PROVERBS OF JESUS IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Dr. Paul Manuel—2016
Within the Jewish milieu of the first century, Jesus uses common literary trope in his teaching, figures like the parable, an extended simile or metaphor. He also uses the proverb, a short pithy saying that embodies a kernel of practical wisdom. Some of these aphorisms probably originated with Jesus, while others were in general use at the time (and may parallel similar sayings elsewhere in Jewish literature). Of the four gospel writers, Matthew most represents typically Jewish thought of the day, and his account includes the greatest number of proverbs.1 All of these sayings offer some perspective for life in the kingdom of God.
Moses recommends two markers of false prophecy, although they may not be adequate to identify purveyors of falsehood in all cases:
- General observations for life in the kingdom
- Special prohibitions for life in the kingdom
- Essential admonitions for life in the kingdom
- General observations for life in the kingdom
If salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? (Matt 5:13b = Mark 9:50a; Luke 14:34)2
They asked [R Joshua (early 2nd c.)]: 'When salt became unsavory wherewith is it salted?' ...He replied: ...'And can salt become unsavory?' (b Bek 8b)
A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matt 5:14b)3
People [do not] light a lamp and put it under a bowl. (Matt 5:15a)4
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:21 = Luke 12:34)5
No one can serve two masters. (Matt 6:24a = Luke 16:13a)6
Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34b)7
[Moses said:] "Lord of the universe, sufficient is the evil in the time thereof." (b Bet 9b)
In the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matt 7:2 = Mark 4:24b; Luke 6:38c)8
By the same measure which a man metes out [to others], they mete out to him. (m Sota 1:7a)
R Meir [mid2d c.] said: In the measure which one measures, so will there be [measured] to him. (b Sanh 100a)
R Simeon [early 4th c.] said in the name of R Simeon b Abba [early 4th c.]: "All measures have ceased [presumably the four modes of execution], yet the rule of measure for measure has not ceased." (Gen R 9:11)
By their fruit you will recognize them. (Matt 7:16a = 7:20; Luke 6:44a 12:33c)9
It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. (Matt 9:12b)10
No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. (Matt 9:16a)11
The worker is worth his keep. (Matt 10:10b = Luke 10:7b)12
A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. (Matt 10:24)13
If he was a sage, he expounds [the relevant Scriptures]. And if not, disciples of sages expound for him. (m Yoma 1:6a-b)
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. (Matt 10:26b)14
Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. (Matt 12:25b = Mark 3:24-25; Luke 11:17b)15
Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matt 12:34b)16
As his heart, so is also his mouth. (Test Naph 2:6)
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. (Matt 13:12 = 25:29 Luke 12:48b)17
Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor. (Matt 13:57b)18
If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit. (Matt 15:14c)19
It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs. (Matt 15:26)20
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Matt 19:24 = Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25)
Raba [early 4th c.] said: A man is never shown in a dream... an elephant going through the eye of a needle. (b Ber 55b)
Perhaps you are from Pumbeditha [whose scholars were known for their subtlety] where they draw an elephant through the eye of a needle. (b B Mes 38b)
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matt 23:12 = Luke 14:11; 18:14b)
[He] who humbles himself the Holy One, blessed be He, raises up, and [he] who exalts himself the Holy One, blessed be He, humbles. (b 'Erub 13b)
You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. (Matt 23:24b)21
Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. (Matt 24:28 = Luke 17:37c)22
- Special prohibitions for life in the kingdom
Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (Matt 6:3b)23
The chamber of secret gifts: Those who fear sin secretly put their contribution into it, and poor folk of good family live off the proceeds [which they receive] in confidence. (m Sheq 5:6b)
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. (Matt 7:6a)24
But let no one eat or drink of this eucharistic thanksgiving, but they that have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord hath said: Give not that which is holy to the dogs. (Didache 9:5)
- Essential admonitions for life in the kingdom
Do to others what you would have them do to you. (Matt 7:12a = Luke 6:31)25
On several occasions Jesus would punctuate his instruction with a proverb, a familiar form expressing succinctly the particular point he wanted to make about life in the kingdom of God that would be easy for the rabbi's audience to understand and remember. The gospel writers, especially Matthew, preserved several of these sayings, some of which the rabbi himself created while others he drew from the literary milieu of the first century.Hillel [early 1st c.] said... "What is hateful to you, do not to your neighbor. (b Sabb 31a)
Appendix: "By their fruit you will recognize them" (Matt 7:16a)
A more extensive explication of false prophecy
A more extensive explication of false prophecy
- Apostasy
Deut 13:1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deut 18:20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.
- Unfulfilled prophecy
Identifying erroneous utterance is an especially important concern in the epistles. Peter warns against the continued presence of false prophets among God's people, a danger he and John equate with false teachers:Deut 18:22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
Like false prophets, false teachers have their own distinguishing characteristics, primarily...2 Pet 2:1 There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them.... 3a In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.
1 John 4:1 Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
2 John 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.
3 John l0b-c He refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
- Erroneous doctrine
The clear expectation of New Testament authors is that believers will be sufficiently versed in correct doctrine to identify false doctrine. There are several other characteristics of false teachers:2 Cor 11:4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Col 2:4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.... 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.... 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.
Gal 1:7b Some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Eph 4:14 We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
1 Tim 1:3 Command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith.... 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
1 Tim 4:1 In later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.... 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
1 Tim 6:3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.... 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.
2 Tim 2:14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.... 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.... 18b They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
2 Tim 3:7 [They are] always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.... 9h Their folly will be clear to everyone.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Heb 13:9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.
2 John 7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
- Hypocrisy
Rom 2:21 You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
- Greed
2 Cor 2:17a Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.
Titus 1:10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
Jude 11c They have rushed for profit into Balaam's error.
- Impersonation
2 Cor 11:13 Such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- Immorality
False teaching can undermine the message and ministry of a congregation, making those outside wonder what those inside actually believe.Jude 4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.... 8 These dreamers pollute their own bodies....
For a pdf including Bibliography and Endnotes see here.
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