In Matthews account 16:13-20 of Jesus questioning the disciples on his nature, three lines are added from Mark’s account including a foretelling of the future, and emphasizing a) That Jesus is the Messiah son of God and b) That his disciples are not aware of this in “flesh and blood” but have acknowledged it. The lines Matthew inserts are reminiscent of the Lords Prayer also added into Matthews gospel speaking on the kingdom of heaven being reachable through acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah. I think Mathew adds in these line lines to further substantiate his point that Jesus must be acknowledged as the Messiah in order to have God’s kingdom of heaven on earth.

The prominent themes in Jesus’ sermon on community life are forgiveness and humility. Matthew begins where Mark left off in 9:42 upon introducing a child as a symbol of humility before God. Matthew encourages his disciples be be like a child and welcome the child. He continues this imagery of the humble and meek being served, as he describes the lost sheep. Here Jesus places value on the “lost” ones rather than the ones who are already saved or following. This implies a sense of inclusiveness, that all are children of God, and also could be read with Evangelical tones, go after the lost and try and convert. If taken in the larger thematic context of forgiveness the lost sheep could represent one who has sinned and Matthew providing imagery to the idea that those sinners are the most important to regain. This idea is carried on as Mathew speak of forgiveness between church members. The number 7 which we established is a sacred number in Judaism, is used to emphasize the level of forgiveness that should be taken “seventy seven times” Mk 18:22, the number of times a sinner is to be forgiven. I think Mark included these specifics on community life because he was trying to establish a strong community of which to compete with the Pharisees. Matthew uses the term “church” to specify how church members should interact with each other as not to create more division in the chaotic post war conflicts. A unified church would be stronger in establishing the correct form of Judaism Matthew is hoping to anchor.

In Matthew 23:1-39 the Pharisees are described as quite the opposite to the image painted in Matthew 18:1-35 of how the those welcomed into heaven should act, as children. Jesus in this part of Matthew related the Pharisees to ones who exalt themselves above others and as hypocrites to demand of things from others that they themselves to not fulfill. In Matthew 16-22 Jesus gives the example of placing importance on the gift at the alter vs, the importance of matters of justice, mercy and faith. Focus on the material thus convoluting and shifting focus away from the worship of God the “one father” and “one teacher” (Mt 23:8-9). Towards the end of this section Matthew through Jesus, accuses the Pharisees of killing the prophets. He also mentions the crucifixion and flogging of prophets which could be read as foretelling and if so, a dire claim against the Pharisaical Jews for killing Jesus. Matthew’s accusatory intention in this rant is to emphasize the opposition Pharisees place to God’s revelation of Jesus as the true Messiah and fulfillment to the Septuagint. In creating a stark opposition it helps build case for a strengthened unified church separate from and “better than” the competition.