Session 1 Fact, Fable and Parable: Veracity of Redemption

Session 2 The Annunciation Accounts - Mary and Joseph

Session 3 Matthew and the shadow of the Pentateuch

Session 4 Luke and Primal Beginnings

Session 5 Genealogy - Grandmothers and Caesar

Matthew’s Account - Chapters 1 and 2

Luke’s Account - Chapters 1 through 3

1. Who is the “King of the Jews”?
That was Herod the Great’s title, but Matthew’s story tells us Herod was more like Pharaoh, the lord of Egypt, the lord of bondage and oppression, violence and brutality. And his son was no better. Rather, Jesus is the true King of the Jews. And the rulers of his world sought to destroy him.

2.      Who is the Son of God, Lord, savior of the world, and the one who brings peace on earth?
Within Roman imperial theology, the emperor, Caesar, was all of these. No, Luke’s story says, that status and those titles belong to Jesus. He not the emperor—is the embodiment of God’s will for the earth.

3.      Who is the light of the world?
The emperor, son of Apollo, the god of light and reason and imperial order? Or is Jesus, who was executed by empire, the light in the darkness, the true light to whom the wise of this world are drawn?

4.      Where do we find the fulfillment of God’s dream for Israel and humanity?
In the way things are now? Or only beyond death or in a very different world this side of death? Page 37f.

Parabolic Overtures

The [birth stories] are not just parables, but overtures, parabolic overtures—each to its respective gospel. In other words, Matthew 1-2 is a miniature version of the suc­ceeding Matthew 3-28, and Luke 1-2 is a miniature version of Luke 3-24. Each is its own gospel in miniature and microcosm. Page 38.

Pentateuch and Moses

Matthew also [has] a series of prophetic fulfillments and, once again, there are five such explicit references:

1.      On Mary’s virginal conception: "All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, God is with us.”^" (1:22-2j, citing Isa. 7:14)

2.      On the birthplace of the Messiah: “Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem. in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” (2:5-6, citing MIC. ₅:2; 2 S,1111. 5:2)

3.      The departure of the Holy Family from Egypt: “This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my Son.’” (2:15, citing Hos. i j: i)

4.      After Herod’s infanticide at Bethlehem: “Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’” (2:17-18, citing Jer. 31:15)

5.      On Nazareth: “There he I Joseph I made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He I Jesus) will be called a Nazorean.’” (2:23, citation unknown)

The New Moses

That Jesus is Matthew’s new Moses is immediately evi­dent in what we—rather inappropriately—call the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7^. It is actually, for Matthew, the new Moses giving a new Law from a new Mt. Sinai. It would be bet­ter to call it the “New Law from the New Mountain” rather than the Sermon on the Mount. There Matthew has Jesus as the new Moses proclaim: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill” (5:17).  That principle is then applied to six moral cases, and note the repeated introduction to each one:

I. On murder: ”You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment … “ (5:21-26)

2. On adultery: ”You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ . . . But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery.” (5:27-30)

3.On divorce: ”It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife ... causes her to commit adultery.” (5:3 1-32)

4.On oaths: ”Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely.’ … But I say to you, Do not swear at all.” (5:33-37)

5. On nonviolence: ”You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye.’ … But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer ... “ (5:38-42)