My Most Recent Attempt to “Survey”
Matthew
Asbury Seminary, as much as
anything, is known for what they used to call “EB”: English Bible. They now call it IBS: “Inductive Bible
Studies” because for a season the Bible heads have won the curricular war to
require Greek and Hebrew on a basic level of all students. We’ll see how long this phase of Asbury’s
curricular history wins.
Anyway, the entry level
skill of EB is the “survey.” By the way,
I’ll continue to call it EB because those were the good old days even though
many did the assignments in Greek and Hebrew anyway. The world has IBS (even IWU—let’s get as many
acronyms in here as we can). But only
Asbury had EB.
So here’s my most recent
survey of Matthew, for the pleasure of all of you who have never experienced
the joy of this Asbury rite of passage, that without which you cannot truly say
you are an Asburian.
I have added a few notes in
red to translate EBeeze for the uninitiated.
I.
Titles and Descriptive Sentences
Chapter 1: The Birth of the Messiah
This chapter
has the genealogy and birth of Jesus.
Chapter 2: Herod, the Magi, and the King
The wise men
come to Jesus but leave a different way, as Herod tries to kill Jesus.
Chapter 3: Baptism in the
This chapter
tells us about John the Baptist's ministry and Jesus' baptism by him.
Chapter 4: Temptation
This chapter both tells us of Jesus' temptation by Satan and of
the beginning of Jesus' ministry.
Chapter 5:
Fulfilling the Law
Jesus contrasts his teaching with what his audience has heard from
the ancients.
Chapter 6:
What Kingdom Righteousness Looks Like
Jesus tells his audience how to practice their righteousness
before God instead of people.
Chapter 7:
Building on Rock
Jesus encourages his audience to bear the good fruit of
righteousness.
Chapter 8: The
Centurion's Faith
Among
other stories, a centurion shows greater faith than Jesus has seen in
Chapter 9:
Matthew's Calling
Among
other stories, this chapter tells us about the calling of Matthew.
Chapter 10:
The
Jesus
gives instructions to the disciples as they conduct their mission.
Chapter 11:
Come to Me
John the
Baptist sends his followers to ask Jesus if he is the one, and Jesus condemns
the cities that have rejected his ministry.
Chapter 12:
Conflicts with Pharisees
Jesus
gets into conflicts with Pharisees throughout the chapter.
Chapter 13:
The Parable Sermon
This
chapter gives us several parables about the kingdom of the heavens.
Chapter 14:
Jesus Feeds the 5000
This
chapter tells of the beheading of John the Baptist as well as Jesus feeding the
5000 and walking on water.
Chapter 15:
What is Clean?
This
chapter has Jesus' teaching on what really makes something unclean, as well as
the faith of the Canaanite woman and the feeding of the 4000.
Chapter 16:
You are the Christ!
This chapter presents Peter's confession
that Jesus is the Christ.
Chapter 17:
The Transfiguration
Jesus is
transfigured along with Moses and Elijah.
Chapter 18:
The “Church” Sermon
This
chapter tells us of the importance of protection, forgiveness, and discipline
in the church.
Chapter 19:
Jesus on Divorce
Along
with the Rich Young Man, this chapter gives Matthew on divorce, and the
beginning of the questions posed at Jesus.
Chapter 20:
Parable of the Day Laborers
The
chapter begins with this parable, but also has the mother of James and John and
the two blind men.
Chapter 21:
Palm Sunday
Jesus enters
Chapter 22:
Jesus' Opponents Question Him
The
Pharisees and Sadducees unsuccessfully try to trap or outwit Jesus with tricky
questions.
Chapter 23:
Woe to the Pharisees
Jesus
sharply indicts the scribes and Pharisees for hypocrisy.
Chapter 24:
The Eschatological Sermon
This
sermon tells of the signs before the coming of the Son of man.
Chapter 25:
The Sheep and the Goats
This
chapter continues the sermon with parables on the importance of readiness.
Chapter 26:
The Last Supper,
This
chapter tells us of the sequence of events that occurred leading up to the
crucifixion.
Chapter 27:
The Death of the Messiah
He
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.
Chapter 28:
The Great Commission
Jesus rises from the dead, appears to his
disciples, and commissions them to make disciples of all the nations.
I’ve added the
sentences. All we had to do was title
them in the day.
II.
Literary Arrangement of Material
|
1:1 I N T R O |
1:2-4:16 The
Preparation of the Gospel |
4:17-16:20 The
Proclamation of the Kingdom |
16:21-28:20 The
Climax of the |
||||||
|
1:1-2:23 The Origin of the Messiah |
3:1-4:16 Preparation for Ministry |
4:17 Pro-gram-matic Verse |
4:16-16:20 Jesus Preaches the Kingdom |
16:21 Pro-gram-matic Verse |
16:22-28:20 Going to |
||||
|
4:16-11:1 Fishing for Disciples |
11:2-16:20 Who is Jesus? |
16:22-18:35 Finishing up in Galilee |
19:1-25:46 Testing and Rejection |
26:1-28:20 Passion, Triumph, and Commission |
|||||
The explanation is also something I have
added mainly for teaching purposes.
Explanation: Matthew twice marks major transitions by the phrase
“From then on, Jesus began…” (4:17; 16:21). These “clues” to its structure fit well with
the narrative progression I have indicated above. The first four chapters deal with the
preparatory events leading up to Jesus’ mission. The central chapters provide the bulk of
Jesus’ earthly proclamation as a part of his mission. But the climax of Jesus’
mission is found in the events that culminate first in Jesus’ resurrection and
finally in his great commission of the disciples.
A
secondary “structure” to the gospel has to do with the way Matthew has
apparently drawn on sources in the creation of the narrative. Apparently, he has started with Mark, added
material both in preparation and subsequence to Mark, and then inserted or expanded
the material in the middle. We can
identify these points of insertion/expansion by the recurring phrase “And it
came to pass when Jesus finished…” (7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1). These parallel comments provide a kind of
secondary structure to Matthew that especially comes into play in the
subsections of the book.
III.
Structural Relationships and Dominant Themes
Some
would consider 1:1 the introduction merely to the first section, taking “book
of the beginning” merely in reference to the first major unit (1:1-4:16). This is certainly possible. In my current attempt to survey Matthew,
however, I am taking as an introduction to the whole gospel. If this move is correct, then Matthew sees
the whole gospel simply as the beginning of the Messiah’s work, but not the end
of it, which presumably is a matter of the eschaton.
EB identifies a number of potential logical relationships between
units of material. I myself have started
separating these into two categories, relationships between major units and
relationships that run throughout the whole book. Here we are trying to capture the “big
picture” of Matthew, not look for tiny, unrelated patterns here and there.
Particularization here is when a general statement plays itself out
in what follows. Recurrence is another
way things can relate to each other.
I might also add that most EB teachers put the final section, that I put below, under each relationship they
identify. I have sometimes separated
them out so that students don’t miss the forest for the trees.
The
best way to describe the way in which the first unit (1:2-4:16) relates to the
remainder of the gospel is in terms of preparation. The various events and prefatory remarks
prepare us for who Jesus will be and what he will proclaim and do.
In
at least 4:17 and 16:21 (and possibly 1:1), an introductory statement is then
particularized in the rest of that unit.
In 4:17 it is the proclamation of the kingdom that occurs in the rest of
the unit. In 16:21 it is the look toward
Jesus’ impending suffering and victorious resurrection. While these are separate particularizations,
they seem significant enough in Matthew’s overall literary plan to mention them
in a survey of Matthew as a whole.
When
we ask what relationship might exist between the second and third major units
(which are large enough together to pass the 51% rule), turning point comes to
mind. While conflict has been steadily
increasing in the second section, a definite change takes place after Peter
confesses Jesus as the Christ. Before
this event, Jesus has not spoken explicitly of his approaching death. Afterward, he speaks repeatedly of it. We thus have the two elements of a turning
point: significant contrast between before and after with a cause at work.
If
we ask how the final section of the gospel relates to the rest of the book,
climax immediately comes to mind. The
resurrection is climactic, yet the closing scene with the Great Commission is
even more climactic. At these points the
story reaches its greatest height.
Dr.
Bauer would say that this climax comes with inclusio, since the idea of “God
with us” appears both at the beginning (1:23) and end (28:20) of the gospel.
Dr. Bauer is the currently reigning EB Jedi Knight and used to be
nicknamed “EB” by the main philosophy professor in the day. He is Elisha and
holds the EB mantel of Bob Traina, who was truly the
Elijah of “methodical Bible study” at Asbury.
If
the identity of Jesus is particularized from 1:1 throughout the gospel as a
whole, then this identity is also substantiated by various things. The centurion by the cross, for example,
realizes that Jesus is the Son of God because of the events surrounding Jesus’
death (Matt. 27:54). One of the main
ways that Matthew substantiates who Jesus is comes from his recurring use of
Scripture: “This happened that it might fulfill that which was spoken by the
prophet…”
Substantiation is when the cause or basis for something is given
(“because…” “for…”)
We
might relate this as of a piece with the fulfillment theme mentioned
above. Events not only substantiate who
Jesus is; they not only fulfill Scriptural prophecy; but the entire series of
events taking place are the coming to fulfillment of God’s overall plan for
history.
The
gospel presents increasing conflict between Jesus and those who oppose him and
his message. The conflict increases in the
middle section of Matthew and finally reaches a climax in the crucifixion.
Related
to the contrast between Jesus and the religious leaders is a recurring contrast
between their righteousness and the righteousness that God requires. But this contrast not only relates to Jesus
vis-à-vis the Jewish leaders, the parable of the wedding banquet pictures a
Gentile of the church who is inappropriately clothed, and the Parable of the
Sheep and the Goats and the Weeds imply the same about everyone in the
judgment.
IV.
Strategic Areas and Questions
1A. Particularization of 1:1 in Matthew
Strategic Area: 1:1
A strategic area for EB is a place to dig in next to begin
interpreting the gospel. The idea is
that you have found the most important patterns in your survey. By identifying strategic areas that relate to
each pattern, you identify the most important places to go next to understand
Matthew as a whole.
Questions:
Definitional: Is 1:1 really particularized in the whole gospel or
in a smaller unit like 1:2-4:16 or even 1:2-17?
What is a Messiah? What is a Son
of David? What is a Son of Abraham?
Definitional questions get all the players on the table.
Rational: Why does Matthew introduce the gospel in this
way? On what basis is
Jesus the Messiah, Son of David, and Son of Abraham?
These are why questions.
Modal: How is this verse particularized in the remainder of
the gospel? In what way is the identity
expressed in this verse found in the rest of the gospel?
These are how questions.
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew? What implications does this general statement
have for Matthew’s understanding of who Jesus is?
2A. Preparation of 1:2-4:16
Strategic Areas: 1:21, 23; 2:6; 3:2, 11-12; 4:19
Questions:
Definitional: What elements in this section prepare for the remainder
of the gospel?
Rational: Why does Matthew lay the
groundwork for the gospel in this way?
Why does he specifically choose these elements and not others?
Modal: In what way does the material of these chapters lay the groundwork for the remainder of the gospel? In what way does the genealogy prepare for
the gospel? In what way does the birth
story prepare for the gospel? In what way
does John’s baptism prepare for the gospel?
In what way does Jesus’ temptation prepare for the gospel?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?
What are the implications of these preparations for Matthew’s
understanding of Jesus’ mission and identity?
3A. Recurrence of Particularization
(4:17; 16:21)
Strategic Areas: 4:17; 16:21
Questions:
Definitional: What elements of these general statements play
themselves out in the rest of the sections?
What does it mean to repent? What
is the kingdom of heaven? What does it
mean to say it has come near?
Rational: Why does Matthew introduce these sections in this
way? Why has the kingdom come near? Why does one need to repent in the light of
the approaching kingdom? Why did Jesus decide to proclaim his death from this
point on?
Modal: How are these two verses particularized in the
remainder of their respective sections? How do these two programmatic verses
relate to each other? How has the
kingdom come near? How does one repent?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?
4A. Turning Point
Strategic Area: 16:16-19, 21
Questions:
Definitional: What changes before and after? What causes the change?
Rational: Why does the direction of the story change
here? Why does Peter’s acknowledgement
of Jesus as Messiah change the direction of the story?
Modal: How does Peter’s acknowledgement of Jesus as Messiah
change the direction of the plot? How
does the direction of the plot change?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?
5A. Recurrence of Climax
Strategic Areas: 28:5-7, 16-20
Questions:
Definitional: What elements reach a height of intensity at the end
of the gospel? What does Matthew mean by
“God with us”?
Rational: Why does Matthew climax his gospel with the
resurrection and Great Commission? Why
does Matthew bracket the gospel with this inclusio?
Modal: How does the resurrection and Great Commission
climax the gospel? How does each part of
the inclusio relate to the other?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?
What is the implication of the inclusio for
the Christology and soteriology of Matthew?
1B. Recurring Substantiation of Jesus’ Identity
Strategic Areas: many possible; e.g., 1:22-23; 12:17-21; 14:25-33;
16:16
Questions:
Definitional: What is Jesus’ identity? What does it mean for that which is spoken by
the prophet to be fulfilled? What
aspects of Jesus’ identity does Matthew substantiate?
Rational: Why does Matthew substantiate Jesus’ identity in the
ways he does? Why does he use Scripture
to fulfill Jesus’ identity?
Modal: How does Matthew substantiate Jesus’ identity? How do various events in Jesus’ life fulfill
the Jewish Scriptures?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?
2B. Recurring Proclamation of the
Kingdom, particularly as Fulfillment
Strategic Areas: many possible; e.g., 4:17; 13:31-32, 47-50; 18:2-4
Questions:
Definitional: What is the kingdom of heaven in Matthew? What does it mean to say it has come
near? When will it be here fully?
Rational: Why has the kingdom of heaven come near? Why isn’t it here yet in Matthew? Why does Matthew emphasize the kingdom of
heaven?
Modal: In what way is the kingdom something that Scripture
has expected or anticipated? How has the
kingdom of heaven come near? How will it
arrive completely?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?
3B. Generalization of Scope of
Strategic Areas: e.g., 8:5-13; 10:5-7; 22:8-10; 28:19-20
Questions:
Definitional: What is a Jew?
What is a Gentile? What is a
Samaritan? What causes the shift in
direction?
Rational: Why does Jesus restrict his earthly mission to
Jews? Why does he then expand it to the
whole world? Why does the resurrection
change the focus of Jesus’ mission?
Modal: How does the scope of Jesus’ mission expand in the
course of Matthew’s gospel? How does the
resurrection change the scope of Jesus’ mission?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?
4B. Recurring Contrast between Jesus
and Opponents
Strategic Area: e.g., 12:24, 38; 13:53-58; 16:1-4; 26:1-5, 63-66
Questions:
Definitional: Who is Jesus? Who are those who contrast with Jesus?
Who are the religious leaders? Who are
the crowds? Who are the disciples?
Rational: Why does Matthew contrast the religious leaders with
Jesus? Why does Matthew occasionally
contrast others with Jesus? Why does
Jesus contrast with these individuals? Why does this conflict increase as the
gospel progresses?
Modal: How do the religious leaders contrast with
Jesus? In what ways do the crowds and
disciples sometimes contrast with Jesus?
How does this conflict increase and climax in Matthew?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?
5B. Recurring Contrast between Kingdom
and Inappropriate Righteousness
Strategic Area: e.g., 5:17-20; 13:36-43; 25:31-46
Questions:
Definitional: What is righteousness? What kind of righteousness is appropriate and
what kind is inappropriate for the kingdom?
Rational: Why does the kingdom demand a certain kind of
righteousness? Why are some behaviors
appropriate and others inappropriate?
Modal: How do these two claims to righteousness contrast
with each other?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?
6B. Contrasting Causation from Each Righteousness, Climaxing in Judgment
Strategic Areas: e.g., 13:36-43; 12:38-45; 25:31-46
Questions:
Definitional: What is the effect of each type of
righteousness? What is the climactic
effect? What is Gehenna?
Rational: Why does each type of righteousness have each kind of
consequence? Why do the consequences
climax in a judgment? Why does Matthew
have so many images of hell fire and judgment?
Modal: How does the judgment take place in Matthew? How is that the climax of the effects of
varying righteousness? How does Matthew
portray each of the final destinies?
Implicational: What are the implications of the answers to these
questions for the original meaning of Matthew?