FIVE PARTS IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Matthew divides his Gospel into five books. Identify the five books in the Gospel and with examples illustrate the significance of each book.

The gospel of Matthew is written to a divided Jewish community. The author is rooted to a Jewish tradition and frequently quo the Old Testament. At the same time he shows how ancient tradition is fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is the teacher of the law to his church. Some say the gospol was written to Jewish Christians (inra muros), other say to the gentiles separated in their doctrine (exta muros).

I.      Identification of the five books in the Gospel of Matthew

The identification of the five books is actually related to the division of the book which has been made. So according to Raymond E. Brown, he mentions that apart from the introduction which includes Origin and Infancy of Jesus the Messiah (1: 1- 2: 23) and the climax: Passion, Death and Resurrection which refers to the last two chapters (26: 1- 28:20), Matthean Gospel is subdivided into five parts which all will speak, in a way or another about the Kingdom of God.

1.      Part One: Sermon on the Mount (3: 1 -7: 29)

This is all about the law of the Kingdom of God and Jesus as the model for the faithfulness of the Kingdom.

               Narrative: ministry of JB, baptism of Jesus, the temptations, beginning of the Galilean ministry (3:1-4:25)

               Discourse: Sermon on the Mount (5: 1-7 29)

2.      Part Two: Mission discourse (8:1-10:42)

This is about Ministry and Mission in Galilee

                 Narrative mixed with short dialogue: nine miracles consisting of healings, calming a storm, exorcism (8:1-9:38)

                 Discourse: Mission Sermon (10: 1-42)

3.   Part Three: Questioning of and Opposition to Jesus (11:1-13:52)

               Narrative setting for teaching and dialogue: Jesus and JB, woes on disbelievers, thanksgiving for revelation, Sabbath controversies and Jesus’ power, Jesus’ family (11:1-12:50)

               Discourse: Sermon in parables on the Kingdom of heaven (13:1-52)

4.   Part Four: Christology and Ecclesiology (13:53-18:35)

               Narrative mixed with much dialogue: Rejection at Nazareth, feeding 5000 and walking on the water, controversies with the Pharisees, healing, feeding the 4000. Peter’s confession, first passion prediction, transfiguration, second passion prediction (13:53-17:27)

Discourse on the Church life and administration 17:22-18:25

               Discourse: Sermon on the church as a kind of fellowship in the Kingdom (18:1-35)

5. Part Five: Journey to and Ministry in Jerusalem (19:1-25:46)

It is a kind of eschatology especially in 24 and 25.

               Narrative mixed with much dialogue: Teaching, judgment parables, third passion prediction, entry to Jerusalem, cleansing the Temple, clashes with authorities. Jesus and his enemies on the way of the cross. (19:1-23:39)

               Discourse: Eschatological Sermon (24:1-25:46)

II.   Illustration with example the significance of each book

Part One: SERMON ON THE MOUNT (3: 1 -7: 29): Theme is Proclamation of the Kingdom.

Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:29). There are parallels between Moses and the Matthean Jesus. The OT conveyer of divine revelation encountered God on a mountain; the NT revealer speaks to his disciples on a mountain. For Christians, next to the Ten Commandments as an expression of God’s will, the eight beatitudes (5:3-12) have been revered for expressing succinctly the values on which Jesus placed priority.

 Here Jesus is portrayed as teacher (2:28-29) who presented his commandments (28:20). He speaks about the basic attitude of a disciple in regard to his brother.

Part Two: Ministry and Mission in Galilee (8:1-10:42)

This book treats the mighty deeds ( nine miracles) of Jesus by his word. They are the foundation of Jesus’ teaching. Theme is DISCIPLESHIP

Part Three: Questioning of and Opposition

Theme is MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM (many parables here. A parable is an illustration caring a heavenly message it gives room to imagination in order to understand the message the purpose is to get the  listener out of narrow mondness and understand broadly the message). A combination of 11:2 and 19 suggests that Matt is presenting Jesus as both the Messiah and divine Wisdom. But a disbelieving generation cannot recognize his works. Like God in Exod. 33:14 and Wisdom in Sirach 6: 23-31, Jesus promises rest to those who take on themselves the obligations of the kingdom. Jesus uses the parables because the disciples were to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This part is full of dispute with Israel or between believers and unbelievers

Part Four: Christology and Ecclesiology (13:53-18:35)

§  Theme is THE CHURCH COMMUNITY. Mathew insisted on a community of love, childlike humility, fraternal correction, care for the weak, etc.

Jesus turns his main attention to the disciples from whom the church will develop, especially to Peter the rock on whom the church will be built. Matt connects ecclesiology and Christology, for the apostles are to interpret and teach all that Jesus commanded.

Part Five: Journey to and Ministry in Jerusalem (19:1-25:46): Theme is THE WOES.

Jesus has revealed his intention to found his church and has given instruction about the attitudes that must characterize it with that done, he now goes up to Jerusalem, where his predictions about the death and resurrection of the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

The narrative of what happened on the road to Jerusalem begins with an example of Jesus’ standards for the kingdom. The question about divorce (19:1-12) is set in the context of the testing of Jesus by the Pharisees.

In the eschatological discourse Jesus foretells the punishment and the rejection of Israel and reward those in the Church waiting for his coming; he predicts the destruction of the temple. (24-25)

Matthew has divided the gospel into five books as follows (B. W. Bacon):

1. Book one: The Proclamation of the Reign (3:1-7:29)

Narrative: 3:1-4:25

Discourse: Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:20)

In Sermon on the Mount Jesus is shown as the herald of the kingdom. He proclaims and promises true happiness to his disciples in the beatitudes. Jesus as a teacher defines his relation to the law in 5:17-20: He did not come to abolish but to fulfil. Jesus has taken the position of God in the OT, he gives new laws.

2. Book two: Ministry in Galilee (8:1-11:1)

Narrative: 8:1-9:34

Discourse: The Missionary Sermon (9:35-11:1)

This is a missionary discourse and is meant to show how the disciples armed with their commitment to Jesus are now sent by Jesus to proclaim the Good News with powerful words and to confirm those powerful words with powerful deeds like Jesus. They are not licensed to teach just yet, that will come at the end, now they are only allowed to preach.

3. Book three: Controversy and Parables (11:2-13:52)

Narrative: 11:2-12:50)

Discourse: The Parable of the Reign (13:1-52)

The parables are about what the kingdom is like. Kingdom is used to mean the rule of God in the heart rather than the Jewish apocalyptic end of the world. The parables form a line of division. Their riddle-like expressions are meant to punish the people for their wilful lack of understanding; while Jesus continues his ministry of teaching by giving the inner group of disciples explanations of the parables.

4. Book four: The Formation of the Disciples (13:53-18:35)

Narrative: 13:53-17-27)

Discourse: The Sermon on the Church (18:1-35)

Discourse on church life emphasizes a church order based on love, the avoidance of scandal, and care for the lost and forgives of one’s sinful brother.

5. Book five: Judea and Jerusalem (19:1-25:46)

Narrative: 19:1-23:30

Discourse: The Eschatological Sermon (24:1-25:46)

There will be delay before the final judgment and the final judgment will be strictly according to what one did during his/her life not according to any personal privilege.

John McKenzie says that these five books are intended to suggest the five books of the law and they show a theme that is clear in the gospel that Jesus is the new Moses. Each of these sections ends with a similar completion formula, “When Jesus had finished...”

In summary: I is about proclamation of the Kingdom; II is preaching about the kingdom; III is about what does the Kingdom looks like; IV is about how to correct the sinful brother, care for the weak.

Ø Significance of each book According to Raymond Brown:

Division	Books
1: 1 - 2: 23	Introduction: Origin and Infancy of Jesus the Messiah
	1.                  The who and how of Jesus’ identity (1:1-25) 2.                  The where and whence of Jesus’ birth and destiny (2:1-23)
3: 1 - 7: 29	Book One: Proclamation of the Kingdom
	1.                  Narrative: Ministry of John the Baptist, Baptism of Jesus, the temptations, beginning of the Galilean ministry (3:1-4:25) 2.                  Discourse: Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:29)
8: 1 - 10 : 42	Book Two: Ministry and Mission in Galilee
	1.                  Narrative mixed with short dialogue: Nine miracles consisting of healings, calming a storm, exorcism (8:1-9:38) 2.                  Discourse: Mission Sermon (10:1-42)
11: 1 - 13: 52	Book Three: Questioning of and Opposition to Jesus
	1.                  Narrative setting for teaching and dialogue: Jesus and John the Baptist, woes on disbelievers, thanksgiving for revelation, Sabbath controversies and Jesus’ power, Jesus’ family (11:1-12:50)  2.                  Discourse: Sermon in parables (13:1-52)
13: 53 - 18: 35	Book Four: Christology and Ecclesiology
	1.                  Narrative mixed much dialogue: Rejection at Nazareth, feeding the 5,000 and walking on the water, controversies with the Pharisees, healings, feeding the 4,000, Peter’s confession, first passion prediction, transfiguration, second passion prediction (13:53-17:27) 2.                  Discourse: Sermon on the Church (18:1:35)
19: 1 - 25: 46	Book Five: Journey to and Ministry in Jerusalem
	1.                  Narrative mixed with much dialogue: Teaching, judgement parables, third passion prediction, entry to Jerusalem, cleansing the temple, clashes with authorities (19:1-23:39) 2.                  Discourse: Eschatological Sermon (24:1-25:46)
26: 1 - 28: 20	Climax: Passion , Death and Resurrection
	1.                  Conspiracy against Jesus, Last Supper (26:1-29) 2.                  Arrest, Jewish and Roman trials, crucifixion, death (26:30-27:56) 3.                  Burial, guard at the tomb, opening of tomb, bribing of the guard, resurrection appearances (27:57-28:20)