Interpreting "Pro-Jewish" Passages in Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew manifests a persistent anti-Jewish animus. Yet four passages (10:5—6 and 15:24; 5:17 ff.; 23:2) appear to reflect a pro-Jewish slant; accordingly, they are frequently enlisted in apologetic efforts which aim at establishing Jesus' loyalty to both the Jewish peopl...
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
1983
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| In: |
Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
Year: 1983, Volume: 54, Pages: 135-146 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Early Judaism
/ New Testament
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| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Anti-judaism
B Matthew |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | The Gospel According to Matthew manifests a persistent anti-Jewish animus. Yet four passages (10:5—6 and 15:24; 5:17 ff.; 23:2) appear to reflect a pro-Jewish slant; accordingly, they are frequently enlisted in apologetic efforts which aim at establishing Jesus' loyalty to both the Jewish people and the Law, as well as his affirmation of the authority of scribes and Pharisees. The texts also figure prominently in proposals of a Jewish identity for the Gospel's redactor. All such applications of these verses are unjustified. While ostensibly pro-Jewish, the texts are a function of, and entirely consistent with, Matthew's overall anti-Jewish stance; moreover, they reflect the editorial activity of the redactor, not the sentiments of the historical Jesus. The many attempts to resolve the tension between the pervasive anti-Jewish and these pro-Jewish elements in Matthew thus emerge as unnecessary since the latter are not pro-Jewish. The conclusions of this essay discourage further appropriation of these texts for apologetic purposes and for arguments espousing a Jewish identity for the redactor of Matthew. |
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| ISSN: | 0360-9049 |
| Contains: | In: Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
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