The Gospel of Matthew : reconfigured Torah

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

Authors

Hays, R.B. (Richard Bevan)

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria

Abstract

This essay surveys the evangelist Matthew’s reading of Israel’s Scripture. Rather than focusing only on Matthew’s distinctive formula quotations, we must observe the subtler ways that Matthew evokes scriptural images and patterns. The essay highlights four major aspects of Matthew’s reading of Scripture. (1) Matthew reads Israel’s Scripture as a story that highlights election, kingship, exile, and messianic salvation as the end of exile. (2) Matthew reconfigures Torah into a call for radical transformation of the heart. (3) Matthew highlights Scripture’s call for mercy, particularly by emphasizing Hosea 6:6 as the hermeneutical key to Torah. (4) Matthew interprets the mission to the Gentiles as the fulfilment of Israel’s destiny and the active embodiment of the authority of the Son of Man (Dn 7:13-14) over the whole world. Jointly taken, these strategies of interpretation produce a striking reconfiguration of Israel’s Torah.

Description

Spine cut of Journal binding and pages scanned on flatbed EPSON Expression 10000 XL; 400dpi; text/lineart - black and white - stored to Tiff Derivation: Abbyy Fine Reader v.9 work with PNG-format (black and white); Photoshop CS3; Adobe Acrobat v.9 Web display format PDF

Keywords

Matthew, Scripture

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Hays, RB 2005. 'The Gospel of Matthew: Reconfigured Torah', HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies, vol. 61, no. 1&2, pp. 165-190.[http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/issue/archive]