Gospel of Matthew Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Structure and content== ===Structure: narrative and discourses=== Matthew, alone among the gospels, alternates five blocks of narrative with five of discourse, marking each off with the phrase "When Jesus had finished"{{sfn|Turner|2008|p=9}} (see [[Five Discourses of Matthew]]). Some scholars see in this a deliberate plan to create a parallel to the first five books of the Old Testament; others see a three-part structure based around the idea of Jesus as [[Messiah]], a set of weekly readings spread out over the year, or no plan at all.{{sfn|Davies|Allison|1988|pp=59β61}} Davies and Allison, in their widely used commentary, draw attention to the use of "triads" (the gospel groups things in threes),{{sfn|Davies|Allison|1988|pp=62ff}} and [[Richard Thomas France|R. T. France]], in another influential commentary, notes the geographic movement from [[Galilee]] to Jerusalem and back, with the post-resurrection appearances in Galilee as the culmination of the whole story.{{sfn|France|2007|pp=2ff}} === Prologue: genealogy, Nativity and infancy (Matthew 1β2) === {{Main|Genealogy of Jesus|Nativity of Jesus}} The Gospel of Matthew begins with the words "The Book of Genealogy [in Greek, 'Genesis'] of Jesus Christ", deliberately echoing the words of Genesis 2:4<ref>{{bibleverse|Genesis|2:4}}</ref> in the [[Septuagint]].{{NoteTag|name=Genesis|France, p. 26 note 1, and p. 28: "The first two words of Matthew's gospel are literally "book of genesis".}} The genealogy tells of Jesus's descent from [[Abraham]] and [[King David]] and the miraculous events surrounding [[Virgin birth of Jesus|his virgin birth]],{{NoteTag|name=Joseph|France, p. 28 note 7: "All MSS and versions agree in making it explicit that Joseph was not Jesus' father, with the one exception of sys, which reads "Joseph, to whom was betrothed Mary the virgin, begot Jesus."}} and the infancy narrative tells of the [[Massacre of the Innocents|massacre of the innocents]], the [[flight into Egypt]], and eventual journey to [[Nazareth]]. ===First narrative and Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 3:1β8:1)=== {{Main|Baptism of Jesus|Sermon on the Mount}} Following the genealogy, birth and infancy of Jesus, the first narrative section begins. [[John the Baptist]] baptizes Jesus, and the Holy Spirit descends upon him. Jesus prays and meditates in the wilderness for forty days, and is tempted by [[Satan]]. His early ministry by word and deed in Galilee meets with much success, and leads to the [[Sermon on the Mount]], the first of the discourses. The sermon presents the ethics of the [[kingdom of God]], introduced by the [[Beatitudes]] ("Blessed are..."). It concludes with a reminder that the response to the kingdom will have eternal consequences, and the crowd's amazed response leads into the next narrative block.{{sfn|Turner|2008|p=101}} ===Second narrative and discourse (Matthew 8:2β11:1)=== From the authoritative words of Jesus, the gospel turns to three sets of three [[miracles of Jesus|miracles]] interwoven with two sets of two [[disciples of Jesus|discipleship]] stories (the second narrative), followed by a discourse on mission and suffering.{{sfn|Turner|2008|p=226}} Jesus commissions the [[Twelve Disciples]] and sends them to preach to the Jews, perform miracles, and prophesy the imminent coming of the Kingdom, commanding them to travel lightly, without staff or sandals.{{sfn|Harris|1985|p=}} ===Third narrative and discourse (Matthew 11:2β13:53)=== Opposition to Jesus comes to a head with accusations that his deeds are done through the power of Satan. Jesus in turn accuses his opponents of [[Blasphemy|blaspheming]] the Holy Spirit. The discourse is a set of [[Parables of Jesus|parables]] emphasizing the sovereignty of God, and concluding with a challenge to the disciples to understand the teachings as scribes of the [[Kingdom of heaven (Gospel of Matthew)|Kingdom of Heaven]].{{sfn|Turner|2008|p=285}} (Matthew avoids using the [[names of God in Judaism|holy word God]] in the expression "Kingdom of God"; instead he prefers the term "Kingdom of Heaven", reflecting the Jewish tradition of not speaking the name of God).{{sfn|Browning|2004|p=248}} ===Fourth narrative and discourse (Matthew 13:54β19:1)=== {{also|Confession of Peter}} The fourth narrative section reveals that the increasing opposition to Jesus will result in [[Crucifixion of Jesus|his crucifixion]] in Jerusalem, and that his disciples must therefore prepare for his absence.{{sfn|Turner|2008|p=265}} The instructions for the post-crucifixion church emphasize responsibility and humility. This section contains the two [[Feeding of the multitude|feedings of the multitude]] (Matthew 14:13β21<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|14:13β21}}</ref> and 15:32β39)<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|15:32β39}}</ref> along with the narrative in which Simon, newly renamed Peter ({{lang-grc|Ξ ΞΟΟΞΏΟ|Petros|stone|label=none}}), calls Jesus "the Christ, the son of the living God", and Jesus states that on this "bedrock" ({{lang-grc|ΟΞΟΟΞ±|petra|label=none}}) he will build his [[Christian Church|church]] (Matthew 16:13β19).<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|16:13β19}}</ref> Matthew 16:13β19 forms the foundation for the [[Primacy of the Bishop of Rome|papacy's claim of authority]].{{cn|date=February 2021}} ===Fifth narrative and discourse (Matthew 19:2β26:1)=== {{Main|Second Coming}} Jesus travels toward Jerusalem, and the opposition intensifies: he is tested by [[Pharisees]] as soon as he begins to move toward the city, and when he arrives he is soon in conflict with the Temple's traders and religious leaders. He teaches in the Temple, debating with the chief priests and religious leaders and speaking in parables about the Kingdom of God and the failings of the chief priests and the Pharisees. The [[Herodians|Herodian]] caucus also become involved in a scheme to entangle Jesus,<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|22:15β16}}</ref> but Jesus's careful response to their enquiry, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's", leaves them marveling at his words.<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|22:21β22}}</ref> The disciples ask about the future, and in his final discourse (the [[Olivet Discourse]]) Jesus speaks of the coming end.{{sfn|Turner|2008|p=445}} There will be false Messiahs, earthquakes, and persecutions, the sun, moon, and stars will fail, but "this generation" will not pass away before all the prophecies are fulfilled.{{sfn|Harris|1985|p=}} The disciples must steel themselves for ministry to all the nations. At the end of the discourse, Matthew notes that Jesus has finished all his words, and attention turns to the crucifixion.{{sfn|Turner|2008|p=445}} ===Conclusion: Passion, Resurrection and Great Commission (Matthew 26:2β28:20)=== The events of Jesus's last week occupy a third of the content of all four gospels.{{sfn|Turner|2008|p=613}} Jesus [[Triumphal entry into Jerusalem|enters Jerusalem in triumph]] and drives the money changers from the Temple, holds a [[last supper]], prays to be spared the coming agony (but concludes "if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done"), and is betrayed. He is tried by the Jewish leaders (the [[Sanhedrin]]) and before [[Pontius Pilate]], and Pilate washes his hands to indicate that he does not assume responsibility. Jesus is crucified as king of the Jews, [[Mocking of Jesus|mocked]] by all. On his death there is an earthquake, the veil of the Temple is rent, and saints rise from their tombs. [[Mary Magdalene]] and [[Mary, the mother of James|another Mary]] discover the empty tomb, guarded by an [[angel]], and Jesus himself tells them to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. After the resurrection the remaining disciples return to Galilee, "to the mountain that Jesus had appointed", where he comes to them and tells them that he has been given "all authority in heaven and on Earth." He gives the Great Commission: "Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you". Jesus will be with them "to the very end of the age".{{sfn|Turner|2008|pp=687β88}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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