Matthew’s Gospel In Outline Form

There are multiple ways to outline Matthew’s Gospel.  One way is to follow the form of a suzerain covenant,  Here is another approach from an application of that approach, keeping in mind that the temptation narrative itself follows the form of a suzerain covenant.  I. Matthew 1 - 3  : Introduction The author/authors introduce us to Yeshua via a gematria laden eschatological genealogy, a very brief birth narrative, a note about Yeshua’s ascent into manhood, & His baptism by John the Baptist that ends in a theophany. II. Matthew 4  : Prophet, Priest, King   Each of the 3 temptations highlights one of Yeshua’s 3 offices —- Prophet, Priest, & King, in that order. This provides the narrative framework (ie outline) for the remainder of the Gospel. Yeshua calls His disciples, essentially putting together a school of highly prophetic people who would serve as functional levites ministering to the poor, the sick & infirm, the marginalized, even Rom...
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Tackling Tradition 74: Levitcus 21:9 & 20:13

And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.  (Leviticus 21:9, ESV)


If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them (Leviticus 20:13, ESV)


Village Skeptics will sometimes use these & similar texts as evidence that God is misogynistic homophobe.  Others use the text of Leviticus 20:13 to justify the persecution & execution of homosexuals. 


Nothing could be further from the truth. 

In the case of Leviticus 21:9, yes this sounds misogynistic & brutal.  “See how this destroys women?” says the Village Skeptic.   


The people in the original audience & both their immediate forebears,  & many generations that followed, lived in a polytheistic world in which women were used as cultic prostitutes.  Men (Leviticus 20:13) were known to do temple prostitution & similar activities too. 


Laws like these are designed to protect both women & men from exploitation by kings, warlords, & priests.    Turning a son or daughter into a temple prostitute could carry a heavy price.   When you think about it, God, as the Suzerain Creator-Deliverer is, in a sense, holding the sons & daughters among His people hostage (figuratively).   


We are created in God’s own image. We are supposed to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, & strength first, then all others next, then ourselves. God here is gambling that the men in control of Hebrew society will love & value their children enough not to exploit them through turning them into cultic prostitutes.     Far from devaluing human life, these laws are meant to be deterrents to temple prostitution & similar activities.   They are there to protect & preserve children in general as well as adults.  


O LORD, Hear Our Prayer(s) —- especially in regards to human trafficking, prostitution, witchcraft, sorcery, & the abuse of children & their (and other) angels & animals. 

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