The Gospel of Matthew contains texts related to mission. However, if we read the texts related to mission, it can be seen that the mission targets are clearly distinguished. Matthew 10:5-6 and 15:24 show that these verses target Jews for mission. Text that Jesus is showing a positive attitude toward...
The Gospel of Matthew contains texts related to mission. However, if we read the texts related to mission, it can be seen that the mission targets are clearly distinguished. Matthew 10:5-6 and 15:24 show that these verses target Jews for mission. Text that Jesus is showing a positive attitude toward the Law(5:17-19), phrases quoting the Old Testament(1:22; 2:15), the structure that reminds us of Moses(2:13-23), and the words with Jewish colors(1:1), also show Jews as a mission target.
But in Matthew’s gospel there are also words showing the Gentiles as a mission target. For examples, Matthew 8:5-13, 15:21-28 and 28:18-20. The command to “make disciples of all nations”(28:19) certainly targets the Gentiles. By the way, the phrase “all nations” is also recorded in 24:9, 14 and 25:32, in addition to the “Great Commission.” These texts can also be seen as targeting the Gentiles for mission.
This researcher got a question from these texts. Indeed, what is the missionary outlook of Matthew? Is Matthew targeting the Jews? Or, is it targeting the Gentiles? Or, is it targeting both Jews and the Gentiles?
This paper is a study in order to understand such questions. In particular, this paper looked at the texts that make the Gentiles as subject of mission in the Gospel of Matthew. And this paper looked at the missionary prospect of the Matthew and the Matthew community of the Gentiles, and the strategy for the Gentile mission, by analyzing these texts. For this purpose, the researcher first reviewed the texts related to Jewish mission relatively briefly, and analyzed the texts related to the Gentile mission in detail relatively. In this paper, the texts analyzed by the researcher in relation to Gentile mission are as follows:
“The genealogy of Jesus(1:1-8), Wise men from the East(2:1-18), Isaiah quotes(4:15-16; 12:15-21), Summary of the ministry of Jesus(4:23-25; 9:35), The centurion of Capernaum(8:5-13), Sending out Disciples(10:16-23), The true family of Jesus(12:46-50), The interpretation of the parable of the tares(13:36-43), The Canaanite woman(15:21-28), The parable of the vineyard workers and the wages(20:1-16), The parable of the vineyard tenants(21:33-46), The parable of the wedding feast(22:1-14), The return of the Son of Man(24:29-31), The parable of sheep and goats(25:31-33), The anointing at Bethany(26:6-13), The confession of the centurion(27:54), The Great Commission(28:16-20).”
The researcher analyzed these texts through exposition methodology. In particular, the texts were analyzed through editorial criticism. Through this analysis the researcher found that in Matthew there are many texts targeting the Gentiles as mission subject. Also, through these texts, the researcher found that the Gospel of Matthew made all nations as a mission target including the Jews. Although it is considered that the Matthew community was consisted of many Jews and a few Gentiles, the researcher think that the Matthew community was more inclined to the Gentiles than to the Jews in mission. This can be seen in the fact that the sending text of Matthew chapter 10, which can be regarded as only targeting the Jewish people to mission, finally ends with mission for the Gentiles, because of Israel’s rejection of Jesus. The command to contact the Jews only is being used as a stepping stone for the Gentile evangelism. Also, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel...It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs”(Matt. 15:21-28) looks like to refuse the Canaanite woman’s appeal, Jesus praises her faith “O woman, great is your faith!” and finally ends with “Let it be done to you as you desire,” just as Jesus emphasizes to the centurion “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel”(Matt. 8:10). This may be the intentional record of the author Matthew, who wants to show that Jesus is interested in the Gentiles, emphasizing the faith of the Canaanite woman, by using a word that seems to be a Jewish priority as a lever.
The Gospel of Matthew appears to have made the Jews a mission target in that Jesus’ ministry is geographically centered on Galilee and has a Jewish color. However, in terms of content, we can see that “all nations” are made to be mission targets. The Gospel of Matthew shows that from the introduction of Jesus as “the offspring of Abraham,” the mission target is increasingly being extended to “all nations.” In conclusion, we can say that the Gospel of Matthew are making mission target to all nations, including the Jews.
The Gospel of Matthew shows that mission is possible through Jesus, who has “all authority in heaven and on earth,” “is being always together.” Jesus also said in the Gospel of John 15:4-5 that “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit for without me you can do nothing.” This word means that when mission is in the Lord, it is possible by the Lord. Paul, knowing this truth, confessed that “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase”(1 Cor. 3:6-7).
Mission is not an easy task. However, when Jesus who “has all the authority in heaven and on earth” is “always together,” mission becomes possible. That is, when the Holy Spirit is present, when the Holy Spirit supplies the power and supports, when the Holy Spirit uses it as a tool, mission becomes possible. So we can say that the subject of mission is the Holy Spirit. This can be said to be in line with the “mission of God” (Missio Dei) in missiology.
The researcher found the importance of mission through “A Text Study on the Gentile Mission in Matthew,” and found that mission was not made possible by the power of man, but only when Jesus was together. Also, the researcher knew that in order for church to become as a tool of mission, we should realize the right discipleship and should be one with the love, humility, and service Jesus showed us.
The church was built on the sacrifice of Jesus’ cross. Therefore, in order for the “church” to be established today also, sacrifices along the way of Jesus, the way of the cross must be accompanied. However, we must be sure that the path of the cross is the path of glory. Confrontation and conflict weaken and collapse the church. Confrontation and conflict are what Satan wants. Therefore, the church must be united by the love, humility that Jesus has shown in order to bear the missionary work of mission.
The Gospel of Matthew contains texts related to mission. However, if we read the texts related to mission, it can be seen that the mission targets are clearly distinguished. Matthew 10:5-6 and 15:24 show that these verses target Jews for mission. Text that Jesus is showing a positive attitude toward the Law(5:17-19), phrases quoting the Old Testament(1:22; 2:15), the structure that reminds us of Moses(2:13-23), and the words with Jewish colors(1:1), also show Jews as a mission target.
But in Matthew’s gospel there are also words showing the Gentiles as a mission target. For examples, Matthew 8:5-13, 15:21-28 and 28:18-20. The command to “make disciples of all nations”(28:19) certainly targets the Gentiles. By the way, the phrase “all nations” is also recorded in 24:9, 14 and 25:32, in addition to the “Great Commission.” These texts can also be seen as targeting the Gentiles for mission.
This researcher got a question from these texts. Indeed, what is the missionary outlook of Matthew? Is Matthew targeting the Jews? Or, is it targeting the Gentiles? Or, is it targeting both Jews and the Gentiles?
This paper is a study in order to understand such questions. In particular, this paper looked at the texts that make the Gentiles as subject of mission in the Gospel of Matthew. And this paper looked at the missionary prospect of the Matthew and the Matthew community of the Gentiles, and the strategy for the Gentile mission, by analyzing these texts. For this purpose, the researcher first reviewed the texts related to Jewish mission relatively briefly, and analyzed the texts related to the Gentile mission in detail relatively. In this paper, the texts analyzed by the researcher in relation to Gentile mission are as follows:
“The genealogy of Jesus(1:1-8), Wise men from the East(2:1-18), Isaiah quotes(4:15-16; 12:15-21), Summary of the ministry of Jesus(4:23-25; 9:35), The centurion of Capernaum(8:5-13), Sending out Disciples(10:16-23), The true family of Jesus(12:46-50), The interpretation of the parable of the tares(13:36-43), The Canaanite woman(15:21-28), The parable of the vineyard workers and the wages(20:1-16), The parable of the vineyard tenants(21:33-46), The parable of the wedding feast(22:1-14), The return of the Son of Man(24:29-31), The parable of sheep and goats(25:31-33), The anointing at Bethany(26:6-13), The confession of the centurion(27:54), The Great Commission(28:16-20).”
The researcher analyzed these texts through exposition methodology. In particular, the texts were analyzed through editorial criticism. Through this analysis the researcher found that in Matthew there are many texts targeting the Gentiles as mission subject. Also, through these texts, the researcher found that the Gospel of Matthew made all nations as a mission target including the Jews. Although it is considered that the Matthew community was consisted of many Jews and a few Gentiles, the researcher think that the Matthew community was more inclined to the Gentiles than to the Jews in mission. This can be seen in the fact that the sending text of Matthew chapter 10, which can be regarded as only targeting the Jewish people to mission, finally ends with mission for the Gentiles, because of Israel’s rejection of Jesus. The command to contact the Jews only is being used as a stepping stone for the Gentile evangelism. Also, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel...It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs”(Matt. 15:21-28) looks like to refuse the Canaanite woman’s appeal, Jesus praises her faith “O woman, great is your faith!” and finally ends with “Let it be done to you as you desire,” just as Jesus emphasizes to the centurion “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel”(Matt. 8:10). This may be the intentional record of the author Matthew, who wants to show that Jesus is interested in the Gentiles, emphasizing the faith of the Canaanite woman, by using a word that seems to be a Jewish priority as a lever.
The Gospel of Matthew appears to have made the Jews a mission target in that Jesus’ ministry is geographically centered on Galilee and has a Jewish color. However, in terms of content, we can see that “all nations” are made to be mission targets. The Gospel of Matthew shows that from the introduction of Jesus as “the offspring of Abraham,” the mission target is increasingly being extended to “all nations.” In conclusion, we can say that the Gospel of Matthew are making mission target to all nations, including the Jews.
The Gospel of Matthew shows that mission is possible through Jesus, who has “all authority in heaven and on earth,” “is being always together.” Jesus also said in the Gospel of John 15:4-5 that “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit for without me you can do nothing.” This word means that when mission is in the Lord, it is possible by the Lord. Paul, knowing this truth, confessed that “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase”(1 Cor. 3:6-7).
Mission is not an easy task. However, when Jesus who “has all the authority in heaven and on earth” is “always together,” mission becomes possible. That is, when the Holy Spirit is present, when the Holy Spirit supplies the power and supports, when the Holy Spirit uses it as a tool, mission becomes possible. So we can say that the subject of mission is the Holy Spirit. This can be said to be in line with the “mission of God” (Missio Dei) in missiology.
The researcher found the importance of mission through “A Text Study on the Gentile Mission in Matthew,” and found that mission was not made possible by the power of man, but only when Jesus was together. Also, the researcher knew that in order for church to become as a tool of mission, we should realize the right discipleship and should be one with the love, humility, and service Jesus showed us.
The church was built on the sacrifice of Jesus’ cross. Therefore, in order for the “church” to be established today also, sacrifices along the way of Jesus, the way of the cross must be accompanied. However, we must be sure that the path of the cross is the path of glory. Confrontation and conflict weaken and collapse the church. Confrontation and conflict are what Satan wants. Therefore, the church must be united by the love, humility that Jesus has shown in order to bear the missionary work of mission.
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