33. Matthew 23-25 (1) Jesus’ Final Discourse
With chs.23-25 we have Jesus fifth and final discourse in Matthew. Wright summarizes where we have come so far: “In all of this, Matthew is saying, we are to regard Jesus as being like Moses, only more so. Moses (they believed) gave the people the five books of the law; Jesus gives them the five books of the new covenant, the new relationship between God and the world. Moses brought the people through the desert and led them to the point where they were ready to cross over the Jordan and go into the promised land. Jesus is leading his people through the desert to the point where he will lead them through death itself and on into the new world which God is going to make. Only, unlike Moses, he won't stay on this side of the river, leaving someone else to take the people across. He will go on ahead, like his namesake Joshua, and lead them himself into the new world.” [1] Jesus started his kingdom ministry with a description of flourishing life within it unfolded in ei...