Bible Study: Parody and Subversion in Matthew's Gospel

The "virgin birth" of Jesus, the title "Son of God," and the concept of the forgiveness of sins all had resonances in the first century Mediterranean world that they no longer have today. Understanding what those terms and concepts signaled, as well as how this story "fulfilled" the prophetic texts will greatly expand our understanding of what this story was all about. 

This episode is the only one that will not look at one particular text (all the other episodes will continue progressively through Matthew), but rather at the book as a whole. I make the argument in this episode that the whole Gospel of Matthew parodies a genre in the ancient world to get across a very serious message.

The story of the Magi evokes sentimental, feel good memories of Christmas for many of us, but this story, for its original audience, signaled hopes of liberation from a brutal occupation.

In this episode, we follow Jesus through his "vision quest," as he retraces his people's journey in the wilderness through a time of testing/temptation. Jesus has to prove what sort of Messiah or "Son of God" he will be.

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Jesus takes up John's work of leading a movement for The New Society (Kingdom of Heaven). Matthew's imagery reminds the reader of the setting of this story in the Roman Empire. Jesus liberates his disciples from bondage to the empire, setting them free to join the movement.

Jesus' campaign of healing provides an alternative to more conventional military campaigns (parody?) and signals the dawning of a new society.

Jesus begins laying out his new law or teaching for the new Society. This new teaching inverts the male honor code of the first century Mediterranean World.

Jesus attempts to build a strong movement, urging solidarity between peasants and curtailing male sexual abuse of and power over women.

What's the big deal about taking Oaths?
Also, women in Nigeria in 2002 used a tactic that Matthew's Jesus prescribes.

Jesus lifts up the mutual aid economy of the peasants and tears down the patronage system of the empire.

Jesus provides a prayer for his movement rooted in peasant realities of hunger, debt, and the threat of legal prosecution as well as the ancient story of the Exodus liberation.

Jesus usurps the power and authority of the priests.

In this episode, I make a mistake in the recording. See if you can catch it...you don't have to be a Bible Scholar, you just need to be paying attention. 

I only caught it after it was all done; there is no way to fix it, and I don't have the time or energy to go back and correct it, so let's make it a game. If you find it, let me know on the Facebook page.

The third detailed healing: Jesus crosses the gender divide and continues his campaign of healing.

Jesus crosses to "the other side" and encounters the demons of empire.

Who has the authority to forgive sins? Only God? Who has the authority to speak for God then? The ruling classes in antiquity used systems of temples, priests, and sacrifice to control the people. Jesus demonstrates to the people that they don't need any of that to have good standing before God and each other.