The Gospel of Matthew is Pure Brilliance!

Episode Outline:
0:00 Why the Gospel of Matthew deserves to be read on its own
0:46 Bart on teaching undergraduates and Megan on teaching Sumerian
4:15 Why scholars treat Matthew as a distinct book, not just another Jesus story
6:56 Who wrote Matthew, and when was it written?
12:10 Matthew’s sources: Mark, Q, and material unique to this gospel
15:07 Matthew’s central message: Jesus as the Jewish Messiah
18:10 Why Matthew begins with genealogy, David, and Abraham
20:43 Fulfilled prophecy and what Matthew is trying to prove
26:45 Jesus as a new Moses in Matthew’s narrative design
29:11 Why Matthew insists on keeping the law
32:54 Why Matthew attacks Jewish leaders while affirming Judaism
35:53 Why Gentiles in Matthew often understand Jesus better than Jewish insiders
39:03 The Magi story as a miniature version of Matthew’s whole gospel
46:24 Promo: Bart’s new Mark course
49:24 Outsmart Bart: Middle Platonism, Nag Hammadi, and the Ascension of Isaiah
54:58 Final summary: Matthew’s portrait of Jesus and the law

Episode Description

Most readers completely overlook Matthew's portrayal of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah who fulfills the Jewish Law AND insists that his followers do so as well (What? Jesus' followers have to KEEP the Law of Moses?). But Matthew conveys exactly that message loud and clear in some passages and with brilliant ingenuity in others, including some that are widely familiar but not widely understood. Think: the magi.


Also watch these episodes:

Did Ancient Scribes Alter Jesus' Words? Evidence from the Gospel of Matthew
Did Ancient Scribes Alter Jesus’ Words? Evidence from the Gospel of Matthew

The Real Story Behind the Virgin Birth in Christianity
The Real Story Behind the Virgin Birth in Christianity