesus recapitulates creation and experiences of Moses and Israel:  1:1-4:25; He forms the new people of God:  4:17-25.
    2. In teaching:  Jesus gives the new law on the new Sinai: 5:1-7:29.
  2. Fulfillment of the Conquest:  Matthew 8:1-11:1
    1. In historical narrative:  Jesus expands the range of His ministry: 8:1-9:38.
    2. In teaching:  Jesus charges the disciples with their outreach or new conquest:  10:1-11:1.
  3. Fulfillment of the Wisdom Literature:  Matthew 11:2-13:52
    1. In historical narrative:  Jesus acts in the wisdom of God:  1:2-12:50.
    2. In teaching:  Jesus gives the new wisdom in parables:  13:1-52.
  4. Fulfillment of the “Historical Books” or Fulfillment of the Kingship Narratives (the King as Shepherd of Israel): 13:53-19:2
    1. In historical narrative:  Jesus “feeds the sheep”: 13:53-17:27; note kingship in 17:25.
    2. In teaching:  Jesus teaches about true shepherding:  18:1-19:2; note kingship in 18:23.
  5. Fulfillment of the Prophetical Books:  Matthew 19:3-25:46
    1. In historical narrative:  Jesus gives and illustrates the standards of the kingdom:  19:3-21:22.
    2. In teaching:  Jesus speaks as the prophet of present and final judgment:  21:23-25:46; note final judgment at end of section, 25:46.
  6. Climax fulfillment:  26:1-28:20

Jesus is crucified and raised as the fulfillment of His earthly ministry and as the climax of all OT revelation; concludes with “Great Commission of his continuing kingdom

Literary Style and Beauty:  a sample of Microstructure

Jesus’ Wisdom teaching in parables:  Matthew 13:1-52

  1. Introduction to parables:  13:1-3a
  2. Body: the parables:  13:3b-50
  1. The complex of the parable of the sower: 13:3b-23
    1. Telling the parable of the sower: 13:3b-9
    2. Explaining the parable of the sower: 13:10-23
  2. Three-parable complex on growth of the kingdom:  13:24-43
    1. Three growth parables: 13:24-33
      1. Parable of the weeds:  13:24-30
      2. Parable of the mustard seed:  13:31-32
      3. Parable of the leaven: 13:33
    2. Matthew’s comment of fulfillment in parables:  13:34-35
    3. Explanation of the parable of the weeds:  13:36-43
  3. Three-parable complex on finding:  13:44-50
    1. The parable of the treasure in the field: v.44
    2. The parable of the finest pearl:  13:45-46
    3. The parable of the drag net:  13:47-50
  1. Conclusion:  the scribe skilled in the old and the new: 13:51-52

 

Author and Purpose

            Matthew (also called Levi, Mark 2:14), a Jew but a “sinner” and tax-collector (9:9-13; cf. 18:17), became an apostle (10:3) and wrote this Gospel to the Jews about Jesus as the Messiah (with all the OT meaning of that title), who forgives “debts” (18:21-35, unique to Matthew) because His death forgives the sins of His people (26:28; 1:21).  It is fitting that Matthew is first in the NT because a major aspect of its purpose is to link the NT with the OT (see below).  And among the Gospels, Matthew expounds most on the “basic theme” of the Gospels, which I am calling “Foundation and Kingdom.”

Literary Style/Beauty:  Distinctives of Matthew

  1. This is a “Jewish” Gospel, shown by (1) notes, above, on Author and Purpose, (2) whole structure of the Gospel as fulfillment of OT, (3) many OT prophecies cited as fulfilled, (4) “Jewish” genealogy of Jesus begins the book (ch.1), (5) most phrases are included without explanation (i.e., “tradition of the elders” in 15:2, phylacteries in 23:5, whited sepulchers in 23:27, etc.).
    1. Caveats!  On the other hand, only Gentile Luke includes the Jewish Zaccheus story (Luke 19:1-10), while Jewish Matthew is the only one to include the Gentile magi story (Matthew 2:1-12).
    2. Note the beautiful inclusio in Matthew:  Gentile kings come in ch. 2; all nations are to be disciple at the end of the book, end of ch. 28.
  2. Jewish particularism alongside Gentile inclusion, shown by (1) Jewish law is said to be observed strictly (5:18; 23:2; et. al.), even paying temple tax (17:24-27) (all these unique to Matthew), but Gentiles are the ones who honor Him at His birth and Egypt shields him from “Jewish” king Herod (ch. 2), and (2) vineyard parable (21:33ff) is very anti-Jewish for this Gospel (note v.43, kingdom transferred to Gentiles!), as well as chapter 23 (woes) being very anti-Jewish.
  3. Only Gospel with specific teaching about “the church” (16:16-19; 18:15-20; 28:18-20; note “baptism”).
  4. Most orderly, concise Gospel (many teachings, etc., are arranged in groups of 3, 4, or 5, to aid memory) and was thus most frequently used in church liturgy through the ages.

INQUIRE: Can you find other illustrations of these distinctives or other distinctives?

Commentary:  Foundation and Kingdom

Note:  “Master concepts” like the Person and Work of Christ (=Foundation) and the Results of Who He is and what He does (=Kingdom) are very large (whole books are written about them!) and (I think) are the “basic theme” of the four Gospels.  Because Matthew expounds these in such detail, I shall spend the most space on them in connection with Matthew, and then use the other Gospels to examine other aspects or perspectives on them.  Once you see how I do this with Matthew, I shall leave some things in the other Gospels for the INQUIRE challenge of this study!

Beauty of the Lord

Foundation

The Person and Work (Word and Deed Revelation) of Jesus = Foundation

  1. Person
  1. In context of the Trinity:  Jesus is the Son of God (1:18-25; 3:16-17; 17:5, 28:19, “name” singular!)
  2. Name of Jesus:  means YHWH (Yahweh) saves (1:21)
  3. Jesus is the Rock (=Foundation!) (16:18 Greek; 1 Cor. 3:11 Greek; OT:  God is the Rock)
  4. List of Matthew’s citations of OT concerning Jesus as Messiah, in many aspects:

1:22-23; 2:5-6, 15, 17-18, 23; 3:3; 4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 12:38-42; 13:24-25, 35; 16:21; 21:4-5; 26:21-24, 31, 54; 27:9-10, 46 (19 total).

INQUIRE: What is each of these about and what is the picture of Jesus overall?

  1. Name, as titles:

Son of David:  1:1, 20; 2:2; 9:27; 20:30-31; 12:23; 15:22; 21:9, 15 (note “King of Jews” in v.5); 22:41f., bridge to concept of Divine-human Messiah, as in next title:

Son of God: 1:23 with 28:19 and 27:54 (inclusio style); 2:15; 3:17; 11:27; 17:5.

Son of Man:  Divine significance of this title clear in Jesus’ self-understanding from 26:63-64; in Matthew it is Jesus’ favorite self-description, for example:  8:20; 9:6; 12:8, 32, 40; 13:41; 16:13, 27-28; 17:9, 22; 18:11; 19:28 (note juxtaposition of glory and humiliation when combining these texts!); key OT background is Daniel 7:13-14; NT emphasis on the humanity of the Person with this title in Rev. 1:13 and in 1 Cor. 15:45 (last Adam) fits perfectly with Jesus’ understanding of Himself as that very special Human Who was also the Son of God (Virgin-birth theme, 1:23, fits with Rev. 12:5).

  1. Work of Christ (Word and Deed Revelation)
  1. In context of basic doctrines taught in Matthew (not unique to Matthew):

Virgin birth (ch. 1), substitutionary atonement (20:28 key; 26:28, 56), bodily resurrection (12:38-40; 16:21; 26:32; ch. 28), and second coming and final judgment (16:27-28; chapters 24-25; 26:29).

  1. Teaching, as related to proof as Messiah (12:17-21; Jesus as New Moses in Sermon on the Mount; Jesus as greater Solomon in parables, and note 12:42 in wisdom context).
  2. Miracles of physical healing (many examples), as related to proof as Messiah (8:16-17).
  3. Power over sins (forgiveness) and over Satan (defeating him)

INQUIRE:  you find the proofs in Matthew!

  1. Name, as character qualities (illustrated in actions and life-situations):

Scheme:  use the Beatitudes (Mt. 5) as those character qualities:

  1. Poor in spirit:
    1. 3:13-15: Jesus’ attitude as He comes to be baptized; so His is all the kingdom: the Father praises Him (v. 17), not His own mouth.
    2. 13:53-58:  He did not defend Himself; His are the kingdom miracles to give or withhold.
    3. 27:38:  willing to die with criminals; note uttermost non-self-assertion as background, 26:53; so, from His death comes the kingdom, 28:18-20, cf. Isaiah 53:11.
  2. Mourn:
    1. 1:19-20:  Joseph, being righteous, mourned (has his most pure Mary sinned?!); but God comforted him with a special revelation and he obeyed (vv. 24-25).
    2. 9:15:  to fast/mourn absence/long for Jesus is good; comfort will be His coming again.  More longing now; more joy then.
    3. 26:6-13:  Mary of Bethany (note Luke 10:38-42) “mourns” Him as she anoints Him foor burial; she is comforted by His praise.
  3. Gentle:
    1. 2:11:  humble Babe receives wealth and worship of Gentile magi, picture of how He will inherit the earth; cf. Ps. 2:7-8; Rev. 5.
    2. 11:29:  He knows Himself; note 24:36 (Jesus, in the days of His flesh, knew His limits); and, so, He will inherit the earth when the Father says it is time.
    3. 26:39, 42, 44:  submissive to the yoke (cf. drinking the cup) in prayer; so, through His death, He inherits all (Phil. 2:8-11).

INQUIRE: Using the rest of the Beatitudes in this way, find the character qualities of the Lord Jesus (His beauty!) in other examples in Matthew (and in other Gospels).

Concluding note:  Jesus has the mysterious beauty of being without natural beauty (Is. 53)!

Kingdom

The Kingdom of God is based on the Person and Work of Christ, or, we could say, the Kingdom is the result or fruit of the Person and Work of Christ.  Here we will survey some of the aspects of the Kingdom in Matthew (all references which are only numbers) and examples of confirming passages elsewhere.

  1.  Kingdom of God (=heaven) basic to preaching/ gospel of Jesus;

Matthew 3:2 (John the Baptist as forerunner); 4:17, 23; 9:35; 24:14; and all “kingdom” references, as in chapters 5-7 and in parables.

  1. Relation of the Kingdom to time (mysterious):
    1. was present before the coming of Christ: 8:11; 21:43 (also, after earthly life of Christ, since this verse speaks of transfer of kingdom to Gentiles who will believe in Christ and produce the fruit He wants; confirm: Luke 13:26-30).
    2. became real in the historical ministry of Jesus:  11:11-13; 12:28 (perfect tense, “has come”). Confirm: Mark 1:15; Luke 4:18 (perfect tense, “has come to fulfillment”); Luke 11:20; and very strong in Luke 17:20-21, unique to Luke.
    3. is now a reality in the church: 16:18-19; parables in ch. 13; 18:23ff, and others (confirm:  Luke 12:32) (this means the kingdom is “already” here).
    4. is still a future reality:  13:43; 19:28-30 (does not use the word “kingdom” but the concept is clearly there); 20:21; all of chapter 25 (yet still connected to how we live today); 26:29 (this means the kingdom is “not yet” here).
    5. mysteries: 11:11; 16:28; Luke 23:42-43; many other passages; actually, all kingdom parables are deep mysteries.
  2. Nature of the Kingdom:
  3. Spiritual reality: 5:3, 10 (and all in between); confirm: Romans 14:17.
  4. Entered by repentance (4:17; confirm: Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38) and by faith (8:10-11; confirm:  Acts 16:30-31; Rom. 5:1.  Confirm both repentance and faith:  Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21, note “kingdom” in v.25) and (I think related to faith and repentance) entered by greater righteousness (5:20).
  5. Deeper basis for entering the Kingdom:  regeneration (John 3:3, 5)
  6. Belongs to those like children:  19:14.
  7. Hard to enter:  19:23-26; cf. 7:13-14, 21-23.
  8. To be continually sought:  6:10, 33.

INQUIRE:  Find more texts in Matthew (and the rest of the NT) which relate to the points above and expand further the Biblical idea of the Kingdom, with supporting texts.

A summary:  the Kingdom of God is the realization (incarnation) of the eternal, universal reign (dominion) of God.  Realized in Jesus (John 1:14, 17) and realized in His true people, in their actual lives (Psalm 110:3; Romans 14:17!).

SOLI DEO GLORIA

More posts