The first public act of Jesus in Mark is an exorcism where as in Matthew it is the Sermon on the Mount.  Sermons are a distinctive feature to Matthew even when compared to Luke who draws from the same Q material does not have the same sermons contained in Matthew (White303).  This change draws to… Continue reading →

With Matthew thought to be written well after the destruction of the temple, there are new “social and religious tensions” that the author addresses by emphasizing Jesus’ messianic role through his teaching and prophecy fulfillment (White, 313).  Specifically, the Sermon on the Mount shows a strong resemblance to Moses, while also emphasizing his teachings on… Continue reading →