Matthew’s description of Jesus is much different than the description that Mark provides. In Matthew’s description, Jesus is much more serious about sinning and that people need to be perfect. He appears to be a lot less forgiving and even mentions that if you steal with a hand then that hand should be removed so that your entire body is not forced to go to hell for the sin of your hand. Mark’s Jesus was much more forgiving. Jesus cured those that were sick and showed them the path of God. Jesus acted as more of a guidance to the path of God, whereas Matthew’s depiction of Jesus spreads more of a fear of sinning and that those who’s actions are unequal to God’s will not be let into the Kingdom of Heaven.

I think Matthew’s interest in Moses and Jewish scriptures really shines in his depiction of Jesus. The Jews lived by the laws of the Torah and followed them usually somewhat extremely because any time they were persecuted in history, they believed it was because they had sinned too much and they were not properly following the Law as God had laid out. This explains why Matthew’s depiction of Jesus is so strict about God’s Law and being perfect. His representation of Jesus is showing that Jesus is the savior by giving God’s word directly to the people that He demands perfection in order to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Also, Jesus’ speech draws correlations to the speech Moses gave when reciting the Law to his followers after God passed it to him. The tone of both speeches are very similar as stern and authoritative.

Jesus is speaking not only to his disciples, but also to the people around him, his followers. Jesus’ followers, the Christians will receive special attention in this new era. The wrath of the Roman Empire will be no more and the Christians will be free from being persecuted for praising their God, the true God. They will no longer have to fight wars for God because those that do not believe in God’s grace will be punished and eternally live in the depths of hell. In order to receive the benefits of escaping the Romans and living eternal life under God’s grace they must live lives that are on par with the perfection of God himself. They must not give in to their desires, they must not harm others or commit adultery.