Introduction
This paper examines the central text of Christianity, presented by Jesus in Matthew 22:34-40. It will critique three different versions of the text taken from different translations of the New Testament. This text is chosen because it provides an insight and overview of Christianity and Christian lifestyle and this allows the writer to demonstrate important elements and aspects of Christianity that guides the conduct of all followers of Christ.
The scope of the analysis and critical review will include the examination of the text in the broader context of the gospel. The fundamental theme of the passage and the rhetorical strategies used to present it and interpret it are also analyzed and reviewed. Finally, the role of the passage in explaining important things in Christianity as well as the role of the passage in the cultural sense will be deduced in this study.
Section 1: Establishing the Text
Matthew 22:34-40 can be viewed from different angles and perspectives in order to provide an insight into the text. This study will analyze the text in three main versions that will give the basis for the critical review. This includes the King James Version, New Revised Standard Version and the New American Standard Version of the New Testament. This will provide a set of critical perspectives that can be used to analyze and evaluate the text in-depth.
King James Version (KJV)
The King James Version was one of the earliest versions of the Bible translated to English after the medieval period and at the advent of the Protestant Reformation. Therefore, it is constrained by the traditions of the Catholic Church and contains many original insights that go back to Judaism and Greek Traditions. This means it preserves important traces that can help in the analysis of the text in a traditional context. Therefore, it ought to be cited in this study to provide the impetus for the critical review of thoughts of Christian authorities around the time of the Reformation.
[34] But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. [35] Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, [36] Master, which is the great commandment in the law? [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
This version of the Bible is very popular and it is used in most modern Churches. This means there is a probability that this version of the Bible will be used to examine by Pastors and Priests to preach to their congregants is higher than any other version.
[34] When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, [35] and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. [36] “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” [37] He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the greatest and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
New American Standard Version (NASV)
This version of the Bible is known for its contemporary nature and how it is presented in a way and manner that allows today’s reader to understand appreciate things that happened in Biblical times.
[34] But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together . [35] One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, [36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" [37]And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' [38] "This is the great and foremost commandment. [39] "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'[40] "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
Section 2: The Passage Within the Broader Argument
This passage seeks to present Jesus as a man who simplified The Law of Moses and made it accessible to all people. This is because his view on the question shows that he had command over the Law and this helps to establish the fundamental elements and aspects of his Ministry and how it sought to fulfill and complete the Jewish systems and practices.
Therefore, this passage provides a major point where the competing components of the two worldviews (Judaism and Christianity) come together. The passage serves two purposes. First of all, it provides the basis for the presentation of Jesus as a person who came to simplify the Laws of God, which is the theme of the Book of Matthew. This shows that Jesus did not come to abolish the law, rather, he came to fulfill it. This teaching runs through the Book of Matthew.
Secondly, this passage shows the main framework for the conduct and regulates the actions of Christians. This is because it shows the importance of honoring the very spirit and traditions of the Law of Moses whilst people carried out their actions as Christians. This was to set the example to the Christians of today that the Law had force and was not meant to be twisted for any purposes. This forms the main foundation of the Book of Matthew.
Section 3: Fundamental Topic & Theme
On the microcosmic level, the main issue under discussion is an attempt to identify the greatest commandment. This has two connotations. The traditional Jewish scholars sought to get Jesus to blaspheme so they could destroy his reputation. However, Jesus gave a wise and befitting answer that was a complete reflection of the topic. This means that although the Pharisees sought to put Jesus in a situation where he would put one of the 613 commandments ahead of another but Jesus came up with a constructive and revolutionary answer that gave a different meaning to the worship of God in Ancient Israel.
In Jewish tradition, Jews are encouraged to respect all the Laws of Moses. None of them is to be broken. Hence, Jesus would have been seen to be wrong if he had taken the wrong stand of choosing one law ahead of the other. Rather, Jesus sought to present the two broad classes of the Torah commandments which were either between an individual and God or between an individual and his neighbor. This influenced the way people viewed and saw Christianity from that day onwards. This allowed people to believe in Jesus as the messiah.
Section 4: Vocabulary Analysis
This passage is unique in terms of vocabulary because the word “love” is used in relation to God and to man in the same passage. This does not happen often in the other parts of Bible. In other most parts of the Bible, Jesus admonishes his followers to love one another. In other parts of Matthew, Jesus places emphasis on the validity of the Word of God, however, it does not mention the love of one’s neighbor. This makes the passage somewhat distinct and unique in trying to combine the elements of the love of God with humanism and the love for one’s neighbor. These two important positions and redefinition of love provides a framework through which religion and humanity have been improved, and this includes encouraging Christians to keep the Laws of God and also promote humanitarian activities and processes.
Section 5: The Rhetorical Strategies and Mode of Interpretations
The rhetorical strategies can be analyzed in an absolute sense and in a relativist sense. The passage indicates that there was some kind of conspiracy between the Pharisees as a means of testing or maliciously doing something to trap Jesus. In other words, they came up with a question that was bound to put Jesus in some kind of trouble. This is a recurring theme in the Book of Matthew. Therefore, the passage begins with verse 35 which indicates clearly to the reader that some kind of conspiracy was being created to put Jesus in a difficult situation when the question is thrown at him.
The conspiracy is confirmed by the fact that none other than a lawyer came up with a difficult question that was meant to put Jesus in the difficult situation and matter. This indicates that the style and approach used by the Pharisees was one that contained a negative idea of causing Jesus’ downfall. This contributes to the explanation of the rift between the Pharisees/Teachers of the Law and Jesus.
Then the question is presented which is likely to cause Jesus to provide an answer that would either ridicule or indict Jesus as a novice who had no competency or knowledge of the Torah and contemporary religious ideas. However, instead of giving a definite answer that will cause Jesus to fall into the trap, Jesus presents a fitting answer that sets a precedence that will guide the conduct of Christians and challenge mainstream Judaism – a summary of the Torah and its teaching and a set of recommendation to all of his followers. This way, Jesus maintains credibility between the two factions – his followers and the Jewish authorities. This silenced them and this provides a reader an idea of how knowledgeable and credible Jesus was in his time. This provides a basis for Jesus to be presented as a Son of God to all his followers and provides a clue that rejects the authority of the Jewish people.
The King James Version provides a more rigid view of the matter by stating that the Pharisees were “tempting” Jesus in verse 35. This is clearly harsher and stronger than the other two modern versions which said “test” in lieu of tempt. This shows that a softer and a better approach was utilized by more modern and contemporary writers and this shows a better and a more meaningful view of the matter and explains how things have changed over the generations. First of all, the older generation sought to present some kind of animosity with between the Jews and Christians. However, these contemporary accounts sought to use a softer view and a softer approach to explain the existing situation and provoke more thought and more debate amongst members of the two schools of thought – Judaism and Christianity.
Section 6: Comparative Analysis of the Context with other Gospels
The position of the discussion in Matthew 22:34-40 is one that is repeated in two other Gospels, Luke and Mark. These two Gospels and Matthew seem to be written in a critical and logical framework and procedure. This is because they are narratives styled in a form similar to the texts of the New Testament. They seek to use empirical and practical narratives to discuss important ideas and concepts that justifies the mission of Jesus on earth and his divinity. John on the other hand seem to be divergent and it seeks esoteric rather than physical ideas and concepts that are elucidated in the other Gospels.
Matthew is known to be a Gospel that justifies the divine kingship of Jesus and this is done by presenting this passage as one in which Jesus possesses divine wisdom. In Luke, the humane qualities of Jesus is presented and in the passage similar to this, Jesus is presented as a person who was teaching better values to the Pharisees and literally reeducating them. In Mark, Jesus is presented as a humble servant who had divine power and was using his divine powers to heal and help people. Hence, this episode he had with the Pharisees was a process through which the qualities of Jesus were presented in a humble way.
John on the other hand focuses on messianic signs and other activities that presents important trends and signs to the Christians of the future. Therefore, it has little focus on logical conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees. Rather, it focuses on esoteric and spiritual trends.
Some authors assert that the non-canonical Gospels like the Book of Thomas was full of rules and teachings that were similar to the “Gospels of the Hebrews” that was followed by the Jewish followers of Jesus in his lifetime. Such a Gospel is likely to present a discourse between Jesus and his followers in a way and manner that honors the Torah and Jewish values rather than Christian values. This is because it is such members who argued for Jewish traditions like circumcision to be maintained by the Church which was ignored by Paul.
Section 7: Passage in the Cultural Context
Obviously, this passage examines the departures and the differences between the members of the Jewish society living in Ancient Israel and the Early Christians who later established the Church. It provided a significant discussion that tested the importance of rigidly following the Law of Moses as opposed to following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Therefore, this discussion in the passage is one that provides a sensitive departure that led to the acceptance and the provision of credence to the teachings of Jesus as a religious leader. This was fundamental in people’s acceptance of Jesus as the savior of the world.
Conclusion/Personal Observation
The Gospels present the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It provides the basis for the orientation of his followers into accepting important and vital ideas of Christianity. Jesus is faced with a test (temptation) by the Pharisees who sought to get him to falter so he could lose credibility or get indicted for a crime. However, Jesus presents a very logical proposition that summarizes all the Laws of Moses.
It is observed that Jesus provides an important and vital submission that is repeated in the three Synoptic Gospels that presents Jesus and his ministry and life on earth in a unique sense. Matthew sought to present the divinity and incarnation of Jesus Christ and hence presents him as a wise teacher who was ahead of the Pharisees in religious knowledge. Mark presents the same passage with Jesus being viewed as a servant who sought to humbly teach the Pharisees. Luke on the other hand presents the same passage within the scope of Jesus teaching his followers in a humane way. John does not discuss this because it has obvious departures form the three synoptic gospels and it seeks to show the supernatural powers of Jesus as a prelude to the establishment of his divine powers.
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Bibliography
Ehrman, Bart D., The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings New York: Oxford University Press, 2012
Funk, Robert Walter and Roy W. Hoover, The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say? the Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus, Polebridge Press, 1993
Miller, John, H. After 400 Years of the King James Version of the Bible New York: AH Press, 2012
Stanton, Graham N. A new Gospel for a new people. Studies in Matthew Edinburgh: Clark, 1992
