Beginner's Bible Study - 006

Matthew deals with the same events surrounding John the Baptist, but he includes information that Mark didn't because he has a better command of the tools of interpretation.

The king

The first piece of information that Matthew includes concerning John that Baptist is that he preached in the wilderness of Judea. Mark only said that he preached in the wilderness. Judea is the tribal territory of Judah of whom it is said would be a house of kings.

Ge 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be].

Mark was testifying that Jesus was the Son of God, and Matthew will attempt to convince us that he is the King of the Kingdom of Heaven. He confirms this with his next verse:

Mt 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The kingdom

Since Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of Heaven, it is important for Matthew to explain to us what the Kingdom of Heaven is. He is the only author to include the parable of the kingdom being like leaven:

Mt 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Mark (writing for Peter)does not record Peter's declaration "...Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Mt 16:16 but Matthew does. Why? Because Peter did not understand the subtlety of the identification of the Kingdom of Heaven, and Matthew needed Peter's testimony and the circumstances around it to explain what the Kingdom of Heaven is.

After Peter's declaration, Jesus says he will give Peter the keys to the kingdom. Mt 16:19 Immediately Jesus starts sharing pictures of the cross from the scriptures. Mt 16:21

Since leaven represents teaching, and the Kingdom is like leaven or like teaching, then the keys to teaching are the pictures of the cross in the Old Testament. Teh New Jerusalem is equated with the Kingdom of Heaven, with Jerusalem meaning 'teaching of peace'. The New Jerusalem is the new teaching of peace.

Matthew also confirms this beginning in Mt 5 with Jesus's sermon on the mount. He says, "You have heard it said... but I say..." He is ushering in the New Jerusalem with his new teaching of Peace.

Not only did Mark and Peter not understand this initially, but many modern interpreters miss it as well. It is not an obvious doctrine, but Matthew had a greater command of the tools of interpretation than Mark.

Focus on Isaiah

Mark left the reference to 'the prophets' open so that both Isaiah and Malachi could be associated. Matthew specifically identifies Isaiah. One of the differences between the greater contexts of the prophecies of Malachi and Isaiah is the introduction of Zion (parched place). Matthew has identified the symbol of water as the word of God.

The wilderness was a parched place except for the Jordan river. John was immersing people in the Word of God as he preached repentance. The Kingdom of Heaven is the teaching of the Word of God. The New Jerusalem is the new Teaching of the word of God which brings peace.

Each of Matthew's additions give a greater clarity on the prophecies and on the tools used to interpret them.

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