Book of Matthew

Matthew is writing persuasively to which audience?

The Jews

Who does the geneology start with in Matthew?

Abraham (as opposed to Adam in Luke)

Who does the geneology end with in Matthew?

Joseph (as opposed to Mary in Luke)

What does the mathematical center of Matthew say?

The sons are free

Though Ruth didn’t have negative qualities such as the other women in the geneology, what should have disqualified Ruth from the blessing in the covenant community?

She was a moabite (Moses said no Moabite could enter Israel cuz they had done bad things in the past)

Who were the first 4 “easter egg” women in the geneology leading to David?

Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba

What were the 3 strikes against the first 4 women listed in the geneology? (Jews would have understood this, which highlights that Matthew was trying to persuade the Jews)

1. Women

2. Foreigners

3. Dubious reputation

Why did Tamar trick Judah (her father-in-law) into getting her pregnant?

Her husband (and his sons) were all killed, but she probably knew from Judah talking about how he fled his family after selling his brother Joseph as a slave and killing God’s promise, so she knew this is the only way it would be fulfilled.

Who was the prophet to the 10 northern tribes before the Assyrians captured them (in 722 BC) that Matthew lists in the geneology?

Amos (a few from each tribe believed his warnings and moved south with him before the deportation, preserving Israel even though the tribes were dispersed).

Matthew concludes that these are “14” generations, but how many did he actually list?

13, he was an accountant so wouldn’t have made an error. Everyone after Christ is now the seed of Abraham and inherit the promise. WE are the 14th generation. Note that John Calvin thinks it was just an error.

What does Matthew infer or highlight about Joseph?

That he is nobility, a descendant of David

How does the angel in Joseph’s dream address him?

Joseph, son of David

Which prophet were they referring to who said “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel”?

Micah; this is when King Herod was troubled that the Magi came to Jerusalem asking where the king of the Jews was who had been born, so he asked the chief priests and scribes where the Christ was to be born

Why didn’t the Magi bring Jesus to King Herod once they found him, as Herod asked them to do so that he could “worship” him?

They were told in a dream not to go back to Herod, so after finding Jesus they went home a different way

Why might the story of the Magi be unique to the gospel of Matthew?

Matthew is writing to convince the Jews, that the Old Covenant is OLD, and that outsiders are part of the story

Where did the Magi come from?

An astrology cult from Persia (though the Zoroastrians were the major religion of Persia at the time)

“The heavens declare the glory of God” is how which chapter begins?

Psalm 19

How does Bruce Gore describe King Herod?

A paranoid wack-job, who executed his own wife, his sons, a high priest, etc (the Magi didn’t know this which is why they asked him where Jesus is)

What story would any Jewish leader think of, after hearing about a star relating to the King of the Jews?

The story of Balak (King of Moab, arch enemies of Israel), and Balaam (and outsider pagan prophet hired to curse Israel by Balak, but all he could do was speak blessings) from the Book of Numbers.

Who said “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.”

Balaam, a foreign prophet (similarities to the Magi)

How many times in Matthew is it mentioned that Jesus was “worshipped”?

Ten. Jews wouldn’t worship anything other than God, so Matthew is presenting the deity of Christ

Which prophet had said “out of Egypt I called my son”?

Hosea (chapter 11). This is what was being fulfilled when an angel of the Lord told Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus.

What does Matthew say was fulfilling the words of prophet Jeremiah who said “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Herod having all the male children killed when he found out the Magi had tricked him

Why did Joseph choose to go to Galilee, city of Nazareth, instead of returning to Judea after an angel of the Lord told him Herod had died and it was safe to return from Egypt?

He was warned in a dream, after hearing that Herod’s son (Archelaus) was reigning over Judea

What year was Jesus born?

6 BC

What did Jews typically associate with the phrase “Out of Egypt I called my son” from Hosea?

The exodus out of Egypt

What is Hosea referring to when he was talking about “Out of Egypt I called my son”?

Moses in Exodus, when the Lord told Moses to tell Pharoah “Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and i say to you “Let me son go that he may serve me.” “ —> this was the first time Israel is referred to as a son of God

What does Hosea 11 actually say (even though the Jews usually think of it as a celebration of the 1st exodus out of Egypt?

A warning. “When Israel was a child, I love him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols”

The first exodus was an escape from { } bondage

External, but Jesus comes as the new Moses to point to a greater exodus

Matthew chapter 1 teaches the new {…}; Matthew chapter 2 teaches the new {…}

Genesis; Exodus

Though Matthew doesn’t say it, what are the next verses in Jeremiah after the verse he references about Rachel weeping for her children “because they are no more”?

Refrain your voice from weeping…your children shall come back to their border…the days are coming when i will make a NEW COVENANT

What are the similarities between Hosea and Jeremiah’s references in matthew?

They are both referencing the first exodus out of Egypt, about how they turned their back on God, so He turned his back on them, but will make a NEW COVENANT

In some ways, the book of Matthew is the gospel version of which other book?

Hebrews: stop associating with the old covenant —> Matthew wasn’t just telling a story. He had an agenda

What happened between 4 BC and 2 BC, which Matthew does not talk about the events of, but Josephus gives blood curdling details of and Jews would have known about?

The deranged time between the Slaughter of the Innonence and Herod’s death. Killed his own sons, did crazy things.

What text is Matthew most likely referencing when he says the old testament prophets spoke “He shall be called a Nazarene”?

Isaiah 11: where he says “there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch [netzer —> root of the word Nazareth, meaning a small sprout or shoot] from his roots shall bear fruit”.

Jeremiah: in those days I (the Lord) will cause a righteous Branch [netzer] to spring up for David

What is Dale Bruner’s alternate name for Nazareth?

Nowheresville (it’s never mentioned anywhere in the old testament or by Josephus, a tiny nothing town)

To who did John the Baptist say “you brood of vipers…bear fruit in keeping with repentance”

The Pharisees and Sadducees, coming for baptism (or checking it out). John told them, don’t come to this and brag about how Abraham is your father. You won’t escape wrath if you aren’t actually repenting.

Who was ruling at the time of John the Baptist?

Tiberius (he even heard about Jesus and the resurrection and said He should be considered a Roman God)

What was the tradition for a proselyte (a gentile who converted to Judaism)?

Circumcision followed by baptism —> perhaps a parallel of what John the Baptist was preparing

What is the first command spoken or at least documented by Jesus?

Repent

Which prophet spoke “the voice of one crying in the wilderness ‘prepare the way of the Lord [YHWH]; make. his paths straight’ “

Isaiah

Which chapter of Isaiah splits the book in half, and orbits around the Messiah?

Chapter 40

Where does Handel’s Messiah begin?

Isaiah 40

John the Baptist is called the Last Prophet. Who was considered the First Prophet in the old testament?

Elijah, also elusive and eccentric

What does the last paragraph in the old testament say?

I will send you Elijah the prophet

What is the last WORD of the old testament to the Jews?

Curse

Who does Jesus say John the Baptist was?

Elijah