The Gospel of Matthew Essay Example for Free

The gospel truth of Matthew EssayThe Gospel of Matthew has long been claimed by theologians as the most Jewish of the four Canonical religious doctrine (Harris 98). The author of Matthew stresses the role of Jesus Christ as a fulfillment of Jewish prophecy, or as a fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. Matthew 4. 1-11 draws upon the main themes of hejira, presenting Jesus as comp ared to the Israelites in their journey finished the desert. The wilderness passel be seen to represent the negative and the positive aspects of tender covenant life, as expressed in Exodus as well as in Matthew 4. 1-11.The wilderness bathroom be seen as a line of transformation and trial, as evidenced by the scarcity of food and water, the temptation of idolatry, and the need for a combine that is rooted in deep surrender and trust in beau ideal to nourish and protect. The wilderness represents human life. Matthew 4. 1-11 presents itself as a fulfillment of the covenant formed at Mount Sinai i n the agree of Exodus, patch emphasizing Jesus Christ as the God-man among us, Emmanuel (Matt, NRSV, 1. 23).Biblically, the wilderness represents a place of extremes The risk of death is impending and very real, and survival depends on choices made and factors that are beyond the control of humankind. Perhaps it was this dual genius of the wilderness A place to encounter and enter into a trusting relationship with God, but in any case a place to face the dark side of nature, that led Ameri notify naturalist John Muir to write, In Gods wilderness is the hope of the world (Muir 86).In the Book of Exodus, the unpredictable, dangerous landscape of the wilderness leads to a primal fear of death that manifests itself in many of the Israelites losing faith in Yahweh to protect and pull up stakes for their tribe The Israelites doubt that God will provide the water that Moses draws out of the rock, the Israelites fear hunger originally God produces Manna to feed the multitudes, and a t Sinai, the Israelites engage in idolatry through the worship of the thriving calf (Exodus). Through all of these trials, the Israelites falter and doubt the promise of God.Although they are delayed and punished for their shortcomings, the Israelites at long last reach the consecrated Land (Josh 10. 14). In the Book of Matthew, the Israelites time of journey in the desert can be seen to mirror Jesus time of trial in the wilderness (as celebrated in Christian liturgy as Lent). Just as the journey to the Promised Land was littered with frightening and dangerous events that eventually led to Joshua conquering Canaan, the time of Lent leads to the Good News The hope of Eternal Life through the Passion of Christ (Josh 10).Where the people of Israel gave into human fear and temptation, Jesus became the perfect human, giving his life willingly to God and humanity. However, the Gospel of Matthew emphasizes the humanity of Jesus in the face of Satans temptations Jesus fasts for 40 days and 40 nights, but he feels human hunger, He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and later on he was famished (Matt 4. 3). Likewise, Jesus feels human fear and terror in the Garden of Gethsemane, begging the set about to Remove my cup of wrath (Luke 22. 42).Thus, Jesus faces the same temptations as the Israelites in the Book of Exodus when He faces the Devil in the state of nature, but He demonstrates a perfect faith that is evidenced not by His lack of fear, but rather His complete and perfect obedience. Jesus time in the wilderness can be seen as a journey of transformation and covenanting that allows Jesus to emerge renewed and filled with the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus enters the wilderness just after His baptism by John the Baptist where the voice of God declares that Jesus is the Messiah (Matt 3).This can also been seen to echo Jewish scripture, where God claims Abraham and Sarahs son Isaac as his own, the child of the Covenant (Gen 17. 1). The time of trial in the wilderness can be seen as a period of transformation, in which Jesus earns His role as the Savior. In much the way that Jesus bestows causation upon Peter following the foot-washing ceremony in the Gospel of John, the Gospel of Matthew provides the story of Jesus in the Wilderness as a time of commissioning.Throughout Matthew 4. 1-11, Jesus refutes the Devils temptations through the use of Hebrew Scripture. This highlights Jesus role as the Messiah, and claims him as the Davidic King prophesized by Isaiah (Is 26. 1). It is this emphasis on Jesus salvific role depending on His obedience, dedication, and hard work that is demonstrated in Matthew 4. 1-11 that leads to His Passion on the Cross. The importance and give over inherent in His death depend on His sacrifice as a gift of idle will, which is mirrored in his choice to give His life over to God, in spite of the Devils promises.The concept of wilderness is one that is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures In fac t, both the Abrahamic and Sinai covenanting are presented in the context of voyaging through the unknown. The obedience and faith in God that is emphasized through the Book of Exodus becomes perfectly executed through the life and Passion of Jesus. His experience in the wilderness highlights His flawlessness and devotion even in the face of His complete humanity, and represents the perfect fulfillment of the Journey to the Promised Land, and humanitys Covenant promise.The Gospel of Matthew highlights the fact that the period of Lent leads to the promise of Easter, and the advent of a life rid of death, in perfect communion with God. Works Cited Harris, Stephen L. , Understanding the Bible. USA Palo Alto Press, 1985. Muir, John, Ed Wolfe, Linnie Marsh. John of the Mountains the unpublished Journals of John Muir. Milwaulkee Univ. of Wisconsin Press, 1979.