Do Matthew’s concerns about just rewards and punishments enhance his account of the ministry and teaching of Jesus or detract from it?
In Matthew, Jesus’ last words are, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (27:46b). How does reading this as a reference to Psalm 22 affect the interpretation of these words?
The author of Matthew emphasizes the role of the Jewish people in Jesus’ death, and this has been tragically interpreted throughout history. What did this emphasis mean in context, and how is that different from what it means today?
Application Questions:
What are the distinctive features of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ passion and resurrection, as compared with the accounts in the other gospels? Do they enhance or trouble your understanding of those events?
Do you understand the “great commission” to be an invitation to you? If so, how do you respond to it?
The first people to witness Jesus’ resurrection are “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” (28:1), and many contemporary readings emphasize that women are the first to hear the good news. Does this detail have any special interest for you? Why or why not?