Show Notes
The Jubilee Year was a time of change in Jewish lives, a time when property was returned to its original owner and people returned to their homes. A time to return the disrupted nation to a more orderly state. It should come as no surprise that this concept was linked with the Great Flood in which sin was washed away, leaving the world ready for a new and fresh creation. And as Isaiah explores these connections, he provides a wealth of inspiration for later Christians.
More from Dragons in Genesis
As Luke borrowed details from both Mark and Matthew and made his own changes and additions, things begant to get a bit confusing. Jesus reacts to statements which haven't been made and multiple parables which have nothing at all to do with one another come crashing together like stampeding swine cahrging toward the Sea of Galilee. Worse yet, he can't keep his theology straight as Jesus tells his followers that a specific sin invites terrible wrath, and then immediately copies a line that states that exact sin will be forgiven.
Throughout the bible we encounter the imagery of the lofty being brought low while the lowly are elevated. While this is typical of the promise of a reversal of fate, it does sometimes appear in a more literal sense, such as when Luke copies Matthew’s famous Sermon on the Mount but changes the location to a lowly plain. But this isn’t the only change that Luke will make to Matthew’s story. His genealogy, nativity, quotes, and overall theology will all be modified to bring Jesus back to a more gentile-friendly state.
Concluding Matthew’s gospel brings us more modifications on the gospel of Mark, the influence of the Book of Daniel and his time in the lion’s den on the story of the crucifixion and resurrection, as well as a curious detail that demonstrates that the other criminal, Barabbas, was not a figure from history, but a symbol from scripture.
As Matthew’s author copied and expanded Mark’s gospel, he adapted Jesus for an audience that held the Hebrew Bible in higher regard. Thus the messiah became more loyal to Jewish law, more reverent to temple requirements, and more like Moses than originally described.
Among the most popular stories from the life of Jesus is the Sermon on the Mount. 3 chapters of lessons from the most famous teacher in history… though this sermon isn’t found in the earliest gospel. Now did earlier christians know anything about it. That doesn’t mean the teachings didn’t exist, as the lessons found in that sermon were certainly recorded… they just didn’t come from Jesus.