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ecLure ; - TIe GospeI oI MuLLIew |ebruury z, zooq|
RST-1z: NTRODUCTON TO THE NEW TESTAMENT HSTORY
AND TERATURE
Chapter 1. Matthew: The Most Famous Gospel [00:00:00]
ProIessor ule Murtin: TIe GospeI oI MuLLIew, Irom LIe second cenLury on, Ius been preLLy mucI LIe
mosL popuIur Iumous oI LIe GospeIs, LIuL's probubIy wIy IL's IIrsL In our BIbIe, sImpIy becuuse IL wus LIe mosL
popuIous. L's cerLuInIy LIe GospeI LIuL's mosL IumIIIur Lo peopIe nowuduys und preLLy mucI LIrougIouL
IIsLory, II peopIe were IumIIIur wILI LIe LexL uL uII. BoLI Ior CIrIsLIuns und non-CIrIsLIun oILen, so Ior
exumpIe, you Iuve LIe IumIIIur bIrLI sLory. JosepI Ius u dreum, Ie's wurned, LIe sLur uppeurs In LIe eusL, LIe
MugI, LIe wIse men, come und LIey go Lo Herod IIrsL. TIIs Is Herod LIe GreuL, so LIey go Lo Herod LIe GreuL's
puIuce In JerusuIem und LIey suy, wIere do we IInd LIIs new kIng LIuL's been born becuuse we wunL Lo go
und worsIIp IIm und brIng IIm gIILs. Herod geLs uII worrIed becuuse Ie doesn'L wunL Lo |Iose| IIs own
LIrone. Remember LIIs sLory? He LeIIs LIe wIse men, weII LIInk you Iuve Lo go BeLIIeIem--IIs wIse men,
IIs own wIse men, LIey Iooked IL up In LIe scrIpLures, und LIey suy go Lo BeLIIeIem. BuL Ie suys, come buck
und LeII me once you vIsIL IIm becuuse wunL Lo go worsIIp IIm Loo, und LIe wIcked evII kIng does noL wunL
Lo go worsIIp Jesus, LIe buby Jesus, Ie wunLs Lo kIII LIe buby Jesus. TIe wIse men ure wurned In u dreum
noL Lo go buck. You know LIe sLory, rIgIL? TIe wIoIe LIIng ubouL LIuL, LIe EgypLIun sojourn, LIe IoIy IumIIy
goes Lo EgypL Lo escupe LIe wIcked kIng. TIe sIuugILer oI LIe InnocenLs.
TIe beuLILudes: "BIessed ure LIe poor In spIrIL Ior LIeIrs Is LIe kIngdom oI Ieuven, bIessed ure LIose wIo
mourn Ior LIey wIII be comIorLed, bIessed ure LIe meek Ior LIey wIII InIerIL LIe eurLI." AII LIese bIessed, LIere
ure some In uke, buL II you sLurL suyIng LIem und somebody sLurLs pIckIng IL up uILer you, und repeuLs IL und
LIey--IL sIows uL IeusL LIey know IL enougI so LIey cun kInd oI IInIsI one every now und LIen. TIey uImosL
uIwuys IInIsI IL In LIe MuLLIew Iorm, noL LIe uke Iorm. TIe beuLILudes ure sIIgILIy dIIIerenL In MuLLIew und
uke, und peopIe ure--LIey're Iumous In LIeIr MuLLIeun Iorm. Turn LIe oLIer cIeek, LIuL's uIso In uke 6:zq,
buL mosL peopIe know IL Irom MuLLIew :q.
n MuLLIew, LIe PIurIsees ure cuIIed, over und over uguIn, IypocrILes, und In IucL II you Iook up LIe word
"PIurIsee" In u dIcLIonury, un EngIIsI dIcLIonury, "IypocrILe" wIII be one oI LIe deIInILIons you'II IInd Ior IL.
Now LIIs Is uII purL oI u Iong LrudILIon oI CIrIsLIun unLI-SemILIsm becuuse oI course LIe word
doesn'L meun "IypocrILe" Lo mosL Jews, buL wIo Lruced buck RubbInIc JuduIsm Lo LIe pre-sevenLy PIurIsees
LIemseIves, GumuIIeI In LIe Book oI AcLs Is consIdered u PIurIsee, und Ie's u Iumous rubbI In rubbInIc
muLerIuIs. Jews don'L LIInk oI LIe word us beIng u bud Lerm, buL In u IoL oI EngIIsI, und u IoL oI
Iunguuges IL Is becuuse CIrIsLIuns used IL. TIey Look IL sLruIgIL ouL oI MuLLIew, wIere LIe PIurIsees ure
cuIIed IypocrILes over und over uguIn, und LIey jusL Luke LIuL InLo LIeIr own Iunguuge.
TIen you Iuve LIe greuL commIssIon LIuL ends LIe GospeI oI MuLLIew, LIuL peopIe mIgIL recognIze, MuLLIew
z8:18: Jesus meeLs LIe dIscIpIes In GuIIIee uILer IIs resurrecLIon, und Ie suys,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
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everything that I have commanded you and remember I am with you always to the end of the ages."
TIuL's u very Iumous verse LIuL's cuIIed "LIe GreuL CommIssIon" becuuse LIIs Is Jesus LeIIIng IIs dIscIpIes
uILer IIs resurrecLIon, go ouL und procIuIm LIe GospeI LIrougIouL LIe eurLI, noL jusL Lo LIe Jews.
AII LIese LIIngs muke MuLLIew Iook very IumIIIur even Lo peopIe wIo muy noL know mucI ubouL CIrIsLIunILy
becuuse LIIs Is sLuII LIuL you see In our cuILure over uguIn. MuLLIew, LIereIore, Is uL LIe sume LIme unIumIIIur
Lo peopIe II LIey sLurL reudIng IL cureIuIIy becuuse IL's LIe mosL JewIsI oI LIe CIrIsLIun GospeIs LIuL ure In LIe
cunon, LIuL Is. TIere ure some oLIer GospeIs Irom LIe uncIenL perIod LIuL ure even more JewIsI LIun
MuLLIew, buL LIey dIdn'L muke IL InLo LIe New TesLumenL. L's LIe mosL JewIsI, und yeL IL's uIso uL LIe sume
LIme, one oI LIe mosL unIversuI oI LIe GospeIs becuuse you precIseIy Iuve un endIng wILI Jesus commundIng
LIe uposLIes Lo muke dIscIpIes oI uII nuLIons, LIuL Is uII LIe GenLIIes Loo. n LIe GospeI oI MuLLIew, Jesus
IImILs IIs mInIsLry durIng IIs IIIeLIme preLLy mucI Lo srueI, Ie's goIng Lo Jews. He mukes u poInL oI LIIs In
LIe GospeI oI MuLLIew. AILer IIs resurrecLIon LIen LIe messuge Is supposed Lo go ouL.
ook uIso uL LIe wuy LIuL MuLLIew begIns. LuIked ubouL LIIs LIe very IIrsL IecLure oI cIuss. MuLLIew begIns
wILI, "TIe book oI LIe genesIs oI Jesus CIrIsL, son oI DuvId, son oI AbruIum." NoLIce Ie cuIIs IIm son oI
DuvId, us u descendunL oI LIe greuL kIng oI srueI, son oI AbruIum us LIe IuLIer oI LIe Jews. Even LIe Greek
word LIere, "LIe book oI LIe enesis;" "LIe enesis" meuns "LIe begInnIng", und oI course IL's LIe Greek Lerm
LIuL wus gIven Ior LIe IIrsL book oI LIe Hebrew BIbIe wIen LIey LrunsIuLed LIe Hebrew BIbIe InLo Greek,
enesis jusL meuns "LIe begInnIng." OI course In LIe Hebrew BIbIe IL's LIe begInnIng oI LIe worId, LIe
begInnIng oI eurLI, LIe begInnIng oI IIsLory. MuLLIew upproprIuLes LIuL Lerm, und Ie begIns IIs own LexL
wILI LIuL sume word, probubIy meunIng Ior IIs reuders Lo recuII LIe book oI GenesIs In u wuy.
TIen you Iuve wIuL we cuII un Hccdch on Moses. TIe Lerm Hccdch Is used In rubbInIc scIoIursIIp.
RubbInIc work oILen dIvIdes up u IoL oI rubbInIc muLerIuIs InLo Hclclch und Hccdch. Hclclch reIers Lo LIe
LeucIIngs LIuL ure ubouL Iow you sIouId IIve. Hccdch, LIougI, ure sLorIes LIuL ure ubouL LIe puLrIurcIs or
greuL IIgures, und LIey're meunL Lo muke u moruI Iesson or someLIIng IIke LIuL, buL LIey don'L gIve
sLruIgILIorwurd LeucIIngs. TIey LeII sLorIes und LIuL's Iow MuLLIew sLurLs ouL. AII LIuL sLuII ubouL LIe evII
kIng wunLIng Lo kIII LIe buby Jesus becuuse Ie's uIruId LIuL IL'II be u LIreuL Lo IIm. TIInk oI--wIo does LIuL
remInd you oI? WIo does LIuL sound IIke? TIe cIIId LIuL comes ouL oI EgypL, wIo does LIuL sound IIke?
TIese ure uII meunL Lo remInd you oI Moses und so Moses--Jesus Is porLruyed over und over uguIn IIke Moses
or IIke JosepI, uIso Irom LIe Hebrew BIbIe.
TIen uguIn you Iuve LIe IuIIIIImenL-oI-scrIpLure moLII. Now noLIce LIuL In spILe oI LIe IucL LIougI LIuL
MuLLIew Ius LIrougIouL CIrIsLIunILy been InLerpreLed us ucLuuIIy u rejecLIon oI LIe uw, LIe JewIsI Iuw, or
IL presenLs Jesus us u new Moses, buL CIrIsLIuns LIey'II oILen Luken LIuL Lo suy LIuL Jesus Is noL onIy LIe new
Moses wIo cun--IuIIIIIs Moses, He dIspIuces LIe oId Moses. So MuLLIew's muy Iuve been puL IIrsL In LIe
cunon becuuse IL wus reud by CIrIsLIuns us beIng sorL oI uImosL IIke LIe new uw, LIe new ToruI. And so you
Iuve Jesus LuIkIng ubouL LIe uw, LIe JewIsI Iuw ToruI, und uIso geLLIng new commundmenLs. CIrIsLIuns
Iuve Luken LIuL Lo meun LIe dIspIucemenL oI LIe JewIsI ToruI wILI now u new CIrIsLIun ToruI, und LIuL
ucLuuIIy puLs MuLLIew In u very odd posILIon.
OI LIe dIIIerenL GospeIs In our cunon IL's LIe mosL JewIsI IookIng und soundIng, und 'II empIusIze IuLer In
LIe IecLure Loduy, buL MuLLIew Ius uIso been LIe source oI some oI LIe worsL CIrIsLIun unLI-SemILIsm.
PrecIseIy by porLruyIng Jesus us rejecLIng LIe uw oI Moses, In mucI oI CIrIsLIun InLerpreLuLIon, und
subsLILuLIng IIs own Iuw LIuL's CIrIsLIun unLI-SemILIsm. NoLIce IL's Irom--us suId IL's Irom MuLLIew LIuL
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you geL LIe Ideu LIuL PIurIsees ure uII IypocrILes, und LIen LIuL geLs LrunsIerred Lo beIng LIuL uII Jews ure
IypocrILes. You geL LIe Ideu In CIrIsLIunILy LrudILIonuIIy LIuL Jesus rejecLed LIe uw becuuse LIuL's IeguIIsm.
TIe Jews ure uII IeguIIsLIc und we CIrIsLIuns ure uII IuII oI gruce und LruLI. So LIIs Ideu LIuL LIe OId
TesLumenL represenLs u God oI unger, und u God oI sLrIcLness, und u God oI judgmenL, und LIe New
TesLumenL represenLs u God wIo's u IuLIer, und IovIng, und IuII oI gruce. TIIs duuIIsm LIuL's so mucI u purL
oI Europeun IIsLory, even common sense, even peopIe wIo ure noL reIIgIous wIII oILen come up wILI LIIs
curIcuLure LIuL LIe OId TesLumenL God Is LIe God oI unger und judgmenL, LIe New TesLumenL God Is u LIe
God oI gruce und IorgIveness. WeII LIuL's jusL noL Lrue. I you reud eILIer LesLumenL wILI uny cure uL uII. TIe
GospeI oI MuLLIew Ius been one oI LIe LexLs LIuL's been used In LIIs wuy. Remember IL's In LIe GospeI oI
MuLLIew LIuL you geL LIe mosL unLI-JewIsI und unLI-SemILIc IIne LIuL's been used LIrougIouL WesLern
IIsLory, wIen LIe Jew--wIen PIIuLe wunLs Lo reIeuse Jesus Irom beIng crucIIIed LIe peopIe, LIe Jews suy,
"HIs bIood be upon us und our cIIIdren." TIuL becume LIe CIrIsLIun cIurge oI deIcIde; LIe Jews were LIen
uccused oI kIIIIng God, und especIuIIy In medIevuI Europe. So MuLLIew Is In LIIs very pecuIIur pIuce wIen IL
comes Lo LIe IIsLory oI LIe InLerpreLuLIon oI LIe New TesLumenL. L Is uL LIe sume LIme LIe mosL JewIsI oI our
cunonIcuI GospeIs, In muny wuys, und yeL IL's been used In CIrIsLIun unLI-SemILIsm more LIun uny oLIer
GospeI, possIbIy muybe wILI LIe GospeI oI JoIn beIng u rIvuI Ior LIuL.
ook uL LIe sLrucLure oI MuLLIew LIougI. Some peopIe Iuve even suggesLed LIuL MuLLIew Is InLenLIonuIIy
sLrucLurIng IIs GospeI Lo muke IL Iook IIke LIe ToruI, LIe JewIsI Iuw. TIere ure IIve speecIes by Jesus In
MuLLIew. TIese sume suyIngs--you Ieurned ubouL LIe synopLIc probIem IusL week. I you Luke u synopLIc
probIem kInd oI unuIysIs oI u IoL LIIs sLuII LIuL ure In some oI LIese speecIes In MuLLIew, u IoL oI LIese
suyIngs mIgIL Iuve occurred In unoLIer conLexL In uke or In Murk. MuLLIew seems Lo Iuve Luken LrudILIon--
muLerIuIs LIuL were LrudILIonuI Lo IIm, LIuL Ie Iound eILIer In wrILLen sources or In oruI sources, und Ie
combInes LIem InLo IIve sepuruLe speecIes. Some peopIe suy muybe Ie meunL Lo reIIecL LIe IIve books oI
ToruI; LIe PenLuLeucI Is LIe GenesIs, Exodus, evILIcus, Numbers, und DeuLeronomy. Is jusL LIe
Greek word meunIng "LIe IIve," so LIe IIrsL IIve books oI JewIsI scrIpLure ure cuIIed LIe PenLuLeucI und
muybe MuLLIew Is ImILuLIng LIuL und mukIng IIve sepuruLe speecIes Ior Jesus und IIs GospeI.
IrsL, cIupLers -; you Iuve Jesus gIvIng--wILI LIe Iumous Sermon on LIe MounL. TIen cIupLer 1o, you Iuve
IIm gIvIng u speecI Lo IIs dIscIpIes ubouL LIe mIssIon Lo srueI, so uII oI cIupLer 1o Is Iere's Iow you're
supposed Lo do your mIssIon wIen you go ouL Lo preucI Lo srueI. You'II be persecuLed; LIIs wIII Iuppen, do
LIIs, do LIuL. CIupLer 1 In MuLLIew Is uII purubIes. TIe purubIes LIuL you'd IInd In dIIIerenL pIuces In Murk
or uke, MuLLIew kInd oI groups LIem InLo one cIupLer und Ius Jesus kInd oI gIve IL us one sorL oI speecI.
He IIkes neuLness IIke LIIs. I you Iook uL cIupLer 18, IL's unoLIer speecI by Jesus, uguIn Lo HIs dIscIpIes, und
LIIs one Is muInIy ubouL cIurcI ruIes. Jesus LuIks ubouL wIen you're neIgIbor does someLIIng LIuL you don'L
IIke, go Lo LIe neIgIbor IIrsL, Lry Lo seLLIe IL peuceubIy, II your neIgIbor won'L receIve you or won'L seLLIe, Luke IL
Lo LIe cIurcI und IeL LIe cIurcI IundIe IL. TIuL sorL oI LIIng. Jesus Is gIvIng InsLrucLIons ubouL Iow LIe
cIurcI sIouId beIuve ILseII und wIuL LIe cIurcI wIII be IIke.
TIen In cIupLers z-z, you geL u very Iong speecI by Jesus wIIcI IncIudes u bIg synopLIc sermon.
Remember IusL LIme LuIked ubouL Murk 1 und ubouL Jesus' propIecIes oI uII LIIs IuppenIng wIen LIe end
oI LIme wouId come, und LIe MessIuI wouId swoop down In LIe cIouds. MuLLIew Lukes over LIuL speecI Irom
Murk, wIere Ie IInds IL, Ie udds u IoL oI muLerIuIs on IIs own, Ie uIso brIngs IL up Lo duLe, becuuse remember
LuIked ubouL IusL LIme, Murk dIdn'L expIIcILIy LeII us ubouL LIe desLrucLIon oI JerusuIem In IIs GospeI. You'II
IInd LIuL wIen we geL Lo MuLLIew und uke, LIey puL more sLuII In LIere LIuL sIows LIey were wrILIng uILer
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LIe LIme oI Murk, und usIng Murk us u source. TIuL's uII In LIuL cIupLer, buL LIen LIere's uII LIese Iong woes
Lo LIe scrIbes und PIurIsees. Woe Lo LIe bIuI, bIuI, bIuI; woe Lo you wIo do LIIs, LIere's u wIoIe secLIon oI
LIuL speecI. So IIve dIIIerenL speecIes LIuL some scIoIurs Iuve even suggesLed muy be desIgned Lo ImILuLe LIe
IIve books oI LIe PenLuLeucI.
Chapter 2. Jesus and the Torah in Matthew [00:12:29]
As suId, LIe endIng oI MuLLIew Is unIversuIIzIng. L Lukes LIIs srueIILe vIsIon LIuL you've seen uII LIe wuy
LIrougI LIe book und LIen unIversuIIzes IL Lo LIe wIoIe worId. L's u unIversuIIsm Lo uII LIuL's IIrmIy
uncIored In JuduIsm und LIe ToruI. WIuL does LIe ToruI, LIe uw, meun In MuLLIew? ook uL :1;; Iope
you dId brIng your BIbIes. Remember, we're uII brIngIng our BIbIes Lo cIuss uII LIe LIme becuuse you Iuve Lo
cIeck me ouL. MosL CIrIsLIuns ure LuugIL, und mosL peopIe jusL under LIe InIIuence oI CIrIsLIunILy Iuve LIe
Ideu LIuL wIuL CIrIsLIunILy Is, Is LIe supercessIon oI JuduIsm. TIe LIIng LIuL mukes Jews und CIrIsLIuns
uIIke, LIey boLI worsIIp LIe sume God. One oI LIe LIIngs LIuL muke LIem dIIIerenL Is noL onIy LIe worsIIp by
CIrIsLIuns oI Jesus, buL uIso LIe negIecL by CIrIsLIuns oI LIe JewIsI Iuw. CIrIsLIuns cun euL sIeIIIIsI, bucon,
und pork; don'L Iuve Lo keep LIe SubbuLI. s LIuL LIe vIew oI LIe uw we IInd In MuLLIew? :1;:
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly
I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all
is accomplished.
Now In u IoL oI CIrIsLIun docLrIne wIuL you're LuugIL Is LIuL Jesus dId IuIIIII LIe Iuw In IIs own person. BuL
LIuL's noL wIuL Ie suys Iere. NoLIce, "UnLII Ieuven und eurLI puss uwuy," LIuL's wIuL Ie's LuIkIng ubouL LIe
IuIIIIImenL oI IL.
Therefore whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be
called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them, will be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. For I tell you unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will
never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus Is noL suyIng, okuy 've come, now you don'L Iuve Lo keep LIe JewIsI Iuw. He's ucLuuIIy LeucIIng IIs
own dIscIpIes--remember II MuLLIew dIdn'L wunL LIIs us u messuge Lo LIe members oI IIs cIurcI Ie wouIdn'L
Iuve puL IL In IIs GospeI.
One oI LIe LIIngs LIuL 'm LryIng Lo LeucI you In my IecLures Is: wIuL does IL meun Lo do un exegesIs oI LIIs
LexL? Becuuse you're goIng Lo Iuve Lo wrILe exegesIs oI your own und LIIs rIduy your secLIon Ieuds wIII wuIk
you LIrougI Iow Lo wrILe un exegesIs puper. TIere ure u coupIe LIIngs LIuL ure noL exegesIs. L's noL exegesIs
Lo Lry Lo IIgure ouL wIuL ucLuuIIy Iuppened. DId Jesus ucLuuIIy suy LIIs? DId Jesus ucLuuIIy beIIeve LIuL?
TIuL's purL oI LIe IIsLorIcuI Jesus quesL wIIcI we'II LuIk ubouL IuLer In LIe semesLer Loo, buL exegesIs doesn'L
do LIuL. ExegesIs doesn'L ussume you're LryIng Lo reud LIe LexL Lo geL beIInd LIe LexL Ior someLIIng LIuL
Iuppened In IIsLory. Nor does exegesIs Lry Lo IIgure ouL Is LIIs Lrue or noL. We don'L cure II IL's Lrue or noL In
un exegesIs cIuss. WIuL we wunL Lo do Is wIuL dId LIe wrILer--wIuL wus LIe wrILer LryIng Lo do wILI LIIs LexL?
You Iuve Lo ImugIne yourseII In un uncIenL conLexL. WIuL wouId Ie Iuve been suyIng Lo members oI IIs own
CIrIsLIun communILy In LIe IIrsL cenLury?
TIIs obvIousIy meuns LIuL we reud LIIs LexL us noL Jesus necessurIIy LeucIIng LIIs. We don'L know yeL
wIeLIer Jesus ucLuuIIy LuugIL LIIs. MuLLIew couId Iuve goLLen IL Irom some wrILLen source, Irom some oruI
source, or Ie couId Iuve jusL mude IL up. We'II LuIk ubouL LIuL probIem IuLer wIen we LuIk ubouL LIe IIsLorIcuI
Jesus. RIgIL now we're noL goIng Lo concern ourseIves, we're jusL goIng Lo suy, MuLLIew couId Iuve wrILLen
LIIs buL we're LryIng Lo IIgure ouL wIuL dId wunL Lo do wILI IL. WIuL wus LIIs LesLumenL Lo LIem?
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ObvIousIy IL meuns LIIs wrILer beIIeves LIuL LIe proper GospeI und LIe proper cIurcI sIouId be u uw ubIdIng
cIurcI. He's expecLIng peopIe In IIs cIurcI noL Lo do uwuy wILI LIe JewIsI Iuw. ook uL "LIe unLILIeses," we
cuII LIese, LIe MuLLIeun unLILIesIs, :z1: "'You Iuve Ieurd LIuL IL wus suId Lo LIose In uncIenL LImes you sIuII
noL murder, und wIoever murders sIuII be IIubIe Lo judgmenL. BuL LeII you LIuL LIe LIme oI LIe Iuw Is over
und IL's okuy Lo murder.'" TIuL's noL wIuL IL suys, rIgIL? WIuL does IL suy? JusL sIouL IL ouL. WIuL?
Stodents: |nuudIbIe|
ProIessor ule Murtin: Don'L even be ungry. "'I you ure ungry wILI u broLIer or u sIsLer you wIII be IIubIe
Lo judgmenL, und II you InsuIL u broLIer or sIsLer you'II be IIubIe Lo LIe counseI. I you suy, 'You IooI,' you'II be
IIubIe Lo IeII oI IIre.'" A IoL oI us ure In LroubIe, u IoL oI us ure In LroubIe. He's noL suyIng 'm noL--'m geLLIng
rId oI LIe Iuw, murder's okuy now. Keep goIng :z;: "'You Iuve Ieurd LIuL IL wus suId you sIuII noL commIL
uduILery, buL suy LIuL's okuy, uduILery Is jusL IIne.'" No! He suys, "'BuL suy Lo you LIuL everyone wIo Iooks
uL u womun wILI IusL Ius uIreudy commILLed uduILery wILI Ier In IIs IeurL.'" WuIL, wIuL? WeII 'm guy so 'm
okuy ubouL LIuL, buL u IoL oI guys ure In u IoL oI LroubIe. He's busIcuIIy suyIng noL onIy Is uduILery noL okuy,
even desirin Ier II sIe beIongs Lo unoLIer mun Is noL okuy. TIuL's noL geLLIng rId oI LIe Iuw.
ook uL :8:
"You have heard that it was said an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, but I say do not resist an evil doer. If
anyone strikes you on the right cheek turn the other also, if anyone wants to sue you take your coat, give your
cloak as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile go the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you and do
not refuse anyone who wants to borrow anything from you."
TIese unLILIeses Iuve been reud LIrougIouL CIrIsLIun IIsLory by muny peopIe us ImpIyIng LIuL Jesus Is
doIng uwuy wILI LIIs bud, sLrIcL, IeguIIsm oI LIe JewIsI Iuw, und Ie's LeucIIng you u Iuw oI gruce, InsLeud,
und IorgIveness. TIuL's noL wIuL's goIng on Iere, rIgIL? WIuL Jesus Ius suId, Ie's noL doIng uwuy wILI LIe
uw Iere, Ie's intensijin IL. I IL's Iurd noL Lo commIL uduILery, und beIIeve me Ior u IoL oI peopIe IL Is Iurd
noL Lo commIL uduILery, IL's even Iurder noL Lo IusL. I IL's Iurd noL Lo murder someone, und II you knew some
oI LIe peopIe Iuve Lo work wILI uround Iere you'd know LIuL IL Is Iurd noL Lo murder someone, IL's even
Iurder noL Lo be ungry wILI LIem. And II IL's Iurd noL Lo reLuIIuLe wIen someone knocks you down, IL's even
Iurder Lo IeL LIem knock you down uguIn. Jesus Is InLensIIyIng LIe JewIsI ToruI und mukIng IL uImosL
ImpossIbIe Lo keep. BuL Ie's sLIII expecLIng HIs dIscIpIes Lo keep IL. WIuL MuLLIew presenLs Jesus Is doIng Is
noL geLLIng rId, uL uII, oI LIe ToruI, LIe JewIsI Iuw, Ie's InLensIIyIng IL.
TIere ure u coupIe oI pIuces wIere IL sounds IIke Jesus Is goIng uguIn. You Iuve u Iund wusIIng IncIdenL,
IeL's Iook uL LIuL, LIuL's In cIupLer 1:1;--weII LIInk Iuve Lo sLurL reudIng u bIL eurIIer. WIere Is IL? YeuI,
LIe very IIrsL purL oI LIe cIupLer:
The Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the
elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat." He answered them, but why do you break the
commandment . . .?
And He goes onLo LIIs sorL oI LIIng und He busIcuIIy suys LIuL LIey're noL keepIng LIe Iuw perIecLIy
LIemseIves, LIuL LIey sIouId keep IL beLLer. Verse 1o,
He called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand. It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles
a person, it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles the person.
Now In Murk's versIon oI LIIs sLory, rIgIL uround Iere, Murk udds u IILLIe senLence. Remember wIen LuIked
ubouL Murk, Ie gIves you IILLIe cIues LIuL you're reuIIy supposed Lo puy uLLenLIon. Here Murk gIves u IILLIe
purenLIeLIcuI commenL Ie suys, "By suyIng LIIs, Jesus decIured uII Ioods cIeun." n oLIer words, Murk does u
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good IILLIe GenLIIe CIrIsLIunILy move. He Lukes LIIs suyIng oI Jesus und Ie suys, Jesus wus decIurIng uII
Ioods cIeun so we don'L Iuve Lo keep kosIer.
MuLLIew doesn'L do LIuL, Ie suw LIuL senLence In Murk, buL you reud LIIs wIoIe cIupLer, LIuL senLence wIIcI
MuLLIew knew wus In Murk Is noL In MuLLIew. MuLLIew Look LIuL ouL. WIy? Becuuse Ie dIdn'L wunL Jesus Lo
decIure uII Ioods cIeun; becuuse In IIs GospeI Jesus LeucIes LIuL CIrIsLIuns Iuve Lo conLInue keepIng LIe
uw. MuLLIew Ius Jesus dIsugree wILI LIe scrIbes und PIurIsees, buL wIuL Ie suys Iere Is LIuL IL's mucI
more ImporLunL--sure, keepIng kosIer muy be ImporLunL buL IL's mucI more ImporLunL wIuL's goIng on In
your IeurL und your mInd, IL's mucI more ImporLunL wIuL you suy. So Jesus spIrILuuIIzes In u wuy or Ie--
uguIn Ie InLensIIIes LIe Iuw und Ie's suyIng, yeuI IL's ImporLunL Lo wusI your Iunds perIups buL LIuL's noL u
bIg deuI. L's ImporLunL Lo puy uLLenLIon Lo LIe kosIer buL LIuL's noL u bIg deuI. He mukes IL u moruI Iesson.
TIuL's noL unLI-JewIsI, LIuL's noL uL uII--you Iuve uII kInds oI Hebrew propIeLs In LIe OId TesLumenL doIng
LIuL kInd oI sLuII uII over LIe pIuce suyIng LIIngs IIke, God doesn'L wunL jusL your sucrIIIce Ie wunLs your
IeurL. TIIs Is LIe wuy Jesus Is presenLed In MuLLIew us--jusL IIke u JewIsI propIeL, un srueIILe propIeL wIo
Is InLensIIyIng LIe Iuw, gIvIng IL u moruI LeucIIng, buL Ie never LeucIes unyLIIng ubouL gIvIng IL up.
Chapter 3. The Foundations of the Church in Matthew [00:22:08]
Jesus, LIougI, uIso besIdes beIng LIe one wIo LeucIes ubouL ToruI, und He's beIng presenLed us Moses, und
MuLLIew presenLs Jesus more LIun uny oLIer GospeIs us LIe Iounder oI LIe cIurcI. n IucL, II you Iook Ior LIe
word "cIurcI" In some oI LIe GospeIs IL's very Iurd Lo IInd IL becuuse IL's unucIronIsLIc. Jesus dIdn'L go
uround In IIs own IIIe LuIkIng ubouL LIe cIurcI, LIe cIurcI deveIoped uILer HIs deuLI; MuLLIew reLrojecLs LIe
conversuLIon ubouL LIe cIurcI, und even LIe IounduLIon oI LIe cIurcI, und sorL oI Iuws ubouL LIe cIurcI InLo
LIe mouLI oI Jesus.
ook uL 16:1;, und LIIs Is one we uIreudy reud very cureIuIIy In Murk, LIe sume sLory. Remember In Murk,
Jesus suys Lo LIe dIscIpIes, "WIo do peopIe suy LIuL um?" PeLer suys, "Some oI LIem suy LIe EIIjuI, or some
oI LIem suy one oI LIe propIeLs, or JoIn LIe BupLIsL." Jesus suId, "BuL wIo do you suy LIuL um?" und PeLer
suys, "You're LIe MessIuI." Jesus LeIIs IIm, "Be quIeL," und LIen Jesus rebukes IIm wIen PeLer LeIIs IIm LIuL
Ie's noL supposed Lo be crucIIIed. MuLLIew Lukes LIuL sLory uguIn Irom Murk, buL noLIce Iow MuLLIew
cIunges IL. Verse 1, "WIen Jesus cume Irom LIe dIsLrIcL oI Cuesureu oI PIIIIppI, Ie usked IIs dIscIpIes,
"WIo do you suy LIuL um?" You geL LIe sLory uguIn. WIen SImon PeLer suys, "You're LIe MessIuI, LIe Son
oI LIe IvIng God," Iook wIuL Jesus suys In verse 1;, now In MuLLIew's versIon. Remember In Murk's versIon
Jesus suId, okuy don'L LeII unybody.
Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my
Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will
not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth on will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the
disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
BeLween LIe commund Lo sIIence, wIIcI cume rIgIL uILer LIe conIessIon In Murk, MuLLIew puLs uII LIIs
IounduLIon-oI-LIe cIurcI sLuII. Now LIIs Is u very Iumous LexL LIuL Ius cuused uII kInds oI dIsugreemenL
beLween Romun CuLIoIIcs und ProLesLunLs. Romun CuLIoIIcs Luke LIIs LexL us LeucIIng LIuL Jesus,
purLIcuIurIy seIecLed PeLer us LIe IIrsL Pope, und LIuL wIen Ie suys, 'm gIvIng you LIe keys Lo LIe kIngdom, IL
meuns LIe Pope or LIe BIsIop oI Rome Is LIe one wIo Ius LIe rIgIL Lo bInd or Ioose LIuL Jesus Is LuIkIng
ubouL Iere. ProLesLunLs rejecLed LIuL InLerpreLuLIon und LIey suId weII no Ie's LuIkIng--sure Ie's LuIkIng Lo
PeLer In one sense buL Ie wus reuIIy LuIkIng Lo uII LIe uposLIes, und In IucL, LIe Issue oI bIndIng und IoosIng Is
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noL--Is gIven Lo LIe uposLIes noL jusL Lo PeLer. So LIere's u debuLe umong--beLween ProLesLunLs und Romun
CuLIoIIcs LrudILIonuIIy over LIIs pussuge. LIInk LIe debuLe kInd oI mIsses LIe poInL becuuse LIInk
MuLLIew's poInL Is busIcuIIy jusL Lo Iuve Jesus be LIe one wIo Iounds LIe cIurcI und puLs IL InLo LIe Iunds
oI IIs dIscIpIes.
TIuL's deIInILeIy one oI LIe LIIngs LIuL Jesus does. And LIen In CIupLer 18, us 've uIreudy poInLed ouL, you
Iuve u wIoIe cIupLer wIere Jesus gIves ruIes Lo LIe dIscIpIes Ior Iow LIe cIurcI sIouId be run, Iow IL
sIouId be orgunIzed. TIe cIurcI Is uIso LIIs mIxed group. Over und over uguIn, MuLLIew--you'II Iuve--you'II
see u pIruse LIuL's onIy In MuLLIew wIere Jesus LuIks ubouL "IILLIe ones." He uIso LuIks ubouL peopIe oI IILLIe
IuILI. MuLLIew uIso Ius u purubIe ubouL u mun goes ouL und LIrows u IIeId wILI seed. And durIng LIe nIgIL
IIs enemy comes und sows brumbIes und weeds seeds In und wIen IL uII comes up LIe wIeuL comes up buL
IL's uII mIxed In wILI brumbIes und LIorns, und weeds. And so LIe servunLs--LIe sIuves oI LIe mun come Lo
LIe musLer und LIey suy, WIuL sIouId we do? SIouId we Lry Lo weed ouL uII LIe weed sLuII so we cun guLIer
LIe wIeuL? SIouId we Lry Lo LrIm IL uII ouL now? MuLLIew suys, no don'L worry ubouL IL now becuuse II you Lry
Lo puII up uII LIe LIorns und LIe brumbIes, you're bound Lo puII up some oI LIe wIeuL Loo, we'II jusL wuIL unLII
LIe end, unLII IL's uII reudy, und LIen we'II IurvesL LIe wIoIe LIIng und LIen we'II sepuruLe IL ouL und LIe
wIeuL we wIII keep In sLoreIouses, und LIe brumbIes und LIorns wIII burn In IeII! You're geLLIng LIe IusL
IILLIe IeIIIIre und brImsLone sermon uL LIe end.
TIe muIn purL oI LIe purubIe Is LIuL MuLLIew Is suyIng Is LIuL LIe worId, und possIbIy even LIe cIurcI, Is u
mIxed bug. n oLIer words, noL everybody you see uround you Is LruIy wIo you LIInk LIey ure. TIere's good
und LIere's evII mIxed LogeLIer buL LIe--you're jusL goIng Lo Iuve IIve wILI LIuL. TIe cIurcI Is un
orgunIzuLIon LIuL Ius boLI peopIe oI IILLIe IuILI und peopIe oI greuLer IuILI. L Ius muybe even weeds und
wIeuL In IL, so LIese ure uII concerns oI wIuL kInd oI--LIere's u wIoIe group oI purubIes In cIupLer 1 LIuL we
cuII LIe "mIxed group" purubIes oI MuLLIew. TIey're purLIcuIur Lo MuLLIew becuuse MuLLIew seems Lo be
mukIng LIe poInL wILI LIese mIxed group purubIes LIuL LIe cIurcI ILseII Is sorL oI u mIxed group.
AnoLIer ImporLunL LIeme oI MuLLIew--'m gIvIng you severuI dIIIerenL mujor LIemes In MuLLIew becuuse 'm
goIng Lo usk In u momenL, wIy ure LIese LIIngs Iere? WIuL Is MuLLIew LryIng Lo do wILI LIese dIIIerenL
LIIngs uILogeLIer? or exumpIe, wIy Is Jesus LIe Iuw gIver und sLIII JewIsI und LeucIes LIe uccepLunce oI LIe
JewIsI Iuw, und yeL LIIs unIversuIIsLIc messuge uL LIe end oI LIe GospeI oI goIng Lo uII nuLIons. AnoLIer
LIIng LIuL exegesIs Is, Is IIndIng probIems In LIe LexL und LIen usIng LIe LexL ILseII Lo Lry Lo IInd unswers Lo
LIose probIems. TIuL's wIuL exegesIs does. WIy 'm seLLIng up some oI LIemes oI MuLLIew, becuuse LIese
ure goIng Lo be LIe probIems LIuL LIen , us LIe wonderIuI scIoIur und exegeLe LIuL um, um goIng Lo swoop
In wILI my ungeIs on LIe cIouds oI Ieuven uL LIe end oI LIe IecLure und gIve you unswers Lo uII LIe probIems
oI MuLLIew, und LIen you'II do LIuL wILI your exegesIs pupers IuLer.
Chapter 4. Jesus as a Model for the Disciples [00:27:51]
One oI LIe LIIngs LIuL Jesus Is, uIso In MuLLIew, Is u LeucIer. Murk Iud LoId us In IIs GospeI LIuL Jesus wus
u greuL LeucIer, und peopIe suId, Wow, Ie's u greuL LeucIer, He LeucIes noL IIke LIe scrIbes und LIe
PIurIsees. He LeucIes us one wILI uuLIorILy. Murk dIdn'L reuIIy LeII us mucI oI wIuL Jesus LuugIL. TIere ure
u Iew purubIes, u Iew conLroversIes, buL Murk LeIIs you LIuL Jesus Is u greuL LeucIer wILIouL presenLIng Jesus
LeucIIng u IoL. MuLLIew noL onIy LeIIs you Jesus Is u good LeucIer, Ie presenLs u IoL oI LeucIIng oI Jesus, und
so you geL u IoL oI LIuL.
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TIen you geL LIIs InLeresLIng pussuge In 1:1. Turn In your IymnuIs Lo 1:1 "Huve you undersLood uII LIIs?"
TIIs Is Lowurds LIe end oI LIIs bIg Iong purubIe cIupLer. Remember LoId you LIuL cIupLer 1 In MuLLIew Is
wIere MuLLIew puLs u Lon oI purubIes. So Lowurd LIe end oI LIIs purubIe cIupLer Jesus usked LIem,
"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been
trained for the kingdom of keaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and
what is old." When Jesus had finished these parables he left that place.
TIIs Is u purubIe LIuL MuLLIew Is puLLIng In LIere, LIInk, Lo gIve u IInL Lo IIs reuders. TIIs Is wIuL Jesus
wus, Jesus wus u good scrIbe. TIuL's wIy Jesus LuIks ubouL LIIngs IIke, you Iuve Ieurd IL suId, buL suy Lo
you. Jesus Is LukIng ouL oI LIe JewIsI scrIpLure und LukIng ouL oI LIe JewIsI Iuw LIe mosL ImporLunL purLs oI
IL und empIusIzIng LIose, und LIen uddIng some oI IIs own LeucIIngs. He's LukIng some oI LIe oId und some
oI LIe new, und LIuL's wIuL u good scrIbe Is IIke. BuL MuLLIew uIso beIIeves LIuL Ie und IIs IeIIow dIscIpIes In
IIs cIurcI sIouId be LIuL wuy Loo. He wrILes IIs GospeI Lo IeIp peopIe IIgure ouL Iow Lo ImILuLe Jesus In
beIng u good scrIbe. How do dIscern wIuL oI LIe oId you sIouId use und wIuL oI LIe new you sIouId use.
On oI LIe IusL probIems LIuL wunL Lo gIve Is LIIs reuIIy bIg probIem In MuLLIew becuuse Jesus Is uIso
someLIIng--weII jusL rIgIL on LIe surIuce Jesus comes ucross us u bIg IIke u cowurd In LIe GospeI oI
MuLLIew. ook uL q:1z In MuLLIew, In LIe IIrsL purL oI LIIs cIupLer q you geL Jesus goIng uround preucIIng
LIe gospeI, doIng some mIrucIes und LIuL sorL oI LIIng. He becomes very Iumous so LIuL peopIe Ieur ubouL
HIm. BuL LIen you geL Lo 1z, "Now wIen Jesus Ieurd LIuL JoIn Iud been urresLed, Ie goL on IIs wIILe
cIurger und He rode Lo LIe prIson und Ie sprung IIs IrIend JoIn LIe BupLIsL ouL oI prIson." ndIunu Jesus,
no LIuL's noL wIuL IL suys, rIgIL? "He wILIdrew Lo GuIIIee," LIe word "wILIdruw" Iere Is LIe Greek word Ior
"reLreuL." He reLreuLed Lo GuIIIee becuuse Ie Iud Ieurd LIuL JoIn Iud goLLen urresLed. "He IeIL NuzureLI,
muke HIs Iome In Cupernuum by LIe seu, In LIe LerrILory oI ZebuIIn und NupILuII, so LIuL wIuL Iud been
spoken Lo LIe propIeL suIuI mIgIL be IuIIIIIed," und LIen Ie quoLes LIuL--verse 1; "rom LIuL LIme Jesus
begun Lo procIuIm, 'RepenL Ior LIe kIngdom oI keuven Ius come neur.'" n oLIer words, Jesus reLreuLs In LIe
Iuce oI dunger, Ie doesn'L go Lowurd IL, buL InsLeud oI reLreuLIng und IIdIng, Ie goes Lo unoLIer pIuce und
LIen Ie sLurLs gIvIng LIe messuge ouL. TIIs Is wIen He reuIIy sLurLs IIs own preucIIng mInIsLry, uILer JoIn
LIe BupLIsL Is urresLed.
NoLIce wIuL Iuppens LIere, Iook uguIn uL--now Iook uL 1z:1, MuLLIew 1z:1. ReudIng jusL u IILLIe bIL ubove
LIuL, Jesus Is dIspuLIng wILI LIe PIurIsees und verse 1q suys, "BuL LIe PIurIsees wenL ouL und conspIred
uguInsL IIm Iow Lo desLroy IIm," unoLIer LIreuL LIIs LIme Irom LIe PIurIsees uguInsL Jesus. Verse 1,
"WIen Jesus becume uwure oI LIIs Ie depurLed," uguIn Ie wILIdrew, LIere's LIuL word uguIn, "Muny crowds
IoIIowed HIm und He cured uII LIem, und He ordered LIem noL Lo muke IIm known. TIIs wus Lo IuIIIII. . . ."
NoLIce uguIn Jesus wILIdruws In LIe Iuce oI dunger buL LIe wILIdruwIng In u sense Increuses LIe mInIsLry In
un odd purudoxIcuI wuy. TIen Iook uL 1q:1--weII won'L reud LIuL one, 1q:1 II you cun Iook IL up, LIuL's
unoLIer cuse oI dunger und Jesus wILIdruwIng.
eL's do spend u IILLIe more LIme IookIng uL cIupLer 1z becuuse, Iuve you noLIced LIuL LIe GospeI oI MuLLIew
IIkes Lo IoresIudow LIIngs und IuIIIII LIIngs? TIe GospeI oI MuLLIew IIkes Lo Iuve Jesus do someLIIng, und
LIen Ie'II LeII you someLIIng LIuL wus noL In Murk. He'II suy, TIIs wus Lo IuIIIII LIe scrIpLure LIuL suId--Ior
exumpIe wIen Jesus und LIe IoIy IumIIy run oII Lo EgypL Ie LIen quoLes Lo LIe IucL wIen LIey come buck Ie
suys, "OuL oI EgypL wIII cuII my Son," LIe propIecy. MuLLIew Lukes un OId TesLumenL reIerence, u JewIsI
scrIpLure reIerence, becuuse remember IL's noL LIe OId TesLumenL yeL, IL's jusL JewIsI scrIpLure, und Ie Lukes u
quoLuLIon In LIuL und suyIng IL's IuIIIIIed by Jesus. n LIe sume wuy In MuLLIew z:1-1q "AILer LIey Iud IeIL,"
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LIIs Is uILer LIe wIse men IeIL, "An ungeI oI LIe ord uppeured Lo JosepI In u dreum und suId geL up, Luke LIe
cIIId und HIs moLIer und IIee Lo EgypL und remuIn LIere unLII LeII you, Ior Herod Is ubouL." TIey IIee, LIere's
LIuL word uguIn, wILIdruw--even JosepI wILI Jesus reLreuLs In LIe Iuce oI dunger Lo GuIIIee. TIen wIen Ie
Ieurs LIey come buck In verse zz oI LIe sume cIupLer.
Now wIy Is uII LIIs--Jesus reLreuLIng? TIe oLIer LIIng Is II you Iook uL 1o:z, we uguIn geL LIIs sume word.
WIen you're doIng un exegesIs you mIgIL wunL Lo use u concordunce. You'II Ieurn on TIursduy or rIduy In
your secLIons wIuL u concordunce Is, und you'II Ieurn Iow Lo use IL. BusIcuIIy u concordunce Is u book LIuL
Lukes uII LIe words oI LIe BIbIe und sIows you wIere LIey occur. I you Iooked up "wILIdruw" In un EngIIsI
concordunce IL wouId LeII you every LIme In u cerLuIn EngIIsI LrunsIuLIon LIuL LIe word "wILIdruw" occurred
In MuLLIew, or Murk, or uke; you cun LesL LIem ouL. You'II uIso Ieurn Iow Lo use un unuIyLIcuI concordunce,
even II you don'L know Greek, wIIcI wIII kInd oI gIve you un Ideu, once you Ieurn Iow Lo use IL, wIuL's LIe
Greek word IyIng beIInd LIese EngIIsI words. I you dId LIuL you couId IInd ouL LIuL LIese dIIIerenL EngIIsI
words LIuL 've been reudIng Irom LrunsIuLe LIe sume Greek word "wILIdruw" . TIIs word Is Iere
Loo, und In 1o:z you Iuve Jesus und IIs InsLrucLIons Lo LIe dIscIpIes LeIIIng LIem LIuL LIey uIso sIouId
reLreuL In LIe Iuce oI dunger.
WIuL Is uII LIIs goIng on? How do we Luke LIese dIIIerenL Issues? Jesus Is uImosL u new Moses, Jesus Is
LeucIIng LIe dIscIpIes sIouId keep LIe ToruI, LIe uw, buL LIen Jesus wIen Ie Iuces LroubIes Ie wILIdruws
Irom LroubIe, und Ie goes oII somepIuce. BuL wIen Ie wILIdruws Ie ends up preucIIng more. And LIe GospeI
LIen Is expundIng, und LIen LIe dIscIpIes, MuLLIew beIIeved, wIII be LIe nexL versIon oI Jesus. TIey uIso wIII
be LIreuLened. TIey uIso wIII be LuugIL Lo reLreuL. TIey uIso wIII LIen go preucI, und LIey'II evenLuuIIy go
preucI Lo LIe enLIre worId In LIe Iorm oI LIe GenLIIes. AII oI LIIs Is Jesus IuncLIons us u modeI Ior LIe
dIscIpIes, LIe uposLIes, und LIe uposLIes IuncLIon us u modeI Ior MuLLIew und LIe members oI IIs own
cIurcI. WIuL Is uII LIIs doIng Iere und wIy Is IL--wIuL's LIe conLexL In wIIcI LIIs kInd oI pIcLure oI Jesus
wouId muke sense?
Chapter 5. The Stilling of the Storm in Matthew [00:35:44]
We're goIng Lo spend u bIL more LIme on one ImporLunL pussuge, MuLLIew 1q:zz. TIIs Is LIe Iumous sLory
cuIIed "TIe SLIIIIng oI LIe SLorm." Now you wIII Iuve--II you remember LIIs you couId Iook uL Murk 6:q und
IL Ius LIe sume sLory. I you Look your puruIIeI coIumns, one Irom Murk und one Irom MuLLIew, und you dId
your IILLIe coIored pencII exercIses you dId IusL week Ior your secLIon, IL's very InLeresLIng Lo see wIuL does
MuLLIew udd Lo Murk's sLory? I you IIgure ouL wIuL MuLLIew udded Lo Murk's sLory you cun reuIIy geL un Ideu
ubouL wIuL wus MuLLIew's own edILorIuI InLeresLs. WIy dId Ie Luke someLIIng ouL oI Murk, LeII IL dIIIerenLIy,
udd new sLuII Lo IL? TIuL gIves you u greuL cIue Ior wIuL MuLLIew wunLed Lo suy. Remember eucI oI LIese
wrILers Is noL jusL LeIIIng you sLuII LIuL Iuppened becuuse IL Iuppened, LIey eucI ure wrILIng u book InLendIng
Lo puL ucross u LIeoIogIcuI messuge.
I you compure wIuL MuLLIew suys Lo wIuL Ie geLs Irom Murk, und see wIuL Ie udds und wIuL Ie Lukes ouL,
you Iuve u reuIIy good Ideu oI wIuL IIs edILorIuI messuge Is, wIuL IIs edILorIuI concerns ure, und we cuII LIIs
ReducLIon CrILIcIsm. ReducLIon Is jusL u Iuncy word Ior edILIng. WIy dId scIoIurs noL cuII IL "edILIng
crILIcIsm"? Becuuse we IIke Lwo-bIL words wIen one-bIL words wouId work jusL us weII. So IL's ReducLIon
CrILIcIsm Is wIuL you'II see In LIe scIoIursIIp. L jusL meuns puyIng uLLenLIon Lo Iow LIe GospeI wrILers
edILed LIeIr sources Lo geL ouL LIeIr own messuge. So Iook uL 1q:zz, und II you wunL Lo you cun IIIp over Lo
Murk 6:q und see LIe cIunge, or II you Iuve TIrockmorLon you cun Iook IL up In TIrockmorLon someLIme.
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'II IndIcuLe some oI IL.
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat [this is after one of the feedings of a bunch of people] and go
ahead to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. After he had dismissed the crowds he went up to the
mountain by himself to pray. When evening came he was there alone, but by this time the boat battered by the
waves was far from the land for the wind was against them.
NoLIce Ior LIe wInd wus uguInsL LIem, LIe bouL Is buLLered, LIe wInd Is uguInsL LIem. Some oI LIese deLuIIs
won'L be In Murk, LIe busIc sLory wIII be LIere, buL LIIs LIIng ubouL LIe bouL beIng buLLered by LIe wInd, LIe
wInd Is uguInsL LIem, don'L LIInk LIuL's In Murk II remember rIgIL.
And early in the morning he came walking toward them out on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on
the sea they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. Immediately Jesus spoke to them and
said, "Take heart, it is I; Do not be afraid.
n Murk, Jesus LIen geLs In LIe bouL, sLIIIs LIe sLorm, und Murk ends IL wILI IIs own cIue LIuL LIey dIdn'L
undersLund, LIey sLIII dIdn'L undersLund, so LIuL's purL oI Murk's LIeme ubouL LIe mIsundersLundIng. TIuL's
noL LIe wuy MuLLIew ends IL Iere. NoLIce wIuL Ie suys:
Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got
out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind he
became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord save me!"
"ord suve me!" Now LIe Greek word Ior "suve me" cun meun jusL "rescue me"--suve me Irom IIIness, buL IL
uIso cun meun "suve me" IIke need suIvuLIon. TIe sume Greek word meuns boLI.
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith [that's a Matthian clue,
see Matthew likes this little faith theme so that's one of the things you see he's added here] Why did you doubt?"
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son
of God."
Now II you compure LIIs wIuL you've goL Is some ImporLunL dIIIerenL cIunges. IrsL, Ior exumpIe, suId LIe
bouL Is beuLen by LIe wuves, LIuL's noL In Murk. WIy dId MuLLIew udd LIuL? TIen you Iuve LIIs wIoIe verses
z8-1, LIe wIoIe LIIng wILI PeLer und uII LIuL sorL oI LIIng, LIuL's noL In Murk. MuLLIew udded LIuL wIoIe
IILLIe cIunk. And LIen In verse In suys, "TIey worsIIpped IIm," und LIey Iuve LIIs conIessIon, "TruIy You
ure LIe Son oI God," wIIcI Is u CIrIsLIun conIessIon.
A Iumous Germun scIoIur, GnLIer Bornkumm, wIom you don'L need remember, und one oI IIs sLudenLs
wroLe u very Iumous urLIcIe pubIIsIed In LIe 1qos In wIIcI LIey unuIyzed LIIs sLory. And LIey suId, II you
reud LIIs cureIuIIy LIIs sLory's noL ubouL Jesus wuIkIng on LIe wuLer und sLIIIIng LIe sLorm und LIuL sorL oI
LIIng, LIIs Is u sLory MuLLIew InLends Ior you Lo see LIe bouL--IL's uImosL--IL's IIke un uIIegory, IL's uImosL IIke
un uIIegory. TIe bouL represenLs LIe cIurcI, und MuLLIew sees LIe cIurcI us beIng persecuLed, we've seen
LIuL LIeme LIrougIouL MuLLIew. Jesus propIesIed LIe dIscIpIes wouId be persecuLed. So LIe bouL Is
persecuLed und LIuL's represenLed by LIe sLorm, und LIe wInds, und LIe wuves buIIeLIng LIem, und LIey're
uIruId. PeLer, wIo represenLs every CIrIsLIun suys, wunL Lo be IIke you Jesus und wunL wuIk on wuLer.
wunL Lo overcome uII LIese probIems. He geLs ouL oI LIe bouL, buL Ie doesn'L Iuve enougI IuILI, Ie Ius u IILLIe
IuILI, und IIs doubL cuuses IIm Lo sLurL sInkIng. WIen Ie does LIuL, wIuL sIouId Ie do? He sIouId cry ouL Lo
Jesus und Jesus wIII suve IIm. TIen Jesus geLs In LIe bouL, cuIms LIe sLorm, und LIey worsIIp IIm und
conIess IIm.
Bornkumm used LIIs ReducLIon CrILIcIsm, Ie wus one oI LIe IIrsL pIoneers oI usIng LIIs meLIod und cuIIIng IL
by LIIs Lerm Lo suy, compure MuLLIew wILI wIuL Ie geLs Irom Murk und wIuL you do Is you see LIuL--wIuL
wus jusL u mIrucIe sLory, jusL u busIc sLory ubouL LIe power oI Jesus, Ius now become u moruI sLory ubouL LIe
cIurcI. And IL's now become someLIIng LIuL MuLLIew Is wrILIng Lo encouruge IIs own cIurcI. TIey ure
smuII, IoneIy, peopIe oI IILLIe IuILI, LIey're u mIxed group, remember, some peopIe In LIe cIurcI seemed Lo
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Iuve u IoL more IuILI LIun oLIer peopIe In LIe cIurcI. Some peopIe In LIe cIurcI muy noL even be Lrue
dIscIpIes uILer uII. TIey're noL yeL perIecL.
MuLLIew Ius u suyIng LIuL Is dIIIerenL Irom uke; LIey seem Lo boLI geL IL Irom Q. uke's versIon suys, "You
sIouId be mercIIuI us Your uLIer In Heuven Is mercIIuI." Does unybody Iuppen Lo know wIuL LIuL comes
ouL In MuLLIew, IL's In LIe Sermon on LIe MounL? "You sIouId be perIecL us your uLIer In Heuven Is perIecL."
MuLLIew Ius perIecL und uke Ius mercIIuI. AguIn, we see IILLIe bILLy cIues oI Iow LIey wrILe LIIs. BuL LIuL's
MuLLIew LeIIIng IIs cIurcI know you're noL perIecL now, buL God--Jesus cuIIs you Lo perIecLIon. TIey need
more IuILI und uccordIng Lo MuLLIew's sLory LIey do IL by IocusIng on Jesus und worsIIppIng IIm us LIe Son
oI God us LIey sIouId.
WIuL 've done Is wuIk LIrougI severuI dIIIerenL pussuges In MuLLIew. An exegesIs wouIdn'L usk you Lo do uII
oI LIose LIIngs LogeLIer. You couId wrILe un exegesIs puper on jusL one secLIon oI uny oI LIose LIIngs LIuL
LuIked ubouL. NoLIce wIuL 've Iud Lo do. 've Iud Lo compure MuLLIew wILI Murk und uke, 've LrIed Lo
IIgure ouL wIy dId MuLLIew IncIude wIuL Ie IncIuded, und wIy dId Ie Ieuve ouL sLuII, wIy dId Ie cIunge
LIIngs Irom Murk? 've uIso suId Ie probubIy used Q, LIIs IypoLIeLIcuI documenL becuuse we IInd LIuL by
compurIng uke und MuLLIew. And mIgIL guess uL Iow--wIeLIer MuLLIew Ius LIe more orIgInuI versIon
oI Q or wIeLIer uke does, und mIgIL Lry Lo ImugIne wIuL wus In Q und Iow MuLLIew muy Iuve cIunged
LIuL--edILed LIuL. TIuL's uII oI course pure specuIuLIon becuuse we don'L Iuve Q us u pIysIcuI documenL Lo
ucLuuIIy compure IL wILI IIke we've goL Murk us u pIysIcuI documenL, buL scIoIurs sLIII do LIuL. BuL LIe
purpose Is Lo--uII LIe wuy LIrougI Lo IIgure ouL wIuL dId LIIs uuLIor wunL Lo do? L's noL concerned wILI
wIeLIer Ie's LeIIIng us LIe correcL IIsLory; we'II Ieuve LIuL Ior unoLIer duy. L's noL Lo suy wIeLIer IL's Lrue or
noL.
NoLIce LIIs: IL's uIso noL Lo come up wILI suppy Sunduy scIooI kInds oI reudIngs. TIIs Is LIe IurdesL LIIng Ior
peopIe Lo Ieurn, und, noLIce, IL doesn'L muLLer wIeLIer peopIe Iuve grown up In cIurcIes or noL. Modern
peopIe Iuve jusL come Lo LIInk LIuL wIen you reud LIIs book you're supposed Lo geL Sunduy scIooI Lype suppy
unswers ouL oI IL. WIuL Is LIe meunIng oI LIIs sLory? WeII Jesus Is LeucIIng us Lo Iove one unoLIer. WeII,
okuy yeuI muybe so, buL dIg deeper. Try Lo IIgure ouL--Lry Lo ImugIne u IIsLorIcuI conLexL In wIIcI u Iumun
uuLIor Is wrILIng LIe sLory LIIs wuy In order Lo do someLIIng socIuIIy In IIs own eurIy communILy. We
ImugIne un eurIy CIrIsLIun communILy, und we ImugIne wIuL probIems LIey Iud, by reudIng LIe LexL, und
LIen we see LIe LexL us beIng wrILLen conscIousIy by un uuLIor Lo uddress LIose probIems. WILI MuLLIew
wIuL you geL Is LIIs: MuLLIew LeucIes LIuL u ToruI observunL Iorm oI dIscIpIesIIp Lo Jesus.
Now LIIs wIII be very ImporLunL becuuse one oI LIe LIemes oI LIIs wIoIe course Is LIuL LIe dIversILy oI
dIIIerenL eurIy CIrIsLIunILIes. L's unucIronIsLIc In LIe IIrsL cenLury Lo even LuIk ubouL "CIrIsLIunILy" us one
LIIng, becuuse us we'II sIow, LIere were dIIIerenL vIews oI Jesus, LIere were dIIIerenL vIews oI LIe JewIsI
Iuw. And wIuL you'II see very quIckIy In LIIs course Is MuLLIew Ius one--Ius u very dIIIerenL vIew oI wIuL
CIrIsLIuns sIouId do wILI LIe JewIsI Iuw LIun does PuuI, or uke, or Murk, or JoIn, or severuI oI LIe oLIer
wrILers. One oI LIe LIIngs LIuL mukes MuLLIew presenL u pecuIIur kInd oI CIrIsLIunILy wIen judged by LIe
sLundurds oI PuuI's kInd oI CIrIsLIunILy Is LIuL MuLLIew LeucIes Jesus us LeucIIng u CIrIsLIunILy LIuL
observes JewIsI ToruI. Even II GenLIIes come In, wIIcI LIe GenLIIes do come In, GenLIIes musL be expecLed
Lo keep LIe Iuw uIso. WIereus PuuI spenL IIs wIoIe cureer LryIng Lo geL GenLIIes Lo undersLund, no you don'L,
you're noL supposed Lo keep LIe JewIsI Iuw II you're u GenLIIe, Jesus ubsoIves you Irom keepIng LIe JewIsI
Iuw, MuLLIew's noL LIuL wuy. He sees GenLIIes comIng InLo LIe cIurcI buL sLIII beIng ToruI observunL. He
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Ius u ToruI observunL Iorm oI CIrIsLIunILy, wILI Jesus us LIe recognIzed MessIuI. GenLIIes ure IncIuded In
srueI, LIey're noL IncIuded us u sepuruLe cIurcI, GenLIIes ure brougIL InLo srueI, IL Iooks IIke Ior MuLLIew,
und MuLLIew presenLs u cIurcI LIuL Is In conIIIcL wILI oLIer Iorms oI JuduIsm.
LIInk MuLLIew wus wrILLen uILer LIe yeur ;o, cerLuInIy uILer LIe desLrucLIon oI LempIe In JerusuIem, LIuL
seems preLLy cIeur. MosL oI LIe scIoIurs duLe IL Lo somewIere In LIe 8os, muybe noL eurIIer LIen LIe yeur 8o,
muybe noL IuLer LIun LIe yeur qo, we're guessIng on LIIs, buL IL seems Lo be--IL Ius Lo be uILer ;o, buL Ie's In
conIIIcL wILI wIoever Is--LIere ure sLIII PIurIsees uround, LIere ure sLIII scrIbes, LIere ure oLIer wIo ure
oIIerIng u sIIgILIy dIIIerenL versIon oI wIuL IL meuns Lo be JewIsI, und LIuL's LIe IusL LIIng LIuL 'II suy ubouL
LIIs, Is LIuL MuLLIew Is noL presenLIng u new reIIgIon. He LIInks wIuL we wouId cuII CIrIsLIunILy Is sImpIy
LIe rIgIL wuy Lo be u Jew. WIuL MuLLIew Is presenLIng Is u dIIIerenL secL wILIIn JuduIsm Irom LIe Iorm oI
JuduIsm LIuL's represenLed by LIe PIurIsees or LIe Sudducees perIups. A IoL oI peopIe LIInk LIuL LIe
Sudducees muy Iuve become exLIncL uILer LIe desLrucLIon oI LIe LempIe In JerusuIem becuuse LIe Sudducees
were very--LIey're power buse wus LIe LempIe, buL II LIe Sudducees ure sLIII uround MuLLIew Is presenLIng u
dIIIerenL Iorm oI JuduIsm LIun LIey IoIIowed. He's presenLIng u dIIIerenL Iorm oI JuduIsm represenLed by LIe
JewIsI wrILer JosepIus, or PIIIo, buL Ie Is presenLIng u Iorm oI JuduIsm. n IucL, scIoIurs nowuduys suy,
MuLLIew does noL represenL u new reIIgIon wILI IIs GospeI; Ie ucLuuIIy represenLs u dIIIerenL JewIsI secL.
Any quesLIons? Yes sIr?
Stodent: Does MuLLIew beIIeve GenLIIes sIouId be cIrcumcIsed?
ProIessor ule Murtin: Does MuLLIew beIIeve LIuL GenLIIes sIouId be cIrcumcIsed? LIInk so becuuse
cun'L ImugIne IIm LeucIIng u compIeLeIy Iuw observunL--wIen Ie suys noL one doL or LIddIe, or joL oI LIe Iuw
wIII puss uwuy unLII Ieuven und eurLI pusses uwuy. WeII, uny Jew uL LIe LIme preLLy mucI wouId Iuve
LIougIL LIuL cIrcumcIsIon wus u very ImporLunL purL oI JewIsI Iuw noL jusL u doL or u LIddIe. So LIInk so,
you'II IInd IoLs oI scIoIurs wIo dIsugree wILI me, buL oI course LIey're uII wrong. Any oLIer quesLIons? Okuy,
see you on Wednesduy.
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