EXAM QUESTIONS

Points of Interest:

• Why did Matthew write his gospel?

• Matthew was written to prove that Jesus was the fulfilment of the Old Testament predictions of the expected Davidic Messiah

• Old Testament prophesies fulfilled – Matthew has 9 Old Testament proof texts

• The genealogy links Jesus to King David

• To introduce the new covenant and show Jesus as the New Moses – the Sermon on the Mount

• Law and righteousness

• The Kingdom of Heaven - new ethical teaching opposes to teaching of the Pharisees

• Matthew’s Gospel was written for the growing and expanding early Christian Church – a teaching manual for the Church - parables

• Jesus’ mission goes universal – starts with the Jews but expands to include ‘all nations’

Points of Interest:

• What is understood by ‘righteousness’? - ‘right-standing before God’ – rooted in legal terminology – justice.

• Matthew makes clear that from the beginning Jesus' mission is to fulfil God's righteousness as mentioned at his baptism (3:15) – ‘it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness’.

• Righteousness linked to covenant with God – the covenant relationship brings the Jews into the right standing/relationship with God.

• Matthew’s interest in the Mosaic Law shows Jewish understanding of righteousness.

• Pharisees and righteousness – their additional laws: Jesus’ conflict stories with Pharisees, challenge to their righteousness.

• Matthew 23 – Jesus speaks out against the practices of the Pharisees - they appear righteous on the outside because of their outward practices but inwardly they are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

• Matthew 5:20 – “I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – What does it mean to ‘exceed’?

• Jesus introduces new covenant teaching – Sermon on the Mount – new standard to live by – not legalism.

• Other key concepts – Kingdom of Heaven; Jesus as the Davidic Messiah; Mosaic Law; the fulfilment of prophecy etc.