Background to Matthew's Gospel

Background to Matthew's Gospel

1. Definitions

   • Parousia- Belief in the second coming
   • Pharisee- Separated one
   • Covenant- Agreement promise or contract
   • Sabbath- To cease
   • Universalism- The idea that Matthew's Gospel was for the whole world
   • Synagogue- Gathering together
   • Gospel- Good news
   • Gentile- Non-Jew
   • Synoptic- Shared view
   • Evangelists- Gospel writers
   • Christian Oral Tradition- Stories about Jesus passed by word of mouth

2. Sources

   • Mark's Gospel
   • Witness' to Jesus' Ministry
   • Christian Oral Tradition

3. Geography of Palestine

   • Palestine was split into Galilee, Samaria and Judea
     • Jerusalem was the capital of Palestine
   • Jesus was born in Bethlehem
     • Jesus grew up in Nazereth
       • Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan
         • Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem
   • The Great Temple was in Jerusalem
   • Jesus' first miracle was in Cana
     • Jesus performed many miracles in the Sea of Galilee
   • John the Baptist lived in the wilderness of Judea
     • Jesus was tempted in the wilderness of Judea

4. Dates

   • 63BC- Romans take over Palestine
   • AD25- Jesus begins his public ministry
   • AD66-73- The Zealots led a rebellion against the Romans
   • AD70-80- Matthew and Luke's Gospels were written
   • AD63-65- Mark's Gospel was written
   • AD28- Jesus was crucified
   • AD80-90- John's Gospel was written
   • 37-4BC- King Herod the Great governed Palestine
   • AD26-36- Pontious Pilot was Roman Procurator
   • 333-63BC- Greeks ruled Palestine
   • 4-5BC- Jesus is born
   • AD70- Romans destroy the Temple in Jerusalem

5. Purpose/ Characteristics

   • Matthew wrote his Gospel for Jewish Chistians
     • Makes references to Jewish customs
       • Stresses that Jesus is the Son of David
         • Begins with Jesus' Geneology
         • Wanted to show Jesus was the Messiah
   • Shows Jesus only works among his own people
   • Often anti-Jewish in his tone
   • Very interested in the Parousia
   • Talks about the Kingdom of Heaven, not the Kingdom of God
   • Interested in showing the Christian Church to Jews
   • Arranged into five sections to resemble the Jewish Torah
   • Made the miracle stories more credible by elaborating on Mark's accounts

6. Religious Groups

   • The main Religious Groups at the time of Jesus were the Pharisees, Sadducees, the Zealots and the Samaritans
   • The Samaritans- People from Samaria. They were intermarried therefore only part Jewish. They worshipped the same God as the Jews, but there was a deep hatred between them and the Jews.
   • The Pharisees- The largest, most influential religious groups. Lived strictly by the Oral Law and criticised Jesus. Jesus believed many of them did not have genuine faith, and often called them hypocrites. They separated themselves from anyone they believed to be unclean. Pharisees believed in the Messiah, life after death and bodily resurrection.
   • The Sadducees- Small group of wealthy religious leaders who looked down on the ordinary people, most were priests. They tried to be friendly with the Romans to keep in power. They rejected the idea of a Messiah and didn't accept the Oral Law or the idea of bodily ressuerction
   • The High Priest- The religious leader of the Jews. He was in charge of the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas was the High Priest at the time of Jesus' death
   • The Zealots- A group of Jews who attacked the Romans to try to gain political and religious freedom. They refused to pay taxes and used violence against the Romans. Simon, Jesus' disciple was a Zealot.

7. Religious Worship

   • Sabbath- The Sabbath was a day of rest from sunset Friday until sunset Saturday. All work stopped on the Sabbath.
   • Court of Israel- Jewish men were allowed in the court. It was where men prayed in the Synagogue.
   • The Holy Place- Where the priests would burn incense.Once a year they went to the holy of holies, where God was thought to be most present.
   • The Court of Gentiles- The only part of the Temple where Gentiles could enter. Temple markets were held here and animals for sacrifice were sold.
   • Court of Women- Women could enter this court but could not go beyond it. Offerings of money were kept there.
   • The Temple was the only place Jews could offer sacrifices to God. It contained one outer court and four inclosed courts.
   • The first Temple to God was a movable tent called a tabernacle. A permenent Temple was built in Jerusalem by King Solomon, but was later destroyed.
   • Jesus went to worship at a synagogue. In the time of Jesus there was a synagogue in every town that has at least 10 men. It was also used as a place of teaching.