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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 226.206
EAN num: 9780521435765
ISBN number: 0521435765
Label: Cambridge University Press
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 180
Printing Date: June 30, 1995
Publishing house: Cambridge University Press
Sale Popularity Level: 470342
Studio: Cambridge University Press
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Matthew's Gospel is the most significant Jewish-Christian document of the New Testament. Ulrich Luz both outlines and elucidates the story told in the Gospel, emphasizing its focal points: the Sermon on the Mount, the miracles, the renunciation of possessions, and particularly the theology of judgment by works, an idea that represents both a challenge, in its quest for a church set apart from non-Christians by deeds alone, and a burden, through its traumatic origin in the breach between Matthew's community and the Israelite majority.
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Rated by buyers -
Ulrich Luz gives full weight to the idea that Matthew wrote his Gospel as a *story* of Jesus, with the purpose of conveying a theological message to its intended readers. The story has a developing plot, inviting us to read it as a whole, not in isolated parts. Therefore, Luz has chosen in principle to trace the story and its implications from beginning to end, rather than endeavor to organize it systematically by topic. Here are a few glimpses into the study:
Luz does not apply the categories of literary criticism (implied author, narrator, etc.), but his narrative approach accommodates theological statements such as, "The Immanuel motif shows that Matthew's Christology is narrative in character. The presence of God can only be related and testified, not captured in concepts." And, "[I]n the *story* of the man Jesus, God *acts* [author's emphases]."
Reading the Gospel in its entirety uncovers signals, key words and other textual clues that enable Luz to propose, for example, a history of the Matthean community, a hypothetical outline whose "function is to kindle the historical imagination and elicit further outlines." Matthew's story, he tells us, is "inclusive", meaning the experiences of the historical Jesus as narrated in the Gospel mirror and include the experiences of the contemporary community. This applies not only to the narrative as a whole, but also to its particular elements, such as the miracle stories: Luz cites the calming of the storm (8:18-27) as a story that in itself is inclusive. "Its concern is not only the historical Jesus, but at the same time the present 'Lord', who will accompany the community to the end of time."
Although Luz mostly proceeds according to the sequence of Matthew's story, he does include from time to time a "systematic" section. An excellent example is in Chapter 4 where he interpolates a section on the Son of David, the Messiah, as a worker of miracles accepted by the simple people but rejected by the Pharisees. Yet even here, he concludes by pointing out that this serves to advance the story's plot of conflict with Israel.
Among the distinguishing marks of Matthew's theology is the theme of judgment, which makes its very first appearance in the Sermon on the Mount, then threads its way through the rest of the narrative. Although it is tempered by God's mercy and generosity, Luz has no inhibitions calling it a judgment of works. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down." To his credit, Luz does not try to harmonize Matthew with Paul. It is not exactly "by works" versus "by grace alone"; nevertheless, Luz senses "a profound tension ... perhaps even an abyss" between the writings of these two figures of the New Testament. Other scholars have written of "diversity within the unity" of the NT.
Luz is compelling in his discussions of mission and discipleship, callings that are of the essence of Matthew's community. He also examines the parables ("they ask to be lived, not to be grasped by the intellect"), the Church (in Matthew's understanding, the disciples with whom his community identifies), eschatology, turning to the Gentiles and other topics as they occur in the narrative. The final chapter includes sections on "Matthew and Jesus", "Matthew and Paul", "Matthew and Church History", and "Matthew and Christians Today". The book is thought provoking and worthy of its eminent author, but rather brief. Luz discusses some of the topics in more detail in his excellent collection of papers, Studies In Matthew.
Rated by buyers -
A much better treatment than this series' respective book on Mark, this book on Matthew succeeds in grasping an essence of Matthew's thought-patterns and setting.
While most books in this series have a very contrived structure - introduction and backgroud, theology of, book and NT, book and yesterday - Luz instead presents Matthew's theology in the context of its plot, realizing the necessity of integrating the story to the theology. As becomes clear, Matthew's focus is on discipleship and what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus (according to him). The grapplings of Jewish Christians with the Gentile mission, of observance to and relevance of the law for their life, and the importance of "works" are all themes elucidated clearly by Luz.
In the end, Luz tackles the problem of relating Matthew's works orientation to Paul's justification by faith in more than an adequate manner, although any such "solution" is always incomplete.
Overall, the book is well written and thought out and clearly followed. The only difficulty with the book was sometimes trying to follow the somewhat awkward wording of the author as it has been translated from German into English. But don't let this dissuade you - this book is worth buying.
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