The Gospel According to Matthew is both a report of Jesus' life and teachings and a description of the kingdom of heaven which Jesus' life makes available to us. The kingdom of heaven is the ordering of life in accordance with God's will.
The events reported in this godpel follow Jesus' life in a general way, beginning with his conception adn birth and neding with his death and resurretion. More importatn for organizing both events and teaching is the development of the idea of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew uses six major sections to address different aspects of the kingdom.
In each major section, Matthew begins with an emphasis on Jesus' actions and ends with a focus on what Jesus taught. Thus action and instruction complement each other in each section.
Matthew's first major section introduces Jesus and the kingdom of heaven which he proclaimed. This section is divided into two stylistically distainct parts. The first takes a generally historical view, althrough this is myxticalhistory rather than secular history. The second part consists of those teachings of Jesus which are known as the Sermon on the Mount. Despite the difference in style, both parts tell about the blessing which God offers to human beings.
Matthew describes Jesus' ancestry in two ways. In the first 17 verses, the generations of Israel since Abraham are listed. This represents the child's legal pedigree through his putative father, Joseph. Its real significance is defined in verse 17, where we see that Hebrew history is punctuated with great events at intervals of twice seven generations. On the basis of this theological or mystical reading of history, Christ's birth marked the turning of the age.
In the rest of the chapter, Matthew truns to the miraculous conception. The action of the Holy Spirit (along with Joseph's lack of action) define Jesus as the child of God; the name, interpretive etymology, and citation of scripture introduce Christ's mission.
For Matthew, neither the geneology nor the holy conception are important apart from the interpretation which makes them into signs of the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus is recognized as king by wise men from the east. his birth has been accompanied by signs in the heavens. These signs can be read by pagans. These pagans participate in the process of founding the kingsom on earth not only by observing the sky but by offering worship to Jesus. Afterward, God sends them a message in a dream. thus the particiaption of the whole world is established immediately after Jesus' birth. In addition, Matthew is making a comment on the blindness of the Jewish wisdom by showing that non-Jews from the east could see what the Jews did not see.
[It is possible, since this is mystical history, to suggest that these astrologers come "from the direction of Eden." But Matthew himself makes nothing of this.]
The response of the secular power is fear and murder. That Herod's response is fear tells us about the nature of worldly power. That Herod feared these reports of a child king is backhanded testimony to the power which was breaking into the world.
John, the Baptist, announces that th kingdom is at hand. He gives an advance summary of the demands of the kingdom: repentence, a good life, a lack of presumption. When Jesus comes to John, John testifies to who jesus is. However, John's testimony and that of the Spirit (which follows immediately) are substantially private communications to Jesus. Jesus himself desires to follow all the mandates of conventional righteousness - at least for now.
The Spirit lead Jesus to face temptation in the desert. This facing of possibilities is the first step in bringing in the kingdom, for it allows Jesus to define his role and to eliminate doubt about his loyalty and his motives. Jesus' response to temptation is to affirm his own obedience to God and to God's will as revealed in scripture.
When John is arrested, Jesus steps in. Jesus moves from his home town and takes up the message which John had been proclaiming. Jesus calls his own disciples and travels in his own territory. (Jesus doesn't take over John's organization.) He teaches and heals and attracts followerer from a wide area. Jesus thus sets the pattern from his ministry in the first months.
Jesus bring the blessing of God's rule to people. The first problem is to explain just what this blessing really is. Jesus begins by truning the disciples' expectaations upsidedown. The essence of the beatitudes is to declare the value of some qualities and experiences which are not properly valued. Jesus then applies these values specifically to the gaathered disciples. Finally, Jesus places these valued disciples in the priorities of the kingdom by ointing out that they are valuable only as they fulfill the purposes of God.
Jesus then shatters the possibility of complacency by demanding that the disciples continues their own journeys toward perfection. In seven saying, jesus demands that the disciples exceed in everything the mininmum rules of righteousness laid out in scripture. perfection is the requirement of blessing.
Having balanced the assurance of reward with the demand for unremitting striving, Jesus turns to some specifics of religious duty. To begin with, religion is shown to be a private duty to God. God is shown to be interested in the substance of giving, praying, forgiving, and repenting - not with the pagentry of a religious show.
Jesus then enjoins the disciples to align their own interests with those of God. Those things which typically worry and occupy us are not the things which have lasting value. The real religious duty is to seek the rule of God.
How then should we judge what is right? Jesus provides a series of guidelines by which we may train our moral judgement. First, we are not called to pass judgement beyond our knowledge (which would only make us witnesses against our own false judgement), although that doesn't mean we should thorw away the things of real value. We should recognize that God's gifts are good gifts. our emphathy with others is a reliable method for judging ouw own actions. The apth that seems too good to be true probably is; only those works which further God's will are truly good.
"When Jesus had finished saying these things,
the crowds were astounded." (7:28)
The next section demonstrates how God's rule
becomes visible and effective in the world which
we experience. The section begins with conderful
demonstrations that there is more power in the
universe than we are accustomed to notice; it ends
with a discussion of how we as disciples can help
make this power available.
The leper and the centurian received the
benefits of God's power after demonstrating
their faith, and many other also ere
brought to health. But Jesus tempers this
taste of wholeness wit warning about
the loneliness and isolation of faithfulness.
Jesus' own disciples lack faith during the
storm - and, when Jesus shows the power
of God over the physical world, they fall
back in awe of him. Similarly, the demons
believe, but they are no more afraid than
are the people of the region. Jesus exhibits
so much power that (like Samuel or Elijah)
his coming is met with fear.
Jesus begins to turn the discussion from the
deeds themselves to the new order which
they herald. Jesus does not only
heal the paralysis but also the soly of
the paralytic. In the questions about
whom he ate with, and whether to eat
at all, jesus replies in such a way as
to declare that he is on a mission from
the king of heaven. Afterward, Jesus
continues his healings for those who
believe. Not all believe, but Jesus
sees people ripe for the kingdom.
It is now clear that the kingdom is breaking
into the world, not only n Jesus but also
in all those who hear and belive him. Jesus
therefore instrcts the twelve on their role
in advancing the kingdom - but this is clearly
a message for all the disciples, including ourselves.
Jesus sends his followers to serve. Theya re not
to make the mission into a business. neither
should they carry their livelihood with them.
The power they have will not allow them
charmed lives, but they will find themselves
at the center of dangerous controversy.
Nevertheless, these who are loyal are sure
of their reward.
"When Jesus had finished instructing the twelve,
he went on." (11:1)
In this section, Jesus teaches that the kingdom
is still hidden. Many people have trouble seeing
it at all or believing that the kingdom willamount
to anything. But Jesus shows that the kingdom
is real, is present, is growing stronger even while
it remains invisible to many.
John's disciples come with uncertainty about
who jesus is; Jesus replies by citing the
results of his work. Then he cites John
himself as a sign of what is happening before
the eyes of all the people. Whether
the message comes through an ascetic John or a
celebrative Jesus or in deeds of power, the
people will not understand. Yet some do
accept Jesus, and these are in touch with
the power of God.
The kingdom comes, but who is Jesus? jesus
is the nterpreter of scripture, the lord of
the sabbath, greater than the temple.
Thus jesus manifests the will of God in the
world. Jesus is the one who binds devils
and the prince of devils, and so manifests
the power of God. Jesus points out the
confusion of human prejudice; his is greater
than Solomon; he manifest the wisdom of
God in the world. Jesus is of the household
of God. Thee claims that Jesus makes in
this chapter are made subtly, but they
are enormous claims. The Pharises, at least,
hear and recognize what these claims mean.
In this "sermon by the sea" Jesus uses
parables to explain the paradox of the
kingdom being present and yet
unrecognized. First, not every
foray needs to be triumph in order to conquer.
Second, good policy does not require total
purity all at once. Third, even a tiny
beginning may grow to a glorious end.
Fourth, growth does not have to be obvious
in order to be real. Even the parables
themselves form a parable of the
hidden power of the kingdom.
On the other hand, once the kingdom is
discovered it is not to be let go.
"When Jesus had finished these parables,
he left that place." (13:53)
Where the kingdom is not recognized, as
in Nazareth, unbelief hinders its advance.
Jesus now begins teaching his disciples to understand
what God's rule means. In the first section (14-15)
he opens their view of the kingdom. Afterward (16-18)
Jesus provides specific teachings about the
significance of living under God's rule.
John is dead. jesus desires to retreat and mourn,
but the people are hungry for healing. So
Jesus gives them health and then he gives them
food as well. Matthew does not really tell us
how Jesus fed these people, but even the most
prosaic explanation open participation in the
kingdom to all. Then Jesus resumes his retreat.
Afterward, the disciples receive another
glimpse as Jesus walks over the water.
They are terrified, but still willing to
consider that this new view may be more
true. Again Jesus open the miracle to
his followers - specifically to peter, who
requests this (although we see that his is
not quite ready to accept it fully).
[The miracles of healing, which were already
presented (in chapter 9 especially), also fit
under this heading. They, too, serve to open
a window to te kingdom.]
Jesus has opened the window to the kingdom.
In its light, the dark corners
of people's lives are shown clearly. Jesus
attacks those who use regulations to justify
their selfish actions, and he declares plainly
that it is not the rules which determine
holiness but the underlying intentions. (This
is so true that Jesus tells his discples to
leave the "blind guides" alone; even the truth
Jesus taught is not a rule to be enforced
on others.) Similarly, customs and prejudices
which exclude people from the kingdom can
no longer be accepted.
Jesus now invites his disciples to act in the
light of this new vision which he has been
opening for them. The disciples, however,
are still caught in the old thinking. As a
result, Jesus ends the section having to repeat
the wonder with which it began.
Jesus can open the window, but it is clear
that the disciples have not learned to see.
In this chapter, Jesus leads them toward
a new way of thinking. The Pharisees and
Sadducees open the lesson by ignoring the
signs of the kingdom which Jesus has
shown and asking for a sign to their own
liking. Jesus refuses. Afterward he warns
the disciples that bad teaching can spread
secretly, too. But, until Jesus calls them
on it, the disciples are just as blind to the
meaning of the signs.
The disciples, Peter especially, show that they
are not completely dull-witted when they
recognize Jesus as Christ. Even here, Peter
cannot accept what this means. The followers
of Christ need to give their entire mind
and loyalty to Christ's kingdom; the kingdom
will not be shaped to fit human habits.
In this chapter, Jesus presents three
lessons about himself to the slowly
awakening understanding of the disciples.
First is the overwhelming experience on
the mountain, which places Jesus firmly
within the history of salvation and in
the glory of God. Then Jesus
shows that he does not especially
want to be where he is - and that he is
going to leave. Finally, jesus shows
that he will not use his true power
and glory for personal honor but on the
contrary uses it quietly to avoid offense.
If Jesus shares in the glory of God, yet
tries to avoid provoking the tax colector,
what kinds of choices is he asking us to
make? First of all, we are to be humble
enough to welcome anyone. We should take
care not to be a stumbling block to anyone
on the way to Jesus. And anything which
becomes an obstacle to our own journey is
to be left behind.
God does not want to lose anyone. We too
should try to hold on to each fellow believer.
We are also obligated to take action to
restore fellowship when the bonds are
broken and whenever reconcilation is
possible, we - who have been accepted by
God - must accept each other.
The kingdom of heaven breaks into the world (8-10)
8. Faith and authority
9. Faith brings new things
10. The mission
The hidden growth of the kingdom (11-13)
11. The unrecognized rule of God
12. The place Jesus holds
13. How the kingdom grows
Discerning the hidden kingdom (14-18)
Show a new vision of reality
14. Unshuttering the window
15. Unshuttering the heart
B. Teaching the disciples to see
16. True recognition
17. Who Jesus is
18. Holding on and cutting off