On the basis of a literary-critical and historical-critical interpretation, this book concludes that Matthew's Gospel was addressed to Christian Jews who were being persecuted by their fellow Jews because they acknowledged Jesus to be their long-awaited Messiah. The Gospel structures the life and career of Jesus according to a Pentateuchal design, and each of the five books is composed of narrative and discourse. The Pentateuchal structure however, is shattered by the death and resurrection of Jesus which is narrated in chapters 26-28 after the five books of narrative and discourse have been concluded at 26:1. The Evangelist's objective is to convince these addressees that they now constitute the New Israel and are therefore the true people of God.
"And then, into this tasteless heap of gold and marble, He came, light and clothed in an aura, emphatically human, deliberately provincial, Galilean, and at that moment gods and nations ceased to be and man came into being…"
Dr. Zhivago
By Boris Pasternak
Contents
Book I | Narrative 1:1 - 4:25 | Origin and Beginnings |
Book II | Narrative 8:1 - 9:35 | Character of Jesus' Ministry |
Book III | Narrative 11:2 - 12:50 | Controversy |
Book IV | Narrative 13:54 - 17:27 | Preparing and Training Disciples for the Future |
Book V | Narrative 19:2 - 22:46 | Return to Judaea and Rejection in Jerusalem |
Shattering | Culmination 26:2 - 28:20 | Jesus' Death and Resurrection |