Do Matthew’s concerns about just rewards and punishments enhance his account of the ministry and teaching of Jesus or detract from it?
Jesus’ anointing by an anonymous woman serves as a reminder of the anointing of Jewish kings in the Hebrew Bible. Why is it significant that an unnamed woman performs this task? What does it tell us about Jesus’ kingship?
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. This is especially striking given that Mattew’s gospel is the most ‘Jewish’ of the four (see Week 1 video). What did this emphasis mean in context? How do we interpret this today?
Applying the Text:
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. How can we use this information to build the church today?