Prophetic Rhetorolect in Matthew Prophetic Rhetorolect in Matthew

12:1-812:1-8

Lecture by Lecture by Vernon K. RobbinsVernon K. Robbins

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Produced by Sam Bradford

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Prophetic Rhetorolect in Matthew Prophetic Rhetorolect in Matthew

12:1-812:1-8

Lecture by Lecture by Vernon K. RobbinsVernon K. Robbins

Produced by Sam Bradford

NO AUDIO

Review of Socio-Rhetorical TermsReview of Socio-Rhetorical Termsclick links to explore Socio-Rhetorical termsclick links to explore Socio-Rhetorical terms

Opening-Middle-Closing Texture:Opening-Middle-Closing Texture:

SR online dictionary definitionSR online dictionary definition

SR audio filesSR audio files

Narrational Texture:Narrational Texture:

SR online dictionary definitionSR online dictionary definition

SR audio filesSR audio files

NO AUDIONO AUDIO

Matthew 12:1-8Matthew 12:1-8FOR YOU TO READ, IF YOU WISHFOR YOU TO READ, IF YOU WISH

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; 1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.and to eat.

2 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples 2 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.”are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.”

3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? his companions were hungry?

4 He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, 4 He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests.the priests.

NO AUDIONO AUDIO

Matthew 12:1-8Matthew 12:1-8continuedcontinued

FOR YOU TO READ, IF YOU WISHFOR YOU TO READ, IF YOU WISH 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? guiltless?

6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. guiltless.

8 For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”8 For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

NO AUDIONO AUDIO

Matthew 15:1-14Matthew 15:1-14To provide a comparison between wisdom and prophetic rhetorolects To provide a comparison between wisdom and prophetic rhetorolects

in Matthewin MatthewFOR YOU TO READ, IF YOU WISHFOR YOU TO READ, IF YOU WISH

1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,

2“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not 2“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.”wash their hands before they eat.”

3He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the 3He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? sake of your tradition?

4For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil 4For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’of father or mother must surely die.’

5But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you 5But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the father. father.

6So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.6So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.

7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: 7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:

8‘This people honors me with their lips,8‘This people honors me with their lips,   but their hearts are far from me;    but their hearts are far from me; 9in vain do they worship me,9in vain do they worship me,   teaching human precepts as doctrines .’”   teaching human precepts as doctrines .’”

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Matthew 15:1-14 continuedMatthew 15:1-14 continuedTo provide a comparison between wisdom and prophetic rhetorolects To provide a comparison between wisdom and prophetic rhetorolects

in Matthewin MatthewFOR YOU TO READ, IF YOU WISHFOR YOU TO READ, IF YOU WISH

10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and 10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: understand:

11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.”comes out of the mouth that defiles.”

12Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?” Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?”

13He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will 13He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. be uprooted.

14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.”person guides another, both will fall into a pit.”

NO AUDIONO AUDIO

Matthew 12:1-8 as Prophetic Matthew 12:1-8 as Prophetic DiscourseDiscourse

Large impact of Prophetic Large impact of Prophetic Rhetorolect on early Christian Rhetorolect on early Christian traditiontradition

Christians continue past traditionsChristians continue past traditions

Matthew 12 is an example of Matthew 12 is an example of Prophetic Rhetorolect, Matthew 15 is Prophetic Rhetorolect, Matthew 15 is an example of Wisdom Rhetorolectan example of Wisdom Rhetorolect

Opening – Middle – Closing of Matthew 12:1-8Opening – Middle – Closing of Matthew 12:1-8Opening:Opening:1 1 At that time At that time Jesus went Jesus went through the through the grainfields on grainfields on the sabbath; the sabbath; his disciples his disciples were hungry, were hungry, and they and they began to began to pluck heads of pluck heads of grain and to grain and to eat.eat.

Middle:Middle:I. 2 I. 2 When the Pharisees saw it, they said When the Pharisees saw it, they said

to himto him, “Look, your disciples are doing , “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.”what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.”

II. 3 II. 3 He said to themHe said to them, “Have you not read , “Have you not read what David did when he and his what David did when he and his companions were hungry? companions were hungry?

4 He entered the house of God and ate 4 He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. eat, but only for the priests.

III. 5 Or have you not read in the law that III. 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? break the sabbath and yet are guiltless?

6 I tell you, something greater than the 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.temple is here.

Closing:Closing:7 But if you 7 But if you had known had known what this what this means, ‘I means, ‘I desire mercy desire mercy and not and not sacrifice,’ you sacrifice,’ you would not would not have have condemned condemned the guiltless. the guiltless. 8 For the Son 8 For the Son of Man is lord of Man is lord of the of the sabbath.”sabbath.”•

Observations:

Opening is entirely Narrative

Parts I and II of Middle have Narrative introduction

OMC sections and subsections are open to interpretation

= Narrational Texture

Function of the PhariseesFunction of the Pharisees

Part I of Middle: Part I of Middle: I.I.2 2 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to When the Pharisees saw it, they said to himhim, “Look, your disciples are doing what is , “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.”not lawful to do on the sabbath.”

Function of Pharisees is to find fault, Function of Pharisees is to find fault, accusing the disciples of breaking the accusing the disciples of breaking the sabbathsabbath

Note: Not in the form of a questionNote: Not in the form of a question

Wisdom Questions vs. Prophetic Wisdom Questions vs. Prophetic QuestionsQuestions

Question in Wisdom Rhetorolect Question in Wisdom Rhetorolect seeking information, a genuine seeking information, a genuine questionquestion

Question in Prophetic Rhetorolect Question in Prophetic Rhetorolect makes an accusation, accuses of makes an accusation, accuses of wrong thought and behaviorwrong thought and behavior

Examples of Prophetic and Wisdom Examples of Prophetic and Wisdom Questions in Galatians 3Questions in Galatians 3

See Galatians 3:See Galatians 3:

3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?...3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?...

3:2 The only thing I want to know from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit 3:2 The only thing I want to know from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing works of the law or by believing what you heard?by doing works of the law or by believing what you heard?

3:3 Are you so foolish?...3:3 Are you so foolish?... Prophetic questionsProphetic questions Initial assertion Initial assertion “You foolish Galatians!” “You foolish Galatians!” Thought connected with questionsThought connected with questions Accusation – someone has bewitched youAccusation – someone has bewitched you Questions in both Rhetorolects can include rhetorical questions, as a way Questions in both Rhetorolects can include rhetorical questions, as a way

for a teacher to continuefor a teacher to continue

3:19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the 3:19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made…offspring would come to whom the promise had been made…

Genuine Question, Paul acts as a teacherGenuine Question, Paul acts as a teacher Shift to Wisdom Rhetorolect, as early as verse 6Shift to Wisdom Rhetorolect, as early as verse 6

How Jesus speaks to the Pharisees How Jesus speaks to the Pharisees (1)(1)

Matthew 12:3 He said to them, “Have Matthew 12:3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?and his companions were hungry?

Implication Implication the Pharisees have not the Pharisees have not read the lawread the law

Not instructionalNot instructional

PROPHETICPROPHETIC

How Jesus speaks to the Pharisees How Jesus speaks to the Pharisees (2)(2)

12:4 He [David] entered the house of God and ate the bread 12:4 He [David] entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests.companions to eat, but only for the priests.

Relation to Prophetic discourse: people do not Relation to Prophetic discourse: people do not realizerealize they they are breaking the law, even though they appear to be are breaking the law, even though they appear to be righteous and proper.righteous and proper.

Also, what may appear to be improper may actually be Also, what may appear to be improper may actually be properproper

Pharisees are supposed to be very familiar with the lawPharisees are supposed to be very familiar with the law Jesus functions in their domain, and has very skillful Jesus functions in their domain, and has very skillful

interpretation, as they do – on their level, in their arenainterpretation, as they do – on their level, in their arena

Jesus interprets from prophets in 1 Samuel 21Jesus interprets from prophets in 1 Samuel 21

How Jesus speaks to the Pharisees How Jesus speaks to the Pharisees (3)(3)

Jesus interprets from prophets in 1 Samuel 21Jesus interprets from prophets in 1 Samuel 21 And also from Numbers, a book in the Torah And also from Numbers, a book in the Torah the Pharisees’ primary text: the Pharisees’ primary text:12:5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the 12:5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the

temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless?temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? Not supposed to work on the sabbath, but priests do Not supposed to work on the sabbath, but priests do “work” is not clear “work” is not clear

cutcut

Three step process:Three step process:1.1. Pharisees accusing Jesus’ disciples of wrongdoingPharisees accusing Jesus’ disciples of wrongdoing2.2. Jesus challenges Pharisees with Prophetic textJesus challenges Pharisees with Prophetic text3.3. Jesus challenges Pharisees with text from the TorahJesus challenges Pharisees with text from the Torah

Jesus also quotes from Hosea, another prophetic book in verse 7: Jesus also quotes from Hosea, another prophetic book in verse 7: But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you

would not have condemned the guiltless.would not have condemned the guiltless.

Result: Prophetic DiscourseResult: Prophetic Discourse

WELL DONE!!WELL DONE!!

You have successfully completed the You have successfully completed the lesson on how Matthew 12:1-8 is an lesson on how Matthew 12:1-8 is an example of Prophetic Rhetorolectexample of Prophetic Rhetorolect

Have a great day!Have a great day!