[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

790.0. "The Main Message of Matthew" by AKOCOA::FLANAGAN (honor the web) Tue Dec 14 1993 13:34

    What is the main message of Matthew?  What is the Image of Jesus in
    Matthew?
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
790.1CSC32::J_CHRISTIEOn loan from GodTue Dec 14 1993 19:1915
Matthew was a genius, imo.  He knew his audience and he knew what would appeal
to them.

The gospel of Matthew was written for a primarily Jewish readership.  The
gospel is divided into 5 parts, echoing the Torah (and the Psalms).  The
Jews of Matthews' time would have easily picked up on such a parallel.  Matthew
also makes a number of deliberate parallels between Jesus and Moses, which
again, would have snared the attention of his intended audience.

Jesus, Matthew is convinced, is the fulfillment of the long-awaited Messiah
prophesied through Mosaic tradition.

Peace,
Richard

790.2TLE::COLLIS::JACKSONDCU fees? NO!!!Tue Dec 14 1993 19:3011
Jesus is the Messiah is the focus of Matthew.  The
Prince of Peace.  The Everlasting Father.  The Mighty
God.  

A Messiah that the Jews would not expect because they
looked for the wrong things.  Jesus was the suffering
Savior who died for their sins instead of bringing
release from political bondage.  This is who the Messiah
really is.  Can't you see that it is prophesied?

Collis
790.3AIMHI::JMARTINTue Dec 14 1993 20:515
    The nature and person of Jesus is clearly evident in Matthew.  The
    geneology in Chapter 1 is quite important.  Also the accounts of his
    birth and the acts of Herod show prophecies of his coming to be true.
    
    -Jack
790.4The main message of Matthew...LEDS::LOPEZA River.. proceeding!Sat Dec 18 1993 01:215

	to present:  Christ the King

ace
790.5I agree - Christ the KingGERBIL::MAGEEMon Dec 20 1993 01:405
    .4 is correct - Christ the King - Our pastor has been preaching from
    Matthew for over a year now.  From the very beginning to the very end,
    Christ is presented as King.  He is the only Law-Giver for His church.
    
    Steve
790.6Born to DieGERBIL::MAGEEMon Dec 20 1993 01:431
    And to think that the King came to die for the sins of His subjects...
790.7AKOCOA::FLANAGANhonor the webTue Dec 28 1993 15:3528
    The main message of Matthew is that Jesus is the Messiah who comes to 
    fulfill the OT prophesies.  In addition to allusions to Moses are
    allusions to Elijah.  Jesus is potrayed as coming to fulfill prophesy,
    but not being recognized by the Jewish people as the Messiah. Jesus as
    Messiah is a parodox because he is a Messiah who dies on the cross
    instead of leading his people to military victory.
    
    There are many parables in Matthews many of them ending with "weeping
    and gnashing of teeth".  Jesus is the BrideGroom and the people have
    been invited to the wedding banquet but many refuse to come. "woe to
    them" is the message.
    
    Pontius Pilot and the Soldiers recognize that Jesus is the King of the
    Jews.  Pontius Pilot is shown as recognizing that the Pharasees and elders
    have turned against Jesus because they are jeolous of him.  Human
    jeolousy and self righteousness is the major sin potrayed in this
    Gospel and the sin that leads to Jesus' Crucifiction.
    
    The image of Jesus in this Gospel is not as human as the image in Mark. 
    The emotions are not as real.  There is a matter of fact pace as the
    story evolves from birth to death and resurrection.  Jesus' role is to
    fulfill prohesy.
    
    
    
    There are some magical occurences in this Gospel.  A fish producing a
    coin and the all the graves of the saints opening up and the rising of
    the saints.
790.8AKOCOA::FLANAGANhonor the webTue Dec 28 1993 15:382
    Elijah is compared with John the Baptist in this Gospel.
    
790.9POWDML::FLANAGANI feel therefore I amMon Oct 31 1994 14:3212
    I need some help with Matthew for my mid term.  I don't agree with the
    professors analysis totally and am having difficulty getting my arms
    around Matthew.
    
    Our class notes say the image of Jesus in Matthew is Jesus is the Son
    of God and only teacher.  God is the heavenly father.  The church is a
    community of brothers and sisters goal is to be ready for the eschaton. 
    the end, the Kingdom of Heaven.  
    
    I would appreciate all thoughts and interpretations.
    
                                   Patricia
790.10theme of MatthewFRETZ::HEISERGrace changes everythingMon Oct 31 1994 14:5923
    I partially agree with your notes.
    
    Matthew is primarily addressed to the Jews.  This is confirmed by the
    fact that there are about 60 references to the Jewish prophecies and
    about 40 quotations from the Old Testament.  Christ's mission to the
    Jews is especially emphasized in these verses:
    
Matthew 10:5
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way
of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

Matthew 10:6
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 15:24
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of
Israel.

    I believe the theme and purpose of Matthew is to show that Jesus of
    Nazareth was the kingly Messiah of Jewish prophecy.
    
    hope this helps,
    Mike
790.11AIMHI::JMARTINBarney IS NOT a nerd!!Mon Oct 31 1994 15:516
    Patricia:
    
    What exactly don't you agree with?  It may be better for you and the
    readers to address those items one by one!!
    
    -Jack
790.12COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertMon Oct 31 1994 16:0411
Patricia,

Pick up a copy of the volume on Matthew from "The Navarre Bible".  You can
get it at Sheehan's in downtown Boston (just behind Jordan Marsh) or at
St. Paul Book and Media on Rt 1 South just inside Rt 128 near exit 15.

Paperback is $12.95, I think.  Should be tax-free, since it contains not
just commentary, but also the complete RSV CE text of Matthew (and the
New Vulgate).

/john
790.13POWDML::FLANAGANI feel therefore I amMon Oct 31 1994 16:4229
    I think there are many paradoxes in Matthew that I cannot quite get my
    hands around.
    
    I think the audience was both a Jewish Christian audience and a Gentile
    Audience.  The book is very hostile to the Synogogue community.
    
    The Christology in matthew is a high Cristology.  The Divine nature of
    Jesus is more emphasized than the human nature.  Then their is the
    transfiguration, the ressurection of the Dead Saints.
    
    And yes, throughout the Gospel the message to the Disciples is to reach
    out to the house of Israel, And then in the end, the great commission
    is to teach these things to the whole world.
    
    Jesus' ethics are discussed in Matthew more than in any of the other
    Gospels.  THis is where he clearly states that the most important
    commandment is to love.  In a social science commentary on the word
    love, it means to treat as family.  
    
    If their is a parallel between Jesus' telling his diciples to minister
    to the house of Israel, and his love ethic.  Love you neighbors.  Love
    those in the house of Israel.  Love you enemy.  Again, those in the
    community.  And then in the end, go out and teach the whole world.
    
    Does this mean that the whole world is one family?  And who ever loves
    like Jesus taught us to love is our mother, brother, and sister?
    
    Are the images of Jesus the Son of God different than Jesus the
    Jewish Messiah?
790.14FRETZ::HEISERGrace changes everythingMon Oct 31 1994 17:3015
>    Does this mean that the whole world is one family?  And who ever loves
>    like Jesus taught us to love is our mother, brother, and sister?
    
    I think the Bible teaches that those who are *IN* Christ are brothers
    and sisters in Christ.
    
>    Are the images of Jesus the Son of God different than Jesus the
>    Jewish Messiah?
    
    The information and characteristics of the Jewish Messiah are derived
    from the Messianic prophecies in the Torah and OT prophets.  Since
    Matthew quotes the Torah and OT prophets so much, they would have to be
    the same.
    
    Mike
790.15POWDML::FLANAGANI feel therefore I amWed Nov 02 1994 13:3925
    I think I am getting a better handle on my difficulty with Matthew.
    
    I see three competing definitions of JC in Matthew.  I have not figured
    out how they work together or whether they are in tension with one
    another.
    
    
    1.  Jesus the Jewish Messiah.  The new Moses.  The fulfillment of the
    prophecies.
    
    2.  Jesus the Beloved Son of God.  Coming as the only teacher of what
    is needed to live a good life.  
    
    3.  Jesus the Apocolyptic Son of Man.  Coming on a cloud in his
    heavenly glory to judge humanity.  To seat the good in heaven and to
    subject the bad to weeping and gnashing of teeth.
    
    No one of those three images predominate in Matthew.  They are all
    strong images.
    
    
    I have a long way to go in understanding this book.
    
    
    Patricia
790.16What sort of man is this?COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertWed Nov 02 1994 14:137
>    
>    I have a long way to go in understanding this book.
>    

Spend a lot of time on 8:23-27.

790.17all common titles for the MessiahFRETZ::HEISERGrace changes everythingWed Nov 02 1994 15:5364
>    1.  Jesus the Jewish Messiah.  The new Moses.  The fulfillment of the
>    prophecies.
    
    Agreed.
    
>    2.  Jesus the Beloved Son of God.  Coming as the only teacher of what
>    
>    3.  Jesus the Apocolyptic Son of Man.  Coming on a cloud in his
>    heavenly glory to judge humanity.  To seat the good in heaven and to
>    subject the bad to weeping and gnashing of teeth.
    
    You can still role all of these into the first one.  The Son of God and
    the Son of Man are one and the same, the Messiah!
    
    I think Daniel was the first one to mention the phrase "Son of Man" in a
    Messianic sense.  It was commonly known title for the Messiah as
    evidenced by Jesus Christ using it to describe Himself several times.
    
Daniel 7:13
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the
clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near
before him.

    We also know the Son of God is the Messiah because of Isaiah, David,
    Samuel, and Chronicles.
    
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall
be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called wonderful, counsellor, the
mighty god, the everlasting father, the prince of peace.

Psalms 2:7
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this
day have I begotten thee.

II Samuel 7:12
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will
set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will
establish his kingdom.
II Samuel 7:13
He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his
kingdom for ever.
II Samuel 7:14
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will
chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
II Samuel 7:15
But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put
away before thee.
II Samuel 7:16
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy
throne shall be established for ever.

I Chronicles 17:11
And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be
with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of
thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
I Chronicles 17:12
He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.
I Chronicles 17:13
I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away
from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:
I Chronicles 17:14
But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne
shall be established for evermore.