Lesson 18, Day 3 (01/26/06) Outline of Readings
Matthew 11:1—13:52 (Secrets of the Kingdom)
11:1-19 Jesus and John the Baptist
John: arrested for sedition & killed by Herod Antipas
Messiah (“Christ”): a number of groups expected a messianic or redemptive figure in this period
Prophets and law: first 2 divisions of Jewish scriptures
Elijah: as precursor to messianic day, was popular tradition during Second Temple Judaism (Malachi 4:5)
Jesus identified with wisdom
11:20-30 Denunciation and true discipleship
denunciation of villages & extolling of non-Israelite coastal cities
Jesus’ primary mission is to Israel
nature of true wisdom is important question
powerful and influential people form opposition
ironically, younger students without influence, training & power heard and understood message
wisdom hidden from “wise” (Job 12:1,24-25; Isaiah 19:11-12; Jeremiah 8:8-9; Proverbs 3:7)
yoke = obedience and submission, also political allegiance, wisdom and justice (2 Chronicles 10:4; Proverbs 11:1,16; Micah 6:11; Ezekiel 45:10)
come to me (Proverbs 9:5; Sirach 24:19)
12:1-42 Jesus and the Pharisees
developing conflict with local leaders represented by Pharisees, known for meticulous interpretation of Law
12:1-8 Sabbath Laws
demonstrates Jesus’ authority and legal authority
Bread of the Presence: 12 loaves placed in Temple every Sabbath as thank offering (Leviticus 24:5-9)
denunciation of priests in Jerusalem temple (Numbers 28:9-10)
Jesus cites scripture to support his argument (Hosea 6:6)
12:9-14 A Sabbath healing
synagogue: common Greek term for informal public gathering place, not yet formal religious institution
"from the small to the great": rhetorical technique used in classical rhetoric and early rabbinic legal debate
first mention of plan to destroy Jesus
12:15-21 Justice and healing for many
Isaiah 42:1-4, 9
Jesus' ministry is for all people
12:22-37 The relationship between words and deeds
story of exorcism provides occasion for Pharisees to attempt to discredit Jesus
speaking against the Holy Spirit: attributing authority to something other than God's spirit
speech as evidence of character renders persons liable to judgment
12:38-45 Seeking a sign
adulterous: Hebrew Bible metaphor for unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 3:8; Ezekiel 23:37; Hosea 2:2-10)
Queen of the South = Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-10)
waterless regions = deserts; believed to be home of demons (Leviticus 16:10; Isaiah 13:21-22; Isaiah 34:14)
house = formerly possessed person
empty = no good spirit has replaced evil ones
12:46-50 Jesus' true family
Jesus' implicit rejection of his family in favor of disciples is radical challenge to traditional values
13:1-52 Teaching in parables
third discourse: group of several parables about kingdom's presence in single chapter
parables: can refer to stories or parables (Ezekiel 24:2-5), proverbial sayings (1 Samuel 24:13), or riddles (Ezekiel 17:2)
narrative parables: involve analogy or comparisons between situation and subject being discussed (2 Samuel 12:1-7; Isaiah 5:1-7)
parable of the sower
seeds: metaphor for God's law (2 Esdras 9:31) and individuals who receive it (2 Esdras 8:41-44)
hundredfold: indicates extraordinarily bountiful harvest (Genesis 26:12), which makes up for lost seed
3 parables of hidden kingdom
weeds and wheat: parable unique to Matthew; reminder that it is impossible to separate good and evil individuals
bundles to be burned: farmer outwits his enemies by using weeds as fuel
parable of mustard seed
birds of the air...branches: alludes to image of God's rule over kingdoms of earth (Ezekiel 17:23-34)
mixed in with = "hid in"; unusual twist in baking metaphor emphasizes kingdom in world
three measures: about 23 liters (2/3 bushel)
the prophet: Asaph, given as author of Psalm 78; called "the seer" in 2 Chronicles 29:30
Jesus provides apocalyptic interpretation to parable of weeds and wheat
3 more brief parables of the kingdom: first 2 (treasure and pearl) depict inestimable value of kingdom, 3rd is another apocalyptic parable
scribe...trained for the kingdom: may reflect the Evangalist's background
new: Jesus' teaching; old: the Torah
11:1-19 Jesus and John the Baptist
John: arrested for sedition & killed by Herod Antipas
Messiah (“Christ”): a number of groups expected a messianic or redemptive figure in this period
Prophets and law: first 2 divisions of Jewish scriptures
Elijah: as precursor to messianic day, was popular tradition during Second Temple Judaism (Malachi 4:5)
Jesus identified with wisdom
11:20-30 Denunciation and true discipleship
denunciation of villages & extolling of non-Israelite coastal cities
Jesus’ primary mission is to Israel
nature of true wisdom is important question
powerful and influential people form opposition
ironically, younger students without influence, training & power heard and understood message
wisdom hidden from “wise” (Job 12:1,24-25; Isaiah 19:11-12; Jeremiah 8:8-9; Proverbs 3:7)
yoke = obedience and submission, also political allegiance, wisdom and justice (2 Chronicles 10:4; Proverbs 11:1,16; Micah 6:11; Ezekiel 45:10)
come to me (Proverbs 9:5; Sirach 24:19)
12:1-42 Jesus and the Pharisees
developing conflict with local leaders represented by Pharisees, known for meticulous interpretation of Law
12:1-8 Sabbath Laws
demonstrates Jesus’ authority and legal authority
Bread of the Presence: 12 loaves placed in Temple every Sabbath as thank offering (Leviticus 24:5-9)
denunciation of priests in Jerusalem temple (Numbers 28:9-10)
Jesus cites scripture to support his argument (Hosea 6:6)
12:9-14 A Sabbath healing
synagogue: common Greek term for informal public gathering place, not yet formal religious institution
"from the small to the great": rhetorical technique used in classical rhetoric and early rabbinic legal debate
first mention of plan to destroy Jesus
12:15-21 Justice and healing for many
Isaiah 42:1-4, 9
Jesus' ministry is for all people
12:22-37 The relationship between words and deeds
story of exorcism provides occasion for Pharisees to attempt to discredit Jesus
speaking against the Holy Spirit: attributing authority to something other than God's spirit
speech as evidence of character renders persons liable to judgment
12:38-45 Seeking a sign
adulterous: Hebrew Bible metaphor for unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 3:8; Ezekiel 23:37; Hosea 2:2-10)
Queen of the South = Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-10)
waterless regions = deserts; believed to be home of demons (Leviticus 16:10; Isaiah 13:21-22; Isaiah 34:14)
house = formerly possessed person
empty = no good spirit has replaced evil ones
12:46-50 Jesus' true family
Jesus' implicit rejection of his family in favor of disciples is radical challenge to traditional values
13:1-52 Teaching in parables
third discourse: group of several parables about kingdom's presence in single chapter
parables: can refer to stories or parables (Ezekiel 24:2-5), proverbial sayings (1 Samuel 24:13), or riddles (Ezekiel 17:2)
narrative parables: involve analogy or comparisons between situation and subject being discussed (2 Samuel 12:1-7; Isaiah 5:1-7)
parable of the sower
seeds: metaphor for God's law (2 Esdras 9:31) and individuals who receive it (2 Esdras 8:41-44)
hundredfold: indicates extraordinarily bountiful harvest (Genesis 26:12), which makes up for lost seed
3 parables of hidden kingdom
weeds and wheat: parable unique to Matthew; reminder that it is impossible to separate good and evil individuals
bundles to be burned: farmer outwits his enemies by using weeds as fuel
parable of mustard seed
birds of the air...branches: alludes to image of God's rule over kingdoms of earth (Ezekiel 17:23-34)
mixed in with = "hid in"; unusual twist in baking metaphor emphasizes kingdom in world
three measures: about 23 liters (2/3 bushel)
the prophet: Asaph, given as author of Psalm 78; called "the seer" in 2 Chronicles 29:30
Jesus provides apocalyptic interpretation to parable of weeds and wheat
3 more brief parables of the kingdom: first 2 (treasure and pearl) depict inestimable value of kingdom, 3rd is another apocalyptic parable
scribe...trained for the kingdom: may reflect the Evangalist's background
new: Jesus' teaching; old: the Torah
posted by Joan at 3:49 AM
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