Write an essay explaining the themes and emphases of the portrayal of Jesus in all the 7 questions
In-class essay exam written during our assigned Final Exam timeslot, 9-11am Thursday 12/15, without
notes, books, or Bible.
The texts from Matthew that are on the Final Exam will be provided for your use as a printout on exam
day.
Bring a new, large, blank, bluebook for the exam. Do not write your name on it. Bluebooks will be
collected and redistributed with an exam paper inside of them. Bluebooks are available at the bookstore.
You will be asked to write just one essay for the Final Exam.
five of the seven questions below will be on the actual Final Exam. Prepare at least three questions below
in order to have one of those you prepared appear as an option on the Final Exam. If your Biblical Text
Analysis passage appears in one of the texts on the Final Exam you may write on that passage but
remember: you need to address the entire range of text given in the question.
Essay Questions Five of the seven questions below will be on the actual Final Exam for you to choose
from. You only have to write one essay for the Final Exam.
1. Write an essay explaining the themes and emphases of the portrayal of Jesus in
Matthew 15:1 – 16:12. Your essay should a) make a clear claim regarding who Jesus is in these verses; b)
use the Three Worlds approach (literary analysis, historical context, contemporary meaning/voices); c)
explicitly draw on class content (required readings, viewings, class notes, assignments, as relevant); d)
explain how specific verses in the passage demonstrate your claim about who Jesus is in this section of Matthew.
Answer:
In the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 15:1 – 16:12, Jesus is portrayed as a bold and uncompromising teacher who challenges the religious authorities of his time. This passage emphasizes several key themes, including the importance of obedience to God’s laws, the power of faith and prayer, and the danger of hypocrisy.
One of the central themes of this passage is the importance of obedience to God’s laws. In Matthew 15:1 – 9, Jesus engages in a heated debate with the Pharisees and scribes, who criticize him for his disciples’ failure to follow the traditional customs of the Jewish people. In response, Jesus argues that obedience to God’s laws is more important than adherence to human traditions. He cites the example of the Pharisees’ practice of “corban,” in which they set aside money for the temple rather than using it to support their parents. In doing so, Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ reliance on human traditions and emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s laws.
Another key theme of this passage is the power of faith and prayer. In Matthew 15:21 – 28, Jesus is approached by a Canaanite woman who pleads with him to heal her daughter. Initially, Jesus seems to ignore her, but she persists in her faith and ultimately Jesus heals her daughter. This passage emphasizes the power of prayer and the importance of faith in achieving God’s purposes.
Finally, this passage also highlights the danger of hypocrisy. In Matthew 15:7 – 9, Jesus accuses the Pharisees of hypocrisy, saying that they “honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” This passage warns against the danger of pretending to follow God’s laws while failing to obey them in practice.
2. Write an essay explaining the themes and emphases of the portrayal of Jesus in
Matthew 16:13 – 17:27. Your essay should a) make a clear claim regarding who Jesus is in these verses;
b) use the Three Worlds approach (literary analysis, historical context, contemporary meaning/voices); c)
explicitly draw on class content (required readings, viewings, class notes, assignments, as relevant); d)
explain how specific verses in the passage demonstrate your claim about who Jesus is in this section of
Matthew.
3. Write an essay explaining the themes and emphases of the portrayal of Jesus in
Matthew 19:1 – 20:16. Your essay should a) make a clear claim regarding who Jesus is in these verses; b)
use the Three Worlds approach (literary analysis, historical context, contemporary meaning/voices); c)
explicitly draw on class content (required readings, viewings, class notes, assignments, as relevant); d)
explain how specific verses in the passage demonstrate your claim about who Jesus is in this section of
Matthew.
4. Write an essay explaining the themes and emphases of the portrayal of Jesus in
Matthew 20:17 – 21:17. Your essay should a) make a clear claim regarding who Jesus is in these verses;
b) use the Three Worlds approach (literary analysis, historical context, contemporary meaning/voices); c)
explicitly draw on class content (required readings, viewings, class notes, assignments, as relevant); d)
explain how specific verses in the passage demonstrate your claim about who Jesus is in this section of
Matthew.
-Answer:
In Matthew 20:17 – 21:17, Jesus is portrayed as a savior and a king. This can be seen through a literary analysis of the passage, an understanding of the historical context in which it was written, and the contemporary voices and interpretations of the passage.
From a literary perspective, the passage begins with Jesus predicting his own death and resurrection. He tells the disciples that he will be handed over to the authorities, suffer, and be killed. However, he also says that he will rise again on the third day. This foreshadowing sets the stage for the events that follow, in which Jesus enters Jerusalem as a king and is hailed by the crowds.
In the historical context of the passage, it is clear that the author of Matthew is writing for a Jewish audience. The passage contains numerous allusions to the Hebrew Scriptures, including references to the Suffering Servant figure from Isaiah and the coming of the Messianic King from the Psalms. For the original audience, these references would have been clear indicators that Jesus was fulfilling the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures and was therefore the long-awaited Messiah.
Contemporary voices also support the idea that Jesus is portrayed as a savior and a king in this passage. Many Christians believe that the events in the passage, including Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his prediction of his own death and resurrection, are proof of his divinity and his role as the savior of humanity.
Specific verses in the passage also support this claim. For example, in Matthew 20:28, Jesus says, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This verse emphasizes Jesus’ role as a savior, as he willingly gives his life for the sake of others. In Matthew 21:5, the crowd greets Jesus by shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” This shows that the people recognize Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and king, as the Son of David was a Messianic title.
5. Write an essay explaining the themes and emphases of the portrayal of Jesus in
Matthew 26:1–56. Your essay should a) make a clear claim regarding who Jesus is in these verses; b) use
the Three Worlds approach (literary analysis, historical context, contemporary meaning/voices); c)
explicitly draw on class content (required readings, viewings, class notes, assignments, as relevant); d)
explain how specific verses in the passage demonstrate your claim about who Jesus is in this section of
Matthew.
6. Write an essay explaining the themes and emphases of the portrayal of Jesus in
Matthew 26:57 – 27:26. Your essay should a) make a clear claim regarding who Jesus is in these verses;
b) use the Three Worlds approach (literary analysis, historical context, contemporary meaning/voices); c)
explicitly draw on class content (required readings, viewings, class notes, assignments, as relevant); d)
explain how specific verses in the passage demonstrate your claim about who Jesus is in this section of
Matthew.
7. Write an essay explaining the themes and emphases of the portrayal of Jesus in
Matthew 27:27–66. Your essay should a) make a clear claim regarding who Jesus is in these verses; b) use
the Three Worlds approach (literary analysis, historical context, contemporary meaning/voices); c)
explicitly draw on class content (required readings, viewings, class notes, assignments, as relevant); d)
explain how specific verses in the passage demonstrate your claim about who Jesus is in this section of
Matthew.
