How did you first encounter the words of Jesus? In what ways were your first experiences with and understandings of Jesus’ teachings similar to or different from those of Matthew’s ancient audience?
When any of us first encounter the words of Jesus, we start with different assumptions and expectations based on what we already think Jesus is all about. Our context and the way we are taught to interpret Jesus will shape how we understand his words. Ancient audiences had their own expectations, which led them to wonder: Is Jesus another philosopher, another Moses, another Isaiah, another Solomon? Like the philosophers, Jesus teaches and embodies a vision of the good life. Presenting his teachings in continuity with the traditions of the Hebrew Bible, Jesus shows himself to be a giver of torah, a prophet, and a teacher of wisdom.