The relationship between Law and Gospel remains something of a conundrum for biblical scholarship. A significant factor contributing to this difficulty is the interpretation of Matthew 5:17, and in particular what is meant by Jesus’ having come “to fulfil” the Law and the Prophets. What precisely is meant by “to fulfil the Law and the Prophets” is an exegetical enigma. Utilizing an eclectic array of methods, including literary, historical, and theological approaches, this study attempts to articulate the nature of fulfilment in Matthew 5:17. We begin by surveying a selection of previous contributions, from which we deduce four possible interpretations. Next, we outline the historical, literary, and theological contexts, in order to provide the background for the exegetical and theological discussions that follow.
This leads us into a thorough exegesis of Matthew 5:17-20, with special attention directed towards the key term ω. We argue that ω is best understood in light of its usage elsewhere in Matthew, highlighting its salvation-historical significance. In addition, we argue that the focus on the Law and the Prophets, Matthew’s understanding of the prophetic function of the Law (11:13), and the so-called antitheses of 5:21-48, lead us to understand “to fulfil” as the realization of what the Law and the Prophets – the Old Testament – pointed towards. When Jesus says that he has come to “fulfil” the Law and the Prophets he means that all that they anticipated has now come about in him.
But it is important to move beyond regular historical-critical methods of exegesis and also to examine the passage in light of its biblical-theological significance: what did the Law and Prophets anticipate? Our study attempts to advance discussion of ω in this passage by considering how ‘biblical theology’ might aid us in understanding what precisely was pointed towards by the Old Testament. We therefore discuss the bearing of a theology of the kingdom of God on Matthew 5:17. The significance of the concept of the kingdom of God/heaven – mentioned three times in Matthew 5:17-20, central in both Matthew’s Gospel and the Sermon on the Mount, and descriptive of Jesus’ mission (4:17) – has often been overlooked in the interpretation of this passage. In addition to regular arguments made on the basis of historical-critical exegesis – including discussion of the nature of ω in Matthew’s Gospel, the sense in which the Law prophesies, and the contribution of the so-called antitheses of 5:21-48 – we argue that the biblical-theological theme of the kingdom of God clarifies a salvation-historical reading of these verses. The concept of the kingdom of God provides a helpful lens through which to understand the nature of the fulfilment brought about by Jesus.
When the theme of the kingdom of God in the Old Testament is considered, it is seen that this concept summarizes the Jewish hope – it is what the Law and the Prophets pointed towards. Therefore, when it is said that Jesus has come “to fulfil” the Law and the Prophets, an eschatological or salvation-historical reading shows that what the Law pointed towards has arrived in the teaching and ministry of Jesus. But a biblical-theological reading of the kingdom of God helps us to add a measure of precision to this statement. Jesus “fulfils” the Law and the Prophets by bringing into being what they anticipated: the kingdom of God, to which the Old Testament looked forward, has come. What the Law and Prophets anticipated was the arrival of the kingdom of God. “Fulfilment”, then, should be construed in terms of this motif. Jesus fulfils the Law and the Prophets by inaugurating the kingdom of God, which they anticipated. This bypasses discussions over whether it is primarily Jesus’ teaching or Jesus’ life that is in view, since the kingdom of God is inaugurated through both. / MA (New Testament), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/15611 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Trout, Bradley Michael |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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