Christ: The New Moses
Matthew: 5 discourses and a new Torah
Pentateuch: 5 books of the Torah
The New Torah Fulfills, Yet Supersedes the Old
Fourteen Fulfillments
1.23 Isaiah7.14 -a young woman (virgin) will conceive and bear a son Immanuel.
2.5-6; II Sam. 5.2 -a shepherd ruler will come from Bethlehem.
2.15; escape/return mirrors Joseph (Gen. 37), Moses, and Israel.
2.17-18; Jer. 8.17-Rachael weeps for her children.
The New Torah Fulfills What Has Been Spoken
2.23-He will be called a Nazarene: holy one abstaining from wine and cutting his hair.
3.3; Isa. 40.3-voice of one crying in the wilderness.
4.14-16; Isa.9.1-2 The people have seen a great light.
8.17; Isa. 53.4-He bore our infirmities.
The New Torah Supersedes
12.17-21; Isa. 42.1-4-Here is my beloved servant with whom I am pleased.
13.14-15; Isa.6.9-10-Listen without understanding; look without perceiving.
13.35; Ps.78.2-I will proclaim what has been hidden.
21.4-5; Isa. 62.11; Zech. 9.9-The king comes mounted on a colt.
The New Torah Fulfills What the Prophets Have Spoken
26.56-This has taken place so the scriptures will be fulfilled.
27.9-10; Zech. 11.13-They set a price upon him.
The New Torah Exists for Jews and Gentiles
1.1 Abraham is ancestor of both the Jews and a multitude of nations.
God uses Gentile women to further His plan: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba
Divine plan succeeds beyond human sexual irregularities.
The New Moses
Three sets of fourteen (the numerical value of David) trace the origin of Christ to David, King of Israel.
Christ mediates the divine and human realms.
Activities of Jesus Parallel those of Moses
2,13-15 Mary and Joseph’s flight to and return from Egypt mirrors Joseph, Moses, and Israel.
2.16-18 The massacre echoes Pharaoh’s at the birth of Moses.
4.1 ff. Jesus undergoes a wilderness testing (forty days and nights): Moses, Elijah, Israel
Activities of Jesus Parallel those of Moses
4.4 One does not live by bread alone: miraculous feeding (Ex. 16)
5. 1 ff. Jesus teaches from a mountain; recalls Moses on Mount Sinai: Jesus reinterprets the old laws and offers a new law.
Moses appoints seventy elders; Christ appoints disciples 10.1.
(See outline on Hebrews for comparison of covenants.)
Jesus Radicalizes the Law
5. 21-You shall not murder; you are liable simply for becoming angry.
5.27-You shall not commit adultery; whoever looks with lust has committed adultery.
5.31-Anyone who divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery.
Jesus Radicalizes the Law
5.33-34-You shall not swear falsely; I say not to swear at all.
5.38-You have hard "An eye for an eye"; I say, "If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other.
5,43-You have heard it said, "Love your Neighbor." I say, "Love your enemies."
Ten Miracles
Ten miracles suggest the miracles of Moses in Egypt (8.1-11.10).
Leper 8.1-4 excluded from associating with others
Palsy 8.5 non-Jewish military officer
Fever 8.14 Peter’s mother-in-law
Perish disciples, storm 8.23
Demoniacs 8.28
Ten Miracles
Paralytic 9.1-8 challenges conventional religion: what is easier--to forgive sins or heal physically?
Woman with a hemorrhage 9.20 unclean
Restores to life dead daughter of synagogue leader 9.25 death is temporary cessation of activity
Restores sight to two blind men 9.27-31
Casts out demon in dumb demoniac 9.32
Ten Reactions
John asks whether Jesus is the one to come or if he should look for another 11.3; Jesus tells them to tell John what works he performs--blind receiving sight, lame walking, lepers cleansed, dead raised, and the poor given good news--all works of the predicted Messiah.
Unresponsive generation (11.16)
Unrepentant Galilean cities (11.20)
Unreasonable Pharisees 12
Ten Reactions
Undiscerning multitudes 13
Unbelieving Nazarites 13.53 ff.
Immoral Herod 14
Unconciliatory Scribes 15-transgression of tradition
Unrelenting Sadducees 16 can interpret physical but not spiritual signs.
Glad recognition by apostles 16.16 Peter: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Final Testimony
Presentation 19-26
Crucifixiion 26-27
Resurrection 28
Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" 28.18
Transfiguration
The face of Jesus shone 17.2; Ex. 34.29
Moses and Elijah appear talking with Jesus 17.2
Jesus tells them Elijah, whom they are expecting, has already come 17.12
Authority of Christ Established
What He taught (10 teachings, 5-7)
What He did (10 miracles, 8-10)
How people reacted to His thought (10 results 11-18)
Teachings
Beautitudes, 5--the Kingdom of God
present reality (Lk. 10, 11.20. 17.21); future realization (Mt. 6.10)
Jesus teaches God’s past dealings with creation are coming to a climax and fruition.
Moral standards5.17-48
law, legalism, and outward appearance; grace, love, and inward relationship
new covenant is radically more demanding than the old.
Teachings
Religious motives, 6
Worship, earthliness contrasted to Godliness, 6.19 ff
Temporal cares, 6.25 ff. (anxiety and trust)
Social discernments, 7.1-6
Encouragements, 7.7
Teachings
Summary: 7.12 "So whatsoever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."
Ways, 7.14 "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life."
Final warnings, 7. 15 ff.: false prophets, false professions, false foundations
"And when Jesus finished these sayings, the people were astonished at his teaching."
Three Covenants
Abrahamic: promise of land and people; response based on faith
Moses: decalogue; also based on faith, but people interpreted in light of obedience.
Exodus 19.8 "All the people answered together and said: All that the Lord hath spoken we will do."
Ex. 24.7 "And they said: All that the Lord hath said we will do, and be obedient.
Christ: fulfills and supersedes Old Covenant (s): heavenly, spiritual, eternal, Son of God, reality