At the heart of
Matthew's Gospel is the understanding that in Jesus of Nazareth God is with us
1:23 (M= this abbreviation is used to indicate material unique to Matthew's Gospel);18:20 (M);28:20 (M). Matthew makes extensive use of titles such as Son
of God, Son of David, Christ, Lord and Wisdom to explore the richness of the
person of Jesus.
Jesus' sonship is:
·
declared
at his baptism 3:17
·
tested
in the desert 4:3,6 (Q)
·
recognized
by demons 8:29
·
confessed
by disciples 14:33; 16:15 (M)
·
questioned
by the High priest 26:63
·
mocked/blasphemed
at the crucifixion 27:40ff (M)
·
confessed
at his death 27:54
As God's Son Jesus could command
stones to become bread 4:3 (Q), or throw himself down and be protected by
angels 4:6 (Q); or if he appealed to the Father have 12 legions protect him
from the passion 26:53 (M). Jesus' sonship is shown actively in obedience to
the Father's will 26:39,41-42 (M c.f. 6:10) and giving his life as a ransom for
many as the Son of man 20:28 (16:21; 17:12,22-23; 20:17-19; 26:2).
Matthew's exalted christology can be
detected in that many worship/kneel down before him. (It is worth noting
that while Mark has people fall at
Jesus' feet Matthew has them kneel respectfully).
·
Magi
2:2 (8) 11 (M)
·
leper
8:2
·
ruler
9:18
·
disciples
14:33(M) ; 28:9 (M)
·
Canaanite
woman 15:25
The post-resurrection confession of
Jesus as Lord is also placed on the lips of disciples during Jesus' earthly
ministry
·
calming
the storm 8:25 (M)
·
walking
on the water 14:28 (M)
·
Caesaria
Philippi 16:22 (M)
·
Transfiguration
17:4 (M)
·
question
of forgiveness 18:21 (M).
While Mark and Luke rarely use the
title Son of David (Mk 10:47-48; 12:25) Matthew uses it as a major
christological tool. As Son of David Jesus:
·
heals
9:27; 12:23 (M) ; 20:30
·
casts
out demons 15:22 (M)
·
is
humble 21:5 (M)
·
is
praised by the crowds 21:9 (M)
·
is
mocked by Roman soldiers and Jewish religious authorities ` 27:29,37,42.
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| Sourced from pemptousia.com |
The figure of the Son of Man was a
motif already well established in the Markan tradition dealing with the
forgiveness of sins, the suffering and exaltation of Jesus and his future
return as judge. The Q tradition also had its own traditions associated with
the Son of Man:
·
Foxes
have holes 8:20
·
Being
a friend of tax collectors and sinners 11:19
·
Being
spoken against 12:32
·
The
sign of Jonah 12:40
·
Lightning
that will accompany the return of the Son of Man 24:27
·
Comparison
with the days of Noah 24:37,39,
·
The
unexpected day of the Son of Man 24:44.
Matthew also
incorporates unique traditions about the Son of Man in:
·
Persecution
for those who preach the message 10:23
·
The
Son of Man in the parable of the Tares and Wheat 13:37
·
Some
disciples not tasting death until the Son of Man comes 16:28
·
The
suffering of the Son of Man 17:12
·
The
Son of Man sitting on the throne of glory 19:28
·
The
Tribes mourning when the Son of Man returns 24:30
In Luke's gospel Jesus and John the
Baptist are Wisdom's children (Lk 7:35) but Matthew goes even further: Jesus is
Wisdom. As Wisdom Jesus
·
is
justified by his deeds 11:19 (Q)
·
has
a yoke which is easy 11:25-30 (c.f. Sir 51:23-30) (M)
·
has
a wisdom greater than Solomon 12:42 (Q)
·
is
rejected by his own 13:54ff
·
sends
the prophets, wise men and scribes 23:34 (Q
c.f. Lk 11:49).
In Jewish reflection Wisdom was
identified with the Mosaic law, in Jesus this is completed, fulfilled and surpassed
5:18ff.
Another feature of Matthew’s
Christology is its development of the association of Jesus’ ministry with the
figure of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah in 8:17 (Isa 53:4) and 12:17-21 (Isa
42:1-4).
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