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Herman C. Waetjen
Robert S. Dollar Emeritus Professor
San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) and Graduate Theological Union (GTU)

The Origin and Destiny of Humanness

The Origin and Destiny of Humanness

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
Discourse 5:1 - 7:27
Transition 7:28 - 29
 

Origin and Beginnings
The Sermon on the Mount
 

Book II

Narrative 8:1 - 9:35
Discourse 9:36 - 10:42
Transition 11:1
 

Character of Jesus' Ministry
A Manual of Mission Conduct
 

Book III

Narrative 11:2 - 12:50
Discourse 13:1 - 52
Transition 13:53
 

Controversy
Parables of God's Rule
 

Book IV

Narrative 13:54 - 17:27
Discourse 18:1 - 35
Transition 19:1
 

Preparing and Training Disciples for the Future
Community Conduct and Discipline
 

Book V

Narrative 19:2 - 22:46
Discourse I 23:1 - 39
Discourse II 24:1 - 25:46
Transition 26:1
 

Return to Judaea and Rejection in Jerusalem
Polemic against Scribes and Pharisees
Eschatology
 

Shattering

Culmination 26:2 - 28:20

Jesus' Death and Resurrection

Copyright © 2025 Herman C. Waetjen