![](3D"master03_background.gif")
![](3D"master03_image001.gif")
The Gospel of Matthew=
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D.
<=
/div>
Department of Religious Studies
=
John Carroll University
The Gospel of Matthew:
The Evangelist=
The Evangelist=
u=
As an
evangelist, Matthew’s symbol is a
winged man who resembles an angel.
u=
His
role as a writer is conveyed by the =
book,
pen and inkhorn.
![](3D"slide0002_image003.gif")
The Gospel of Matthew=
Jesus, One “Gre=
ater
Than Moses” The Case of the Matthean =
Infancy
Narrative
The Gospel of Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative (1:1-2:23)
The Infancy Narrative (1:1-2:23)
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:114%'>uIt is an overture to key themes of Mt
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
![](3D"slide0005_image009.gif")
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
![](3D"slide0006_image011.gif")
uJesus has adoring visitor=
s at
his birth, as did Moses when drawn <=
/span>from the Nile
uJesus is greater than Moses, =
so
his visitors are no mere mortal women; they include Cherubim
and the other two persons of the Divine Trinity
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
![](3D"slide0007_image013.gif")
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
uMatthew’s version is independent of =
the tradition behind the Lukan account
<=
span
style=3D'position:absolute;top:45.0%;left:12.17%;width:89.32%;height:7.5%'=
>uThere are almost no common features =
=
of the two stories
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
u=
Matthew’s
story shows Jesus to be the messiah promised to Israel
uthe Hebrew Scriptures show this
uespecially the Prophets
ualso Psalms
uJesus is the key to understanding God
uespecially God’s word in Torah and history
uand God’s covenant with Israel
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
utheme of prophecy and <=
/span>fulfillment
upesher type of exegesis
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:114%'>uscribal activity
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
uMany details of Matth=
ew's
story of Jesus' birth are unique
u =
No
angelic "annunciation"
u =
Primary
character is Joseph, not Mary
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
uDreams reveal the divine will =
(e.g.,
1:20-23; 2:12, 13, 19-=
20,
22)
uJoseph ben Jacob is the dreamer =
(cf. =
Lk.
3:23; Gen. 37)
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
uJoseph's initial response to Mary's pregnancy is
divorce
uNB: But how =
can a man “divorce” his fiancée?
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative--Excursus
The Infancy Narrative--Excursus
utwo stages to a Jewish marriage:
=
u"consent" or "betrothal"
u"marriage" (when the bride comes to live w=
ith
her husband)
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative--Excursus
The Infancy Narrative--Excursus
uTerms of the contract determined before
betrothal
u“bride
price” (a “gift” to the father of the bride from t=
he
groom’s family)=
udowry (given to the br=
ide
by her father in lieu of an inheritance)
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative--Excursus
The Infancy Narrative--Excursus
uBetrothal binds bride to groom, requires sexual fidelity
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
uA great star presages Jesus’
birth
uJesus is born in Joseph’s house
(in Bethlehem)
uThus, there is no census since there=
is =
no
need for a journey to Bethlehem
uAll the great figures mentioned are =
=
Jewish
(including Herod)
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
![](3D"slide0018_image037.gif")
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
![](3D"slide0019_image039.gif")
uJesus is the light to=
=
the
nations, as can be seen from this =
example
of the “glow-in-the-dark”
baby who provides light for those =
around
him (Mary and the magi)
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
![](3D"slide0020_image041.gif")
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
![](3D"slide0021_image043.gif")
uThe baby Jesus is the=
=
same
as the adult Jesus
u=
The
great teacher is present already in =
the
infant
uThe child’s blessing =
presages
that of the adult Jesus
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
uThe inclusion of gentiles is one unique feature in Matthew’s story
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
uForeigners read the si=
gns
of the times (i.e., in the =
stars) and follow them to Jesus
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
u=
The
Jewish authorities do not recognize the signs <=
/span>=
of
Jesus’ birth
uBut they have the =
Scriptures,
so they learn where the birth is to take plac=
e
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
uHerod seeks Jesus =
in
order to slay him
uunlike the Gentiles, who want to worship him
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
![](3D"slide0026_image053.gif")
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
uThe structure of Matthe=
w's “genea=
logy”
illustrates the creation theme (cf. Gen. 1:1-2:3)
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
u“An ac=
count
of the genealogy (geneseos) of J=
esus
Messiah, son of David, son of Abraha=
m"
(Mt.
1:1)
uJesus fulfills the promises to Israel
The Gospel of
Matthew:
The Infancy Narrative
The Infancy Narrative
![](3D"slide0029_image059.gif")