jesus: messiah, rabbi

Jesus: Messiah, RabbiA Study in the Gospel of Matthew

The Book of Matthew• Matthew Teaching Jesus: Messiah• Mark Action Jesus: Man of

Authority• Luke An account Son of Man: Humanitarian• John Case for belief Deity in the

flesh

• Hebrew/Aramaic expressions• Many OT references• Many OT prophesies• Common elements with Rabbinic literature

Jesus as Rabbi

The Rabbi• Generally a scribe with a following.

– Scribe: Expert in the law.– Many scribes were teachers.– Some scribes were rabbis.

• Expected of a Rabbi:– Verbal instruction– Demonstration: Training by example– Correction

• Expected of a Disciple:– Listen & watch– Learn & adopt– Apply

Think as He Thought

Class Overview• The Temptations of Jesus Ch. 4• Sermon on the Mount Chs. 5-7• Divine Judgment Chs. 24-

25• John the Baptist – Role Fulfilled Chs. 3,

11• The Purpose of Parables Ch. 13

• The Cost of Forgiveness Ch. 18

• The Sabbath and Jewish TraditionVarious

• The Pharisees and Pure ReligionCh. 23

• The Purpose and Effect of Miracles Various• A Day in the Life of Jesus Chs. 8-

16

The Sermon on the MountJesus preached repentance throughout

Galilee:• Multitudes followed.• News spread throughout…

– Syria– The Decapolis– Jerusalem & Judea– Beyond the Jordan

The Sermon• I am talking to YOU! (5:1-16)• Your righteousness defined (5:20, 48).• Your righteousness in practice (6:1, 7:24).

About 1 Year

The Sermon on the Mount• Directed to…• Response from…

– Amazed!• Their

impression…• In contrast to…

• His disciples.• The multitude…

• Authority.• Scribes.

(Rabbi Scribe)

Rabbi JesusSurpasses the

Scribes

Rabbi JesusMESSIAH

The Beatitudes• “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

POW!

Blessed (Greek: makarios)• In Classical Greek: Referred to the Greek &

Roman gods.• Transcendent happiness of life beyond care,

labor, and death.

• Later used to describe the state of extreme happiness in a man . . . that his state of being was ‘like’ that of the gods.

The Beatitudes - Language

Much debate among translators:• Blessed - associated with receiving good

things or good words.• Happy - associated with circumstances,

chance and luck (Same root as: happen).• Fortunate - related to luck or chance.• Favor - good, but conveys the idea of grace.


Personal suggestion: Blissful

• A state of extreme joy or happiness.

• Other worldly joy or happiness.

• “Ahh . . . Life just doesn’t get any better than this.”

“Blissful are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”


• Non-biblical Examples:– Blissful are parents who have good kids.– Blissful is the bridegroom who finds an

excellent bride.– Blissful is the bachelor for remaining

unmarried.– Blissful is he who has found great

happiness in love.– Blissful are the wealthy whose possessions

have given them good positions in life.

The Beatitudes - History

• Non-biblical Examples - Apocrypha:– Happy are we Israel, because we know

what is pleasing to God. (Baruch 4:4)– A good wife makes a happy husband; she

doubles the length of his life. (Ecclesiasticus 26:1)

– A wise man will have praise heaped on him and all who see him will count him happy. (Ecclesiasticus 37:24)


• Non-biblical Examples - Apocrypha:I can think of nine men I count happy, and I can tell you of a tenth:A man who can take delight in his children.And one who lives to see his enemy’s downfall.Happy is the husband of a sensible wife.The farmer who does not plough with ox and donkey together.…But no greater than he who fears the Lord.

(Ecclesiasticus 25:7-10)


• Biblical Examples:– How blessed is the one whom You choose

and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts. (Psalm 65:4)

– Blessed are you, O Israel, Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord. (Deut. 33:29)

– Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1-2)

– How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom. (1 Kg. 10:8)


• Biblical Examples:– How blessed is the man who does not walk

in the counsel of the wicked … (Psalm 1)– Blessed is a man who perseveres under

trial… (James 1:12)


Historically, the common message:• Blissful are . . .

– The Rich,– The Great,– The Honorable,– The Wise,– Those to whom good fortune has come.

• For they . . .– Spend their days in merrymaking;– Spend their years in pleasure;– Eat choice food and drink sweet drink;– Every sheaf bows at their sheaf.


Blissful are . . .• The empty,• The lowly,• The ones who lack.

The Beatitudes of Jesus

POW!

• The reason they are blissful . . . ?

• They are following the Messiah!• There is hope (expectation of promise

fulfilled).

Blissful are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.(Matthew 5:11-12)

Your reward in heaven is great!


• In your emptiness you are being filled with the Spirit of God.

• In your humility you are being exalted by God.

• In your service you are being strengthened by God.

• In your thirst you are being given living water.• In your hunger your food is to do the will of

God . . . And you will be filled.


• You have emptied yourself in order to find your identity in Christ Jesus.

• With these credentials . . .

You are the salt of the earth!

You are the light of the world!It ju

st doesn’t g

et any better

than this!


jesus: messiah, rabbi

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