THE GOSPELS – intro Matthew & Mark

19 July 2024

We are proceeding with our study of the GOSPELS, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. And we are going to focus today on a short INTRODUCTION to the GOSPEL of Matthew and Mark, working mainly from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians with cross references to other Bible versions.

As you know we are using the Hebrew names of God the Father, namely YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD is used in standard versions of the Bible, and we will also use the description Heavenly Father and Abba Father.  We also use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.

The Gospel of Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew opens with Yeshua’s genealogy and was written between 58 and 68 C.E. It is a smooth transition between the Old Testament and the first coming of Yeshua the Messiah.

It is written from a deeply informed JEWISH perspective (with other words the SOUTHERN KINGDOM, including the tribe of Judah and Benjamin’s viewpoint) and draws heavily on the Old Testament Scriptures and first century Jewish customs and thought to portray Yeshua as the promised Messiah.

The Book of Matthew is composed for a JEWISH AUDIENCE with a THREE-FOLD PURPOSE, united in his presentation of Yeshua the Messiah as IMMANUEL (GOD IS WITH US), fulfilling the promises and teachings of the Old Testament namely:

1. It is DIDACTIC (meaning informative, educational and moralistic) – emphasizing Yeshua as TEACHER and directed primarily to His JEWISH FOLLOWERS. Each of the FIVE DIVIDIONS in chapter 7, 11, 13, 19 & 26 concludes with a major TEACHING SECTION. These divisions reflect the FIRST FIVE BOOKS – GENESIS to DEUTERONOMY (named the TORAH) and written by Moses – emphasizing that Yeshua is a TEACHER like Moses LIVING the TORAH and showing OTHERS HOW TO ALSO.
2. It is APOLOGETIC (meaning repentant and remorseful), representing Yeshua to the wider JEWISH community. As the fulfillment of the MESSIANIC HOPE rooted in the TORAH and the PROPHETS. The APOLOGETIC emphasis encourages Yeshua’s followers to strengthen their faith amid mounting tension with the wider Jewish community.
3. It is POLEMIC (meaning bold, passionate and controversial) – countering (opposing and refuting, disapproving) the JEWISH majority and authorities’ REJECTION of Yeshua.

The kings namely Saul, David and Solomon and thereafter the kings of the divided Southern Kingdom (named Judah including the tribe of Benjamin) and the Northern Kingdom (named Israel and consisting of TEN TRIBES united under Ephraim) came and went throughout the Old Testament. With each successive king, the hope of the people of YHVH faded. Israel longed for the KING promised through the PROPHETS who would usher in YHVH’s PEACE and DELIVERANCE from their ENEMIES.

Mathews’ Gospel proclaims Yeshua to be the long-awaited KING of kings. At the conclusion of the Book of Matthew, the sign that hung above Yeshua’s head on the cross, ironically made this same claim: THIS IS YESHUA, THE KING OF THE JEWS, THE LION OF JUDAH (thus specifying the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin). Though many Jews in Yeshua’s time on earth were blind to His identity, Matthew anchors Yeshua’s life and MISSION in the Old Testament promises of YHVH. Using more than 70 quotations or allusions from the Old Testament, Matthew demonstrates that Yeshua is the PROMISED KING who comes to fulfil the hope of His people and he invites his readers to embrace the RIGHTFULL KING through FAITH and REPENTANCE and SUBMIT to a life to the KING’s KINGDOM – those who do find Him to be a righteous, loving and humble ruler offering forgiveness, peace with God the Father and HOPE for this life and the next.

MATHEW therefore focusses on YESHUA as the KING namely:

• the arrival of the King through His birth and early years, immersion and temptation;
• Proclamation of the King consisting of the calling of His disciples, the sermon on the mount and Yeshua’s healings, teachings and miracles;
• Rejection of the King consisting of preparing His disciples, the transfiguration on the mountain and Yeshua’s healings, teachings and miracles; and the
• Crucifixion of the King consisting of the final week of His life, the Last Seder (or Passover meal with His disciples), His trial, crucifixion and burial.

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice confirms this view. According to the Bible writers the PURPOSE of the Gospel of Matthew is to proof that Yeshua the Messiah is the EVERLASTING KING. The writer is Matthew who was possibly the tax collector, Levi who became an apostle of Yeshua and he primarily addresses the Jews (with other words the tribes of Judah and Benjamin forming the Southern Kingdom). They further mention that the Gospel of Matthew connects the Old and New Testaments with the many references to the fulfillment of the prophecies. Matthew often uses Messianic language for instance referring to Yeshua as the “Son of David.” The core verse for the Gospel of Matthew is indicated as chapter 5:17 in which Yeshua the Messiah said to the crowd: “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah (referring to first five books of the Bible namely Genesis to Deuteronomy, some Bible versions refer to it as the LAW) or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete.”

The Jewish Study Bible explains this verse as follows: “While Yeshua kept the Torah perfectly and fulfilled predictions of the prophets – He did not come to abolish (eliminate or eradicate) but to make full the meaning of what the Torah says and the ethical demands that YHVH through the prophets requires. Yeshua came to complete our understanding of the Torah and the prophets and not to annul (cancel or terminate) it.”

The major themes in the Gospel of Matthew are indicated in the Afrikaans Bible in Practice as:

Yeshua the Messiah, the King

Yeshua is introduced as the KING of all kings. Matthew expresses it in the way he writes about Yeshua’s birth, His life and miracles, the things he taught and His victory over death. Yeshua the Messiah is a unique King who bought us back from the slavery of sin with His own blood and enable us to stand in a right relationship with YHVH the Father. We therefore need to acknowledge Him as the KING over our lives.

Next as:

The Messiah

Matthew depicts Yeshua as the Messiah, the (capital letter) One the Jews (that is the tribe of Judah and Benjamin) awaited, the One they thought would free them from Roman rule. They did not recognize Him because His first coming did not meet their expectations. YHVH sent His Anointed Savior for the purpose to reconcile everyone with Him in a new relationship.

Yeshua came to explain to mankind who YHVH the Father really is, His love for us as well as His expectations from us. Next as:

The Kingdom of YHVH

The heart of Yeshua’s preaching and teachings was the KINGDOM of GOD (YHVH His Father) to emphasize that YHVH rules. This KINGDOM will one day be fully revealed. When we believe in Yeshua as our Savior, we are already transferred to YHVH’s KINGDOM and we therefore have to LIVE as representatives and citizens of HIS KINGDOM (see Colossians 1:13, Acts 26:18 and 1 Peter 2:9).

Another interesting comparisons to the BOOK OF MATHEW is indicated by Dr Richard Booker in his book: The Blood Covenant, being the following:

• The camp layout in NUMBERS chapter 2:2-9. We read here: “The people of Israel are to set up camp by clans (or tribes), each man with his own banner (or flag) and under his clans (tribe’s) symbol (or emblem). They are to camp around the tent of meeting (that is the TABERNACLE), but at a distance. Those camping on the EAST SIDE toward SUNRISE are to be under the banner of the camp of JUDAH; they are to camp according to companies (or houses); by TRIBE and LEADER they are as follows: Judah, Issachar and Zebulon totaling the biggest group of 186,400 people. This group is to set out first.” We therefore see from the text, YHVH instructed the Israelites to pitch their tents around the Tabernacle in a specific way and each head or leader of the tribes had an identifying flag. These flags served as foreshadow of Yeshua the Messiah as we get to know Him in the FOUR GOSPELS.

The tribe of Judah had to pitch their tents on the EAST SIDE of the Tabernacle and their flag was a GOLDEN LION on a BRIGHT RED FIELD. You will remember Jacob compared his son Judah to a LION in his blessing of him in Genesis 49:8-12. And we also know that Yeshua the Messiah, born from the root of David, from the tribe of Judah is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (see Revelation 5:5).

• In Ezekiel 1:10 and in The THRONE ROOM in Revelation chapter 4:7 there are again a reference to FOUR SYMBOLS. There are four living beings around the throne and one of them was like a LION. The lion is a symbol of a king or ruler.

Next there is the:

Gospel of Mark

Many scholars are of opinion that the Gospel of Mark (written between 55 and 65 C.E.), emphasizing the Messiah’s humility, suffering and steadfastness is directed to a community of Yeshua’s followers suffering persecution, possibly in Rome.

Mark does not open with Yeshua’s genealogy like Matthew and Luke does but rather dives into the action, immediately introducing the ministry of John the Baptist. Thus reflecting the vigor of the prophets Elijah and Elisha.

Like Yeshua the Messiah’s first-century followers in Rome, those in and around Israel may have faced opposition so Marks portrayal of the SUFFERING MESSIAH was likely relevant and edifying. Similar to Matthew, Mark presents the GOOD NEWS of the Messiah in distinctly JEWISH WAYS employing the Torah and other texts of the Old Testament.

Mark writes as a loyal JEW, proclaiming Yeshua to be the Messiah of ISRAEL and the SON OF GOD (YHVH), emphasizing a distinctive, mysterious element: the MESSIANIC SECRET. Yeshua seems more intent in hiding His MESSIANIC IDENTITY than revealing it. He silences demons who recognizes Him as the SON OF GOD (YHVH), He tells those He heals not to make Him known, He refuses the Pharisees request for a sign and warns His disciples not to tell anyone about Him. Yeshua’s goal is not to deny He is the MESSIAH or to hide it indefinitely but to reveal it when the right time comes, with the full implication made clear through His death and resurrection.

MARK focusses on YESHUA as the SERVANT, the OX:

• the Servant is announced.
• The Servant ministers consisting of immersion and temptation, calling His disciples, healings, teachings and miracles and the transfiguration on the mountain.
• The Servant submits consisting of the final week, signs of the end of the age, anointing and betrayal, His trial and crucifixion and burial; and
• The Servant rises again.

Again, the Afrikaans Bible in Practice confirms this view. According to the Bible writers the PURPOSE of the Gospel of Mark is to proclaim Yeshua as the SON OF GOD (YHVH).

The writer is John Mark, He was not one of the disciples of Yeshua, but he accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey according to Acts 13:13. It is possible that he knew the disciples well because they often met in his mother’s house in Jerusalem.

Mark addresses Yeshua’s followers, the Christians in Rome. The core verses for the Gospel of Mark are indicated as chapter 1:15 in which Yeshua the Messiah proclaimed: “The time has come. God’s Kingdom is near! Turn to God (YHVH) from your sins and believe the Good News.” And chapter 10:45 saying: “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve – and to give His life as a ransom for many”

The major themes in the Gospel of Mark are indicated as:

Yeshua the SON OF GOD (YHVH)

We see in Mark how Yeshua proved His divinity through tangible acts: conquering illnesses, evil and death. Although He had the power and authority to be the King of the earth, He chose to be obedient to YHVH, His Father and die for sinners. With His resurrection from death, He ultimately proved that He is GOD, that He can forgive sin, and He has the power to change human lives. When we trust in Him for forgiveness of our sin, we are able to make a new beginning and live a life following Him. Through Him the supremacy of YHVH the Father became visible.

The Servant

As the SON of YHVH Yeshua fulfilled the prophecies in the Old Testament relating to His FIRST COMING. He did not come as a mighty king, but as a servant. His salvation of the world lies in His healing of people. He gave His life for our sins, the greatest gift of service that can be shown to humankind. We have to follow in the example of Yeshua our Messiah to be willing to serve YHVH the Father and other people in love.

Miracles

Mark gives more attention to the miracles of Yeshua than His preaching and teachings. It is clear that Yeshua was not only a man of words but also of deeds and strength. He performed miracles with the purpose of convincing people of the dawning of the KINGDOM of YHVH. And to teach His disciples that He truly is the Son of YHVH. The more we are convinced that Yeshua is the Son of YHVH, the more we will see His love and strength. His mighty deed proofs that He is able to save anyone, whatever his past may have been. Yeshua’s miracles of forgiveness bring healing and new life to everyone who believes in Him.

Spreading the GOSPEL (the GOOD NEWS)

Yeshua especially worked among the Jews (the tribe of Judah and Benjamin). The Jewish Leaders was strongly opposed to him. He however also worked with non-Jewish people – He spoke to them and healed them – Roman soldiers and other non-Jewish people other nations heard the GOOD NEWS. Many people believed in Him and followed Him. In His last teaching to His disciples, He gave them the assignment to proclaim the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION throughout the world to all creation. The Good NEWS is therefore intended for ALL PEOPLE. The proclaiming of the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION is also our assignment today – reaching people in our sphere of influence – our families, friends, at work and in our communities to give all people the opportunity to be saved from sin and death and live an abundant live now on earth and forever more.

Looking at the comparisons to the BOOK OF MARK in terms of the following:

• The camp layout in NUMBERS chapter 2:18-24. We read here: “Those camping on the WEST is to be under the banner (or flag) of the camp of EPHRAIM they are to camp according to companies (or houses); by TRIBE and LEADER they are as follows: EPHRAIM, Manasseh and Benjamin totaling to the smallest group of 108,100 people. This group is to set out third.”

The tribe of Ephraim had to pitch their tents on the WEST SIDE of the Tabernacle and their flag was a BLACK OX on a GOLDEN FIELD. In Genesis 48 we read that Joseph brought his two sons, Manasseh the eldest and Ephraim, the youngest to his father Jacob (also called Israel) to bless them and in verses 13-19 we read: “Then Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh in his left towards Israel’s right hand and brought them near to him. But Israel put out his RIGHT HAND and laid it on the head of the younger one, EPHRAIM, and put his LEFT HAND on the head of MANASSEH – he INTENTIONALLY CROSSED HIS HANDS, even though Manasseh was the firstborn…then Jacob blessed the boys and said “…may they grow into TEEMING MULTITUDES on the earth. Joseph was not pleased that his father Jacob blessed Ephraim as the firstborn, but Jacob said to him: “He (Manasseh) too will become a people, and he too will be great; nevertheless, his younger brother Ephraim will be greater than he, and his descendants will grow into MANY NATIONS.

In Deuteronomy 33 Moses blessed the people of Israel and he said the following to Joseph’s two sons in verse 17: “His firstborn bull – glory is his; his horns are those of a wild OX; With them he will gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth. These are the myriads (the multitudes) of Ephraim; these are the thousands of Manasseh.”

In the pictographic Hebrew Alphabet the FIRST LETTER ALEF is indicated as an OX and the LAST LETTER the TAV is indicated as a cross and you will remember Yeshua’s words in Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alef (meaning the FIRST; in Greek it is the Alpha) and the TAV (meaning the LAST, in Greek it is the Omega)…God of heaven’s armies, the (capital letter) One who is, who was and who is coming.” The OX in the Hebrew pictographs is a symbol indicating: strength and the leader or leadership. And the TAV is a symbol of a CROSS indicating: a mark, a sign and a COVENANT. This is very interesting because we know that ALL NATIONS are GRAFTED into ISRAEL (that is the TEN TRIBES WITH EPHRAIM as LEADER) and we enter into a COVENANT with YHVH the FATHER through YESHUA OUR MESSIAH WHO DIED FOR US ON A CROSS.

• In Ezekiel 1:10 and in The THRONE ROOM in Revelation chapter 4:7 there are again a reference FOUR SYMBOLS. There are four living beings around the throne and one of them was like an OX. The OX is a symbol of a SERVANT, so again there is the IDENTIFICATION with one of the FOUR ROLES of YESHUA depicted as the SERVANT in the GOSPEL of MARK. The BIBLE is pretty amazing because ALL of IT speaks of YESHUA OUR MESSIAH! No wonder He told the Jewish leaders in John 5:39 “You keep examining the Tanakh (the OLD TESTAMENT) because you think that in it you have eternal life. Those VERY SCRIPTURES BEAR WITNESS TO ME, but you don’t want to come to Me in order to have life! And in verse 45-46 Yeshua said to them: “But don’t think it is I who will be your accuser before the Father. Do you know who will accuse you? Moses, the very one you have counted on! For if you really believed Moses (referring to the Torah that Moses wrote), you would believe Me; because it was ABOUT ME THAT HE WROTE.” And in Luke 24:27 after Yeshua’s resurrection He talked the two men on the road to Emmaus: “…starting with Moses (with other words from Genesis to Deuteronomy) and ALL THE PROPHETS, He explained to them the things that can be found throughout the TENAKH (the OLD TESTAMENT) concerning Himself.”