2022 Lenten Bible Study - Session 2 (Week 3)

This comment is an Extensive Quote

The history of the sermon’s interpretation is a miniature history of Christianity. To the present day there are sharply conflicting approaches to it. Rather than attempt to summarize that long and complicated history, I will state some theses that express my own approach: 1) Matthew places Jesus’ teaching in an eschatological framework. Nevertheless, much of Jesus’ teaching concerns appropriate behavior in the present. 2) The sermon is neither a strictly individual ethic nor a         

blueprint for a social Utopia. Nevertheless, it has implications for both personal and communal life. 3) The sermon is not addressed only to a Christian elite, nor is it so impossible to practice that its only function is to reminds people of their statues as sinners and their need for God’s grace. 4) The sermon places a compendium of Jesus’ teachings before Jews primarily. The goal is to show how Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets, not to prove superiority of his teaching to Jewish Scriptures or tradition. 5) In it Jesus presents what is for Christians an authoritative interpretation of the Torah. The sermon is more concerned with principles and attitudes than with deciding halakic matters or laying down laws. (Sacra Pagina, D. Harrington, Pg. 76) 

•  Halakic: the totality of laws and ordinances that have evolved since biblical times to regulate religious observances and the daily life and conduct of the Jewish people.  

Matthew’s recording of the Beatitudes varies from Luke’s version of four beatitudes and four woes. Matthew expands the four into nine blessings: 1) poor in spirit, 2) comforted mourners, 3) the meek, 4) hunger and thirst after righteousness, 5) merciful, 6) pure in heart, 7) peacemakers, 8) persecuted for righteousness sake, 9) persecuted because of Jesus. The satisfaction in each of these Beatitudes is eschatological.

This section of the Sermon on the Mount emphasizes a challenge for Israel to find in Jesus’ teachings the authentic interpretation of God’s will as revealed in the Torah.

The six “antitheses” (a contrast or opposition) are found in a formula similar to “you have heard it said … but I say to you”. Matthew uses the ‘pattern’ of an antithesis (formula) but not the content. Here, however, Jesus frequently agrees with the scriptural content, but urges a deepened understanding of it. His teaching is not to be seen as some sort of law versus gospel, but primarily fulfillment of Torah. 

• Note: the dynamic of the antitheses is one of sharpening Torah, getting to the root of what it teaches, moving into the realm of internal dispositions from which evil actions proceed. (Sacra Pagina, Pg. 91)

1) “You shall not kill (5:21-26)”. Jesus teaches that one should attack the root of murder, which is anger and ill will and to seek reconciliation.

2) “You shall not commit adultery (5:27-30)”. Jesus teaches that similar to murder, one should attack the root of adultery, which is lust.

3) “Whoever divorces his wife (5:31-32)”. A greater discussion based on additional material will be addressed when we get to Matthew 19:1-12. For the time being, although Deuteronomy permitted divorce as the sole discretion of the husband, Jesus refines that to only one reason: sexual irregularity.

4) “You shall not swear falsely (5:33-37)”. Reminiscent of the 8th. Commandment (Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20) it is most likely from Leviticus (19:12): “You shall not swear by my name falsely.” Here Jesus suggests that to avoid swearing falsely, avoid oaths entirely. The text conclusion is a tad unclear for this antithesis because “yes, yes” and “no, no” was a rabbinic form readily construed as an oath. Apparently, Matthew was embroiled in a debate concerning the propriety of making oaths and vows, and about the formulas associated with such oaths and vows. 

5) “Eye for an eye, and tooth for tooth (5:38-42)” the Lex Talionis, the basis for the saying, was primarily to set parameters on retaliation and to avoid violent escalation (e.g. if someone accidently killed your donkey, you could not kill the person in retaliation, but could demand that the person replace your donkey). However, Jesus refines the teaching by not only prohibiting violence but that brutality and force be met with abounding goodness.

6) “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy (5:43-48)”. This antithesis is concerned with defining neighbor. Love is to include even enemies, challenging us to avoid restricting love only to those who can benefit us or already love us.

We often hear that Torah is the Law. However, the English word “law” distorts the Hebrew word “Torah” which is derived from the Hebrew word (yrh) for instruct. Torah was always seen as a gift from God, not a burden. Acting upon the instruction of Torah is the privileged way of responding to God.

Matthew does not see Jesus as an enemy of Torah, but rather as a path of action to living and fulfilling Torah.

This section of Jesus’ sermon on the mount is best described as three acts of common Jewish piety: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting.

These three acts of piety were important aspects of Jewish religious life. Jesus is not criticizing the acts of piety as such, nor is he speaking against public manifestations of piety. His target is the aberrant style of those who make acts of personal piety into public displays. 

• Note: public almsgiving in order to encourage others to do likewise, is good; doing it solely to impress others, is not good 

Concerning prayer, Jesus offers a form of prayer in very Jewish terms. Here we find six petitions comprising the prayer. The first three relate to the present time, expressing the needs of those awaiting the End-Time: 1) may your Name be made holy (9b); 2) may your Kingdom come (10a); and, 3) your will be done (10b). 

• Note: Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is described as being for gentiles; Matthew’s version is for Jewish Christians.

The next three are for the actual eschatological moment: 1) bread for the coming day of testing (6:11); 2) forgiveness as they have been forgiving (6:12); and, 3) divine protection during the eschatological time of testing (6:13).

It should be noted that some manuscripts add “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.” This is thought to be a later addition although it is very much in keeping with the Jewish practice of “sealing” a prayer (1 Chronicles 29:11-12).

Concerning fasting, it is not to be avoided publicly, but similar to almsgiving and prayer, it is not to be done for show. Jesus is commenting on those that disfigure (aphanizousin) their faces to appear gloomy (skythropos) so as to impress the public. Again, to avoid the hypocrisy, do it quietly.

This lengthy section of what appears to be ‘random’ teachings concerning moral direction is rooted in the Hebrew scriptures, primarily the Wisdom Writings. Treasures(6:19-21) deals with the idea that your goal (or what you consider important) will determine the course of your activity and commitment. Eye analogy (6:22): how well we see, ‘colors’ what we see, so we ought to be generous in perceiving the actions of others. Masters (6:24) : total commitment cannot be divided, it’s one or the other. The following verses (6:25-34) are an elaboration (illustrations) of where our commitment lies. 

• Note: The term ‘Mammon’ in both Hebrew and Aramaic texts means ‘wealth, money, property’ in a collective sense.

Judgment … measure ... hypocrisy (7:1-3): These references are made in rabbinic teaching as well as from Leviticus concerning the importance of ‘reasoning’ with one’s neighbor.

Dogs and pigs (7:6): Admittedly this section is a bit of a mystery. It appears that Jesus is saying that you shouldn’t deal with non-Jews when teaching, but perhaps when simply seen in the context of the preceding verses of traditional Jewish wisdom, Jesus is merely suggesting that inappropriate behavior will not get you what you want (dogs may attack you, pigs will trample the teaching).

Prayer of petition (7:7-11): Although it appears that the faithful will get everything they want, once again, it must be seen in the context of this entire section. What is to be prayed for is to be faithful, committed, generous, and wise.

• Note: If you are trying to find the “Book of Tobit” in your bible and can’t find it? Check the Apocrypha.

Ultimately, this entire section (6:19-7:11) is linked together by a summary verse frequently known as the ‘golden rule’: “Therefore everything that you wish that people would do to you, so also do to them. For this is the Law and the Prophets. (7:12)” . This is completely in agreement with the Hebrew scriptures. It can be found in both a positive and negative form: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)” and “Do to no one what you yourself dislike. (Tobit 4:15)”

Just as an aside: “Once there were two revered rabbis, Shammai and Hillel. A certain heathen came before Shammai and said to him: ‘Rabbi, make me a proselyte on condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot.’ Shammai refused saying that it was impossible. Then the man went before Hillel and said: ‘Rabbi, make me a proselyte on condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot.’ Hillel accepted the challenge and said, ‘What is hateful to you do not to your neighbor, that is the whole Torah, while the rest is commentary on it; go and learn it.’”

Most likely Jesus knew this story.

The Sermon on the Mount is the first of five “speeches” found in Matthew which use an ending phrase “When Jesus finished these words…(7:28)”, elevating Jesus’ status via Moses. Near the end of Deuteronomy, a similar formula is used: “When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel… (Deuteronomy 32:45).” Again, this Moses reference would not have been missed by Matthew’s readers.

This final section very much is in conjunction with all the common premises in Jewish writing concerning the End-Time. This eschatological theme is highlighted by four contrasts:

1) The narrow gate (7:13-14) In cities such as Jerusalem, most gates were narrow and difficult to enter through, but they were easily defended. The wider gates were usually considered a path toward destruction. The Greek word for ‘hard’ (teqlimmenh) is frequently used in connection end-time tribulations.

2) Fruit tree … prophets (7:15-20) Just as a tree is identified by the fruit that it produces, so too will people be known. The bad fruit being burned in the fire in the end-time.

3) Father’s will (7:21-23) Only those who do the Father’s will can expect to enter the kingdom of heaven, whereas those who do not—whatever other achievements they have—will not enter.

4) Hearing ...Doing (7:24-27) Hearing Jesus’ words and doing them provides a firm foundation for the “storm”, those lacking such a foundation will experience a great fall.

Each unit contrasts two kinds of people: the two ways, the two trees, those who do God’s will and those who do not, and the two foundations. However, the two being contrasted ought not to be seen as being between Jews and Gentiles, nor between Jews and Christians (there weren’t two separate religions at this time). The contrast is between Jews who accept Jesus’ interpretation of Torah and those who don’t.

  The thesis of the Sermon on the Mouth is that Jesus came not to abolish but fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Matthew seeks to show the reader what fulfillment entails. It’s not about doing away with Torah, but in some cases going to the root of the Torah’s teaching or going beyond the letter of the Law.

I would remind you that I’ve moved through a lot of material this session, so if I skipped something you want to know more about, ask your questions.

Whew! End Session II

Go to Session III

Don't forget - your questions will always be the start of the next session. Keep those comments and questions coming in!