Abstract
Matthew extensively explored the motif that Jesus was the fulfilment of the Old Testament hopes. In this article investigation is done on the way Matthew employs this motif. The expression of fulfilment of Scripture had an important function in early Christian circles. The Christian faith had to be legitimatized by reference to the Jewish Scriptures. What happened to Jesus and the rise of the Christian church were to be identified as the fulfilment of the promises of the Old Testament. For today’s reader it seems as if Matthew sometimes draws awkward links between Old Testament citations and their fulfilment in Jesus. However, when his hermeneutical method is being mirrored against contemporary interpretative methods, it becomes clear that Matthew used the fulfilment motif in a then acceptable way to strategically and persuasively place Jesus’ ministry within the unfolding plan of God.
Highlights
Scholars have recognized that the theme of fulfilment plays a central motif in Matthew’s Gospel
In contrast to the introductory word plhrovw in Matthew’s fulfilment quotations, it is noteworthy that the interpretation of the prophets by the Qumran community which referred to their present time was introduced by pesher which is absent in Matthew (Luz 1990, 158)
Argumentation based on fulfilment quotation presupposes that both the author and the audience acknowledged the Jewish Scriptures as authoritative, divine revelation (Combrink 1997:79; Keener 1999:87; Menken 2003:186)
Summary
Scholars have recognized that the theme of fulfilment plays a central motif in Matthew’s Gospel. The motif of fulfilment in early Christian writings has often been recognized, the intention of this article is to explore the function of this theme for the understanding of the Matthean Gospel. The hunch of this investigation is that Matthew employs this motif very systematically in placing the ministry of Jesus within the unfolding plan of God. The hunch of this investigation is that Matthew employs this motif very systematically in placing the ministry of Jesus within the unfolding plan of God This theme affects his presentation of the story of Jesus
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