Abstract
This article examines a brief statement made by Patrick D Miller in his commentary on Deuteronomy, namely that scholars quite likely have missed the most important Old Testament passage relating to the kind of kingship Jesus manifested in his earthly ministry.Deuteronomy 17:14-20 gives a job description for an upcoming, earthly king; it carries messianic dimensions. Christian scholars, however, primarily have pointed to Isaiah and the messianic passages of the royal psalms to provide indication from the Old Testament that Jesus indeed fulfilled the promises therein of the promised king and the Messiah. Reading like a modern “Position Available” advertisement, the qualifications for kingship in Deuteronomy begin by saying the coming king must be God’s choice, an Israelite and not a foreigner; frugal, not prone to displays of wealth and military might; and careful to keep his heart faithful to the Lord. Furthermore, a king’s first duty is to write for himself a copy of the law and to read it throughout his life. The kind of kingship Jesus displayed during his ministry indeed exemplified his personal knowledge and careful following of the law, his total obedience to the law, his reverence for the law, and his humility before his disciples—all qualifications for earthly kingship “advertised” in the pericope. The Gospel of Matthew resonates with passages showing that Jesus answered the advertisement, met the job description, and fulfilled the qualifications for kingship outlined prophetically by Moses in Deuteronomy.
Highlights
Patrick D Miller (1990:149) in his commentary on Deuteronomy in the Interpretation series concludes his section on the guidelines for a king given in Deuteronomy 17:14-20 with the following comment:“Much has been written about the way the messianic passages of the royal psalms and Isaiah point us to and ISSN 1609-9982 = VERBUM ET ECCLESIA Jrg 25(2) 2004 find their actuality in Jesus of Nazareth
This article examines a brief statement made by Patrick D Miller in his commentary on Deuteronomy, namely that scholars quite likely have missed the most important Old Testament passage relating to the kind of kingship Jesus manifested in his earthly ministry
Patrick D Miller (1990:149) in his commentary on Deuteronomy in the Interpretation series concludes his section on the guidelines for a king given in Deuteronomy 17:14-20 with the following comment: “Much has been written about the way the messianic passages of the royal psalms and Isaiah point us to and ISSN 1609-9982 = VERBUM ET ECCLESIA Jrg 25(2) 2004 find their actuality in Jesus of Nazareth
Summary
Patrick D Miller (1990:149) in his commentary on Deuteronomy in the Interpretation series concludes his section on the guidelines for a king given in Deuteronomy 17:14-20 with the following comment:. “Much has been written about the way the messianic passages of the royal psalms and Isaiah point us to and ISSN 1609-9982 = VERBUM ET ECCLESIA Jrg 25(2) 2004 find their actuality in Jesus of Nazareth. It is possible we have overlooked the text that may resonate most with the kingship he manifested; he was one who sought and received none of the perquisites of kingship, who gave his full and undivided allegiance to God, and who lived his whole life by the instruction, the torah, of the Lord”. To approach texts like Matthew and Deuteronomy carefully but with an attitude of confidence, expecting to find within the texts themselves keys to understanding
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