‘Behold, the Angels Came and Served Him’ : A Compositional Analysis of Angels in Matthew

Angels have been analyzed in Christological research due to their primary function as messengers and mediators between heaven and earth. Their role in the Gospel narratives, however, has been largely unexplored. Utilizing the Old Testament and sources from the Second Temple period to illustrate the variety of angel traditions, Bendoraitis identifies how these traditions are reflected in Matthew's Gospel and interprets the passages in which angels appear or are represented, resulting in a detailed exegesis of those passages which specifically mention angels. Each reference is critically analyzed in view of its role in the Gospel's narrative and in light of Matthew's redactional hand. In addition, each chapter is accompanied by a discussion of relevant traditions of angels in order to illustrate how Matthew's use of angels has facilitated his Gospel's message. The examination concludes by postulating three factors in the inclusion of angel traditions in Matthew's narrative, pertaining both to Matthew's Christology and worldview. (Publisher) Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations Chapter 1. Introduction I. Angels and Matthew a. History of New Testament Research on Angels b. Angels in the Gospel of Matthew c. Method d. Overview Chapter 2. The Angel of the Lord and his Message (Matthew 1.18–2.23) I. Introduction II. The Angel of the Lord in Tradition a. Semantics of the Angel of the Lord b. The Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament c. Apocalyptic and Second Temple Traditions d. Contemporary Analyses of the Angel of the Lord Traditions III. ‘Do Not Be Afraid’ and ‘Name Him Jesus’ (Matthew 1.18-25) a. Appearance of the Angel of the Lord b. The Significance of the Message Delivered by the Angel c. The Message Fulfilled IV. ‘Go to Egypt’ (Matthew 2.13-15) a. God’s Activity in the Star, Dream, and the Angel of the Lord b. The Angel of the Lord Appears Again c. The Significance of the Message Delivered by the Angel d. Fulfillment Quotation V. ‘Go to Israel’ (Matthew 2.19-23) a. Third Appearance of the Angel of the Lord b. Fulfillment Quotation VI. Conclusion a. The Angel of the Lord and Jesus as Emmanuel Chapter 3. Angels at the Temptation (Matthew 4.1-11) I. Introduction II. Context of God’s Presence a. Sources of Matthew’s Temptation Narrative b. Relationship of the Temptation and Baptismal Narratives in Matthew c. Background of Israel’s Desert Experience in Matthew 4 III. Protecting Angels and an Obedient Son (Matthew 4.5-7) a. Temple as the Setting for the Second Temptation b. Psalm 91 and the Devil’s Terms c. Jesus Refuses to Jump IV. Worthy of Angelic Service (Matthew 4.11) a. Mark 1.13 and Matthew 4.11 b. The Angels Serving and Jesus’ Obedience V. Conclusion Chapter 4. Angels at the Judgement (Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43, 47-50) I. Introduction a. Interpreting Parables in Matthew b. Matthew’s Reference to Angels in the Parables’ Explanations II. Angels and Judgement a. Punishing Angels in the Old Testament b. Angels in Eschatological Scenes of Judgement and Punishment c. ‘Christian’ Apocalyptic Literature d. Summary III. Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43) a. The Context of Matthew 13 b. The Narrative of the Parable (Matthew 13.24-26) c. Jesus’ Eschatological Explanation (Matthew 13.36-43) d. Angels and Son of Man Traditions IV. Parable of the Net and the Parable of the Weeds a. The Parable of the Net b. Examples of Angels Implicit in Parables of Judgement c. Angels and Judgement as Part of Matthew’s Worldview V. Conclusions Chapter 5. The Son of Man and his Angels (MATTHEW 16.27) I. Introduction II. Cost of Discipleship and Its Future Reward (Matthew 16.24-28) III. ‘His Angels’ and ‘Holy Angels’ (Matthew 16.27; Mark 8.38) a. Use of ‘Holy’ in Matthew and Mark b. ‘Holy Angels’ as God’s Angels c. ‘His Angels’ as Subordinate IV. Matthew 16.13–17.13 Re-examined V. Conclusion Chapter 6. The Heavenly Worth of the Little ones (Matthew 18.10) I. Introduction II. The Discourse of Matthew 18 III. ‘Do Not Despise One of the Little Ones’ (Matthew 18.10a) a. The ‘Little Ones’ b. Pay Attention to Contemptuous Conduct IV. ‘Their Angels Always Behold the Face of My Father’ (Matthew 18.10b) a. Assigning Angels b. The Angels as Being Always Before the Face of the Father V. Re-examining Matthew 18.10 in Its Context a. Parable of the Stray Sheep VI. Conclusion Chapter 7. Sadducees and Heavenly Angels (Matthew 22.30) I. Introduction II. Sadducees’ Challenge and Jesus’ Response a. The Sadducees Approach Jesus b. Jesus’ Response Undermines the Sadducees III. Angel Traditions a. Sadducees, Angels, and the Implied Reader b. Angels in the Pentateuch c. Angels Outside the Pentateuch d. Immortality, Angels, and Marriage IV. Matthew 22.30 Re-evaluated V. Conclusion Chapter 8. Son of Man and the Angels at the Judgement (Matthew 24.30-31, 24.36 AND 25.31-46) I. Introduction II. The Majesty of the Coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24.30-31) a. Cosmic Upheaval, Universal Recognition, and the Sign of the Son of Man III. Neither the Son Nor the Angels, but the Father Alone (Matthew 24.36) IV. Angels at the Throne and Angels in Fire (Matthew 25.31-46) a. The Son of Man Comes with All the Angels b. The Fire Prepared for the Devil and His Angels V. Conclusions Chapter 9. Angels at the Arrest in Gethsemane (Matthew 26.53) I. Introduction II. The Angels at the Arrest in Gethsemane (Matthew 26.53-54) a. The Movement toward the Arrest in Matthew 26 b. Angels Are Better Than a Sword c. Jesus’ Ability to Call Angels d. Intratextual Echoes of the Temptation Narrative e. Discipleship and Jesus’ Example of Trusting in the Father III. Conclusion Chapter 10. Angel of the Lord at the Tomb (Matthew 28.2-10) I. Introduction II. Matthew’s Emphasis on God’s Activity a. Darkness Covers the Earth (Matthew 27.45) b. The Tearing of the Temple Curtain c. Earthquake and Splitting of Stones d. Tombs Are Opened e. Centurion’s Declaration III. The Angel at the Tomb a. Mark’s Young Man as an Angel b. The Appearance of the Angel of the Lord c. The Message of the Angel at the Tomb (Matthew 28.5-7) d. The Angel of the Lord in Matthew 28 Compared to Matthew 1–2 IV. Conclusion Chapter 11. Conclusion I. Summary a. Son of Man as Authoritative Eschatological Judge b. God at Work in Jesus’ Life c. Matthew’s Cosmology/Worldview II. Final Thoughts a. Matthew, Angels, and Apocalypticism b. Matthew, Angels, and Angelomorphic Christology III. Conclusion Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors