Studying the Bible means that someone is doing an exegesis (to carry out/pull out the meaning from), not eisegesis (to add/insert a meaning into). These days, many pastors/preachers who do eisegesis to sell his teachings. He wanted to teach about A, then he would find the Bible verse that matched and supported his teachings.An intentional eisegesis is a sin. Jesus was very strict to the Pharisees because they were adding to the Scriptures. Jesus was also very strict to the Sadducees because they were reducing from the Scriptures. Adding to or reducing from the Scriptures are perceived as wrongdoings in God’s eyes.The text in the Bible is always in a specific context. Therefore, understanding the context is very important. Misunderstanding of its context could result in a fatal consequences in knowing what God intended. The Bible explains itself. The written describes the implied. The clear explains the vague.All the authors of the Bible never intended their writings to be read/preached in a single passage/paragraph. Every book/letter has a central theme so that understanding the main theme of each book will help us to understand the context of the verses which is being read. An example of a Bible verse that is often quoted out of context is: ”I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” (Phil. 4:13).To understand the context, it is important for us to understand about:
Who is its author? Who are its first readers? What was the relationship between the author and his readers? Where was the author when he wrote his book? Where were his first readers? How were the situation, condition, struggle, and sociocultural state at that time? When was the book written? What was the purpose of the author in writing his book? How is the structure of the book? What are the characteristics of the book?
- What is discussed in the passage where this verse is located? What is discussed in the chapter where this passage is located? What is discussed in the theme of the passage? What is discussed in the previous two chapters? What is discussed in the next two chapters? What is the theme of the book (in relationship to the whole Bible)?
- When reading the Bible, we need to pay attention to the book’s genre. Is this a narration/book of law/poetry/proverb/letter? Narrative text is usually interpreted literally. It should not be interpreted allegorically. For example is about five stones used by David to strike down Goliath. The five stones mean five stones. It should not be interpreted other than that.
If the genre is a letter, it is very important to understand the context and culture of its recipient at that time. Ephesians 6:5 is misused to justify slavery in the US. In fact, the definition of “slave” in Paul’s situation is very different with ours.
- For example: (a) there is a ”caste” of a slave because there are slaves who work in the mine/garden/gladiator/house. Slaves in Paul’s letter refer to those who worked in the house. (b) At that time, slaves were often educated. Many doctors of the time were slaves in the wealthy family. (c) The people were scrambling to be a slave in the family of dignitaries. There are also Caesar’s slaves that are more influential than the Senators. (d) The slave is never associated with a particular race.
- Understanding the cultural context, the culture of the first listeners and readers, as well as the genre will make one verse so different in its meaning. The misunderstanding can result in a fatal error, such as legalize slavery of black people.
The Gospel of Matthew
| Who is the author? |
Matius (the gift of Jehovah) is a tax collector in Capernaum (Matt. 9:9; Mark. 2:13-14; Luke. 5:27-28). He immediately follows Jesus when he was called. At that time, tax collector is a profession viewed as despicable and disgusting by Jewish culture. They were considered to be the colonialist’s henchmen. Tax collectors were very rich people because they needed connection to Rome to be trusted as a tax collector. Usually, they were very educated, systematic, and meticulous. They mastered the Greek well.
From the Gospel structure, Matthew wanted to affirm that Jesus Christ, the King and Messiah, came into the world to call sinners in order to repent and return to God.
9:1-8= the paralytic sinner healed and forgiven
9:9-13= sinners are called to be the followers of Jesus
9:14-17=the followers of Jesus must have a new mindset
The phrase ”follow Me” (akoloutheo) means a call to ”walk on the same road; together; be a follower”. Matthew gave an example for all of us by doing it totally and immediately. ”And leaving everything, he rose and followed him” (Luke. 5:28).
| For whom the Gospel was addressed? |
Matthew focused to talk to the Jews. Some things indicate this intention. In addition to a large number of verses quoted from the Old Testament (OT), Matthew used many terms that are associated with Jewish culture, for example, ”The Kingdom of Heaven” and ”Father in Heaven”. The word ”Heaven” is a word used by the Jews to refer to God himself because of their reluctance to call the name of God directly.
Matthew also emphasized Jesus as the descendants of Abraham (1:1-17) and the Son of David (1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30-31; 21:9, 15; 22:41-45). Whether Jesus is related to this two characters had an important meaning for the Jewish people. Related with the prophecies in OT, the Christ (Messiah) should come from the descendants of Abraham and David. He could not come from others, and it is not possible.
The first church ministered by Matthew is a Jewish church. In its process, the Gentiles starting to become the members of the church. Its diversity makes a crisis. For the Jewish people, their theological status as the people of God began to be threatened. They strictly affirm that only Jewish people who could be seen as the people of God. If the Gentiles want to be God’s people, then they should be like the Jews. The Gentiles should adhere to Judaism (be proselyted).
Such was the conditions that caused an identity crisis for the Gentiles church. Although they already believed in Jesus, they were seen as a group that is not equal to the Jews. At that time, there was a debate in the church about who is the true people of God.
In this kind of situations and conditions, the Gospel of Matthew affirms the truth that must be understood by the church: salvation is provided for all nations. Such as the Great Commission at Matt. 28:19. This description doesn’t suddenly appear in the last chapter. Matthew indicated this message since the first chapter.
In Jesus’ genealogy, Matthew included four Gentile women, namely Tamar (Gen. 38), Rahab (Jos. 2:1), Ruth (book of Ruth), and Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife (2 Sam. 11:3-5).
Because the Gospel of Matthew itself seems more directed at the Jewish people, the act of including the four Gentile woman in the description is unusual for its readers. In the Jewish culture, it’s only the male’s name listed in the genealogy. The genealogy is more uncommon because it shows that Jesus is not a pure Jew.
At that time, ethnically Jewish Christians hardly accepted that the Gentiles can also be the people of God. Christianity is formed from various nations. Over the years the Jews have always felt that only Jewish people can be God’s people. Do they still have to face the fact that the Messiah is not a pure Jew? It’s not an easy thing for them to accept this fact.
Thus, from the 1st chapter to the 28th, Matthew stated that salvation is not only for the Jewish people. He repeatedly described in his writing, both explicitly and implicitly, that Jesus is LORD of all nations.
| Why is the Gospel written? |
The main purpose of this Gospel was to show the first readers that Jesus of Nazareth is the King and Messiah (Christ), whom the prophets of the OT prophesied. There are approximately 60 quotes from OT used by Matthew to prove and convince his readers that Jesus is truly the King and Messiah who was prophesied. The words ”the Kingdom” appeared 40 times, ”the Kingdom of Heaven” appeared 34 times, and ”the Kingdom of God” 6 times. ”The fulfillment of the prophecy” is a theme that repeatedly delivered by Matthew, for example in 1:22-23; 2:15; 2:17-18; 2:23; 4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 13:35; 27:9-10.
| What is the characteristic of the Gospel of Matthew? |
The structure of this Gospel is beautifully presented and organized. This Gospel contains five sermons and five narratives. The teachings of Jesus are inserted into the narrative of his activities. Matthew wanted to remind its readers that Jesus was not only the teacher of truth but also a doer of righteousness. Therefore, as his disciples, we should not only become the listeners of the word but also doers thereof.
In this Gospel, Matthew introduces the unique pattern that is often called ”the formula quotations”. Such as in Mat. 1:22-23
Mat 1:22 = “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:” (or other sentences like that)
Mat. 1:23 = quotations from the Old Testament
Similar patterns also are found at 2:15; 2:17-18; 2:23; 4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 21:4-5; 27:9-10. This pattern seems to assert that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies about the Messiah and the King prophesied by the prophets of the OT.
Broadly speaking, the Gospel of Matthew structure is as follows:#Prologue: The birth and childhood of Jesus(1:1-2:23)
#The contents of the book:
Narration: The Proclamation and The Appearance of The Messiah (3:1-4:25)
Teaching 1: The Sermon on The Mount (5:1-7:29)
- Narration: The Miracles in Galilee (8:1-9:34)
Teaching 2: The Mission of the 12 Disciples (9:35-11:1)
- Narration: The Growing of The Hostility (11:2-12:50)
Teaching 3: The Kingdom of God (13:1-52)
- Narration: The Shadow of The Cross (13:53-17:23)
Teaching 4: The Disciple’s Lifestyle in The Kingdom of God (17:24-18:35)
- Narration: The Journey to Jerusalem (19:1-23:39)
Teaching 5: Eschatology (24:1-25:46)
#Epilogue: Suffering, death, resurrection, and the dispatching (26:1-28:20)
The narrative parts are used by Matthew to prepare the readers to understand Jesus’ preaching. Meanwhile, in every Jesus’ sermon is always ended with the phrase ”and when Jesus finished these sayings” or some kind of that. (7:28, 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1).
Matthew also affirmed that there are two groups of the listeners of Jesus: ”the crowd” and ”the disciples”. We need to understand that ”the disciples” in the Gospel of Matthew does not necessarily referring to the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, but it rather refers to ”any person who follow Jesus”.
For example, in Mat. 20:17, Matthew clearly distinguished ”the twelve apostles” and the ”disciples” of Jesus. If it means the twelve apostles, Matthew will clearly describe it (10:1,2,5; 11:1; 20:17; 26:14,20,47). Jesus’ five sermons are taught to his disciples. Although there are two sermons (sermon 1 and 3) who seem to be heard by the crowd but the focus is on the disciples.
There are several unique events that are recorded only in the Gospel of Matthew:
#Chapter 2 = the visit of the wise men. The exile to Egypt. The murder of the children. The returned to Nazareth event.
#Chapter 3 = the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming to John the Baptist.
#Chapter 5-7 = The Sermon on The Mount (complete).
#Chapter 11:28 = The Invitation to Come to Jesus.
#Chapter 14:28-32 = Peter walking on water.
#Chapter 23 = Seven woes addressed to the Pharisees.
#Chapter 26:16 = 30 pieces of silver received by Judas Iscariot.
#Chapter 27 = Judas returned the money. Pilate’s wife’s dream. People who rose from the grave. The security of the Tomb.
#Chapter 28 = The earth quake. The money was given to soldiers to state that the body had been stolen by Jesus’ disciples. The command regarding the Great Commission.
Matthew also confirmed that Jesus is ”God is with us” (Immanuel). He showed it beautifully in the early part of his writings (Mat. 1:23 ) and then laid it down at the end (Mat. 28:20 ) when he presents Jesus who declared, ”… And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Through this Gospel, Matthew wanted to affirm the readers that Jesus truly is the King, the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of God, the Son of Man, and Immanuel. ”The fulfillment of the prophecy” is a theme repeated in this Gospel.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
1. Is there any characteristic of the Gospel of Matthew that is memorable for you?2. Is there a unique event that is only recorded in the Gospel of Matthew that is memorable for you?
3. What do you think about this Gospel’s structure?
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