Gospel of Matthew Notes Flashcards
Who is the author of the Gospel of Matthew?
The author is anonymous and does not claim to be a witness to the events of Jesus’s life.
When is the Gospel of Matthew generally dated?
It is usually dated to the 80s CE, potentially up to the 130s CE.
What social situation influenced the writing of the Gospel of Matthew?
It was written for a Jewish group defining Judaism’s future after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 CE.
What were the four notable groups in Judaism before 70 CE?
Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, and followers of Jesus.
What distinguished the Sadducees from the Pharisees?
Sadducees were an aristocratic group controlling the temple, while Pharisees had no institutional ties to the temple and focused on new interpretations of scriptures.
How did the Pharisees differ in their practice of Jewish laws?
They democratized priestly purity laws by applying them outside the temple and often had support from the populace.
How is Jesus depicted in relation to Moses in the Gospel of Matthew?
Jesus is presented as a “new Moses,” who reinterprets the Torah more strictly and delivers commandments from a mountaintop.
What narrative parallels exist between Jesus and Moses in Matthew?
Both had to hide from rulers who sought to kill them, highlighting Jesus’s messianic role.
What is the purpose of the Gospel of Matthew in relation to Pharisees?
It supports Jesus-following Pharisees and critiques other Pharisees, particularly through insults against their hypocrisy.
How does Matthew portray the Pharisees in relation to the law?
Matthew presents them as hypocrites who neglect the important aspects of the law while focusing on lesser details.
What is the author’s stance on the laws of the Hebrew Bible?
The author advocates for strict adherence to all laws of the Torah, including the “less weighty” ones.
