Lesson 5 - Matthew - Intro, Structure, Major Characteristics

Question 1

What is the authorship of Matthew?

Answer 1

– Internal Evidence - the title existed before the end of the 1st c.

– External Evidence - what did the early church say? Papias tell us about the names of Matthew and Mark (2nd c.). Got his information from the elder

Question 2

What is the provenance of Matthew?

Answer 2

a. ) Matthew is the most Jewish gospel

b. ) Where Judaism is in a stronghold? could possibly be Palestine

Question 3

What is the date of Matthew’s gospel?

Answer 3

2 options:

a. ) Late date - most scholars date it between 80-100 AD
- - Whether Matthew used Mark as a source
- - Before temple destruction or after (70 AD)

b. ) Early Date - prior to 70AD
- - Matthew - 60’s AD (Mark in the 50’s)
- - References to the temple that make it seem like the temple is still there (ex. temple tax)

Question 4

What is Matthew’s literary structure? What is the indicator?

Answer 4

• • 5 Books of Matthew (5 chunks of narrative/5 chunks of teaching) - after the Pentateuch and Moses
• • Indicator: “When Jesus had finished saying these things…”

Question 5

What is the overview of the 5 chunks of narrative and teaching in Matthew?

Answer 5

Matthew 1-4 (Narrative)
Matthew 5-7 (Sermon 1 - Sermon on the Mount)
Matthew 8-9 (Narrative)
Matthew 10 (Sermon 2 - Sending out the 12)
Matthew 11-12 (Narrative)
Matthew 13 (Sermon 3 - Kingdom Parables)
Matthew 13:53-17:27 (Narrative)
Matthew 18 (Sermon 4 - Christian Community)
Matthew 19-22 (Narrative)
Matthew 23-25 (Sermon 5 - Pharisee and Eschatology)
Matthew 26-28 (Narrative)

Question 6

What is the evaluation of Matthew’s literary structure?

Answer 6

• • Matthew is a didactic gospel, with large blocks of teaching throughout. It’s not true that Matthew’s gospel is only pure teaching or narrative. They are sprinkled throughout.
• • This gospel has a huge emphasis on cross and resurrection

Question 7

What evidence is there that Matthew’s gospel has a Jewish audience?

Answer 7

1. ) Frequency of un-translated Aramaic terms
2. ) Jewish rituals are mentioned and left unexplained (explained in other gospels - Mark 7)
3. ) Matthew 23:5 - filactories added on
4. ) Genealogy at the beginning (starts with Abraham, not Adam)
5. ) Matthew cites from the OT, both from the Greek (Septuagint) and from the Hebrew
6. ) Uses the distinctive Jewish title “son of David” (9 times in Matthew, 8 of which are unparralled)
7. ) Kingdom of Heaven, over Kingdom of God

Question 8

What is Matthew’s emphasis on mission to the Gentiles in his gospels?

Answer 8

1. ) The goal of Israel was always to get the gospel to the nations
2. ) the Gentile Magi come to see the baby Jesus (not just King of Israel, but of the world)
3. ) Matthew 21 - parable of the wicked tenants, show the kingdom is being taken away from the Israelites and given to the Gentiles)
4. ) Matthew includes the Great Commission
5. ) Matthew is clear about judgement coming to the Israelites for the hard hearts (Matthew 23 - series of woes)