Dorothy Jean Weaver, Rewriting the Messianic Script: Matthews Account of the Birth of Jesus, Interpr

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Dorothy Jean Weaver,Rewriting the Messianic
ScriptMatthews Account of the Birth of
Jesus,Interpretation 54, no.4 (2004)  37685.

• Critique by Gina Messina-Dysert
• RL 507, Synoptic Gospels
• 5 April 2006

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Weaver Examines Matthew 11-223

• Identifies the traditional messianic expectations
• Claims Matthew responds to tradition and writes
  new messianic script
• Addresses the questions of messianic identity,
  character and vocation

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Messianic Identity

• Traditional Expectation
• Messiah to be born of the lineage of David,
  descendent of Abraham, father of the Jewish
  People
• Genealogical Formula illustrates Jesus linkage
  to David

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Messianic Identity, cont.

• Matthew breaks Genealogical Formula
• Reader anticipates genealogy to conclude with
  Joseph as the father of Jesus, who is the Messiah
• Instead, Matthew writes Joseph who is the husband
  of Mary of whom Jesus was born refers to
  motherhood rather than fatherhood
• Matthew is clear that Joseph is not the
  biological father of Jesus
• Genealogy refers to four mothers Tamar, Rahab,
  Ruth, and the wife of Uriah
• Genealogy is significant because it is held by
  women, specifically Mary, rather than by men
• Jesus is the son of David only because Joseph
  adopts him into the lineage

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Messianic Character

• Story of Herod rewrites Messianic Character
• Matthew reassess traditional views of character
  of Messiah and redefines concepts of power and
  powerlessness (379)
• Surface of text represents Messiah as child
  rather than powerful figure
• Herod has powerful characteristics, carries title
  of King
• Matthews Irony
• King threatened by child, tricked by his human
  counterparts, unable to prevent own death
• Jesus as child has far greater power than the king

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Messianic Vocations

• Story of Magi rewrites Messianic Vocations
• Traditional vocation of the Messiah to bring
  salvation to Gods people of Israel
• Jews are ignorant to the coming of the Messiah
• Once Jews learn of the Messiah they are
  unreceptive to him
• The Magi who are outsiders (not of Jewish faith)
  follow a star and locate the Messiah a task
  neither Herod or any Jew accomplished
• This story line makes clear that the saving
  mission of Jesus reaches far beyond the people of
  Israel

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Critique

• Weaver offers intriguing overview of messianic
  script and Matthews re-presentation of Jesus
  identity, character, and vocation
• Reveals Gospels challenge of traditional
  concepts of kingship, power, and social status
• More thorough examination of the four mothers of
  the genealogy would have been desirable
• Overall, strong examination of the questions of
  messianic script represented in Matthew