Gospel of Matthew

1. Social Context
 -concern for ethics  --> ìcatecheticalî
 -presents sayings of jesus which explicitly limit the activity of Jesus to israel
  community sees a) jews; b) gentiles; c) themselves
 - a community that was in contact with, and sought to define itself in response to, a developing Pharasiac tradition within Judaism.
 
2.  Matthian Structure
 a) sayings collection of Mark grouped topically:
  -the law (5:17-48)
  -piety (6:1-18)
  -parables of the kingdom (13:1-52)
  -polemic against opponents (23:1-39)
 
 b) gospel in 5 books corresponding to the five books of the Pentateuch, the Torah.
 c) Three-stage presentation of Jesus as Messiah:
  i) Jesus the Messiah as a person (1:1-4:16)
  ii) the proclamation of the kingdom by Jesus the Messiah (4:17-16:20)
  iii) the revelation of Jesus Messiah to his disciples through his suffering,  death and resurrection (16:21-28:20)

3.  Matthewís Portrait of Jesus
 a) the Messiah who fulfills scripture
  a) the manner of his birth;
  b) by his actions : authority and obedience
 b) the Messiah who interprets scripture/Law
   i) radicalizes it
  ii) internalizes it (e.g. murder in 5:21-30)
  iii) demands a response that goes beyond the letter of the law (e.g. 5:38-47)
 c) the Messiah *is* the Torah or the Shekinah
 d) Jesus as wise teacher
 e) alters emotional reactions of Jesus eg. Mk1:41/Mt. 8:3; Mk 10:14-Mt 19:14

Gospel of Luke
 is Luke a historian??
 -Markan material in three large blocks: 3:1-6:19; 8:4-9:50; 18:15-24:11
  -uses Q, and other materials
  -uses sources selectively

1.  Lukan themes:
 a). Holy Spirit
 b) prayer
  Jesus prays at every critical turning point in the narrative (6:12; 9:18.28-29;  10:21; 11:1; 22:32, 41-46; 23:46)
 c) mission to the Gentiles
  Jewish scripture expects inclusion of the gentiles (2:30-31; 24:46-47)
 d) fulfillment of promise
  -use of literary prophecy; things predicted by characters in the story are later shown to be fulfilled explicitly in the narrative (e.g. Lk 9:22,44; 18:32 with the fulfillment in 24:6-8,44)
 e) delayed eschatology (cf. 10:9-11; 12:38,48; 12:34-13:9; 21:2)
  -Christians should not be concerned about the delay of the Parousia

2.  Jesus in Luke
 -Jesus as preacher surrounded by I) crowds ; ii) opponents; iii) disciples
 -redaction of Markís passion source
 -Jesus a hero in a classical sense
  -ìtruly this man was righteousî (23:47)
 -compare with Matt. on role of the populace: Matt. 27:25 vs. Luke 19:45-48
  -mocking on the cross: Mark 15:29; Matt 27:39; Luke 23:35