Douglas Jacoby Podcast

Christ Through the Ages, 8: Matthew–Jesus was Jewish

Douglas continues his series Christ Through the Ages, looking today at Matthew–Jesus was Jewish.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Emphases of Matthew

Jesus is the Jewish Messiah.
Jesus a teacher and lawgiver like Moses.
5 Teaching Tracts – like Torah (Pentateuch) and Psalms.
- Suggests Jesus' teaching is scripture (follows the O.T. model).
- Suggests Jesus is a second Moses.
- Matthew 5:17: He came not to abolish, but to fulfill, Torah.
- OT fulfillment formulae (11x).

Observations chapter by chapter in Matthew

1:1 -- Son of Abraham, Son of David: Jesus is Jewish through and through.
2:1 -- Born in the town of David, Bethlehem.
2:1-2 -- King of the Jews (legitimately)
4:1ff -- Tested in the desert, like the people of Israel. For more on the parallels, listen to Night of Redemption: A Study of Exodus (10 lessons).
5-7 -- Teaching like Moses
- Goes up a mountainside (as Moses twice went up Mt. Sinai).
- Authority higher than that of the rabbis or Pharisees; Jesus speaks on his own (divine) authority. See 7:28-29.
- Updates God's Word, reinterpreting Torah.
10:23 (15:24) -- Preaching to the Jews.
12:1ff -- Lord of the Sabbath.
28:16-20 -- Make disciples of all the Gentiles (nations)
- Mountain -- Moses.
- Worship -- Deity.
- Fulfilling the Abrahamic promise (Genesis 12:3; Exodus 19:6).

Next: Luke: A Universal Vision from the Center to the Margins