SUMMARY
JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity. More the MessiahThe Messiah was the one who, it was believed, would come to free the people of Israel from bondage and exile. In Jewish thought the Messiah is the anticipated one who will come, as prophesied by Isaiah. In Christian thought Jesus of Nazareth is identified... More has announced the kingdom of GodThe kingdom (reign) of God is a central theme of Jesus' teaching and parables. According to Jesus this reign of God is a present reality and at the same time is yet to come. When Christians pray the Lord's Prayer, they ask that God's kingdom... More in word and deed. But response to this message is mixed. In his teaching in parables Jesus describes the righteousA righteous person is one who is ethical and faithful to God's covenant. Righteousness in the Old Testament is an attitude of God; in the New Testament it is a gift of God through grace. In the New Testament righteousness is a relationship with God... More as those who are blessed in their hearing and who thus receive the surprising treasure of the kingdom with understanding. Those who reject it are the weeds that live in the meantime among the wheat but will be separated out at the end of the age.
ANALYSIS
The third major discourse of Jesus in MatthewA tax collector who became one of Jesus' 12 disciples. More collects a series of parables of Jesus on the kingdom of God, in which Matthew expands on Mark’s original. As opposition to Jesus’ ministry and message grows (see especially chapters 11 and 12), Jesus now turns more directly to teaching on discipleship and the kingdom in this collection of Jesus’ teaching in parables, which also reflects the understanding of that message for Matthew’s own community. Two themes especially characterize Matthew’s collection–the understanding and the blessingBlessing is the asking for or the giving of God's favor. Isaac was tricked into blessing Jacob instead of his firstborn Esau. At the Last Supper Jesus offered a blessing over bread and wine. To be blessed is to be favored by God. More of the disciples–both of them grounded in scriptural prophecyProphecy is the gift, inspired by God, of speaking and interpreting the divine will. Prophets such as Amos, Isaiah, and Ezekiel spoke words of judgment and comfort to the people of Israel on behalf of God. More (13:14-17). Once again the discourse proper ends with Matthew’s typical formula conclusion (13:53) and then is followed by the account of Jesus’ rejection even in his own home town of Nazareth (13:54-58). The people take offense at Jesus and the impact of their unbelief is confirmed in his inability to do deeds of power in that place any longer.
