Reading The Sermon On The Mount

by Talbert, Charles H.

• ISBN13: 9781570035531
• ISBN10: 1570035539
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-10-31
• Publisher: Univ of South Carolina Pr

Summary

Charles H. Talbert explores the religious message put forth in the first large teaching section of the Gospel according to Matthew and finds it to have a relevance often overlooked in academic studies. Seeking to hear and understand the text of Matthew 5-7 as someone living in the Mediterranean about 100 c.e. would have encountered it, Talbert argues for a broader interpretation of the Sermon than scholars typically advance.

Author Biography

Charles H. Talbert is Distinguished Professor of Religion at Baylor University.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Part One Getting Ready to Read the Sermon on the Mount
One The Setting of the Sermon: What Is Matthew's Relation to Judaism?	3	(7)
Two The Context of the Sermon: Who Speaks and to Whom?	10	(11)
Three The Structure of the Sermon: In What Order Does Jesus Speak?	21	(6)
Four The Functions of the Sermon: Character Formation and Decision Making	27	(5)
Five Is Matthew a Legalist? Enablement of Obedience in Response to the Sermon	32	(15)
Part Two A Reading of the Sermon on the Mount
Six A Portrait of Disciples with Promises and Expectations: Matthew 5:3-16	47	(12)
Seven The Antitheses with Their Heading: Matthew 5:17-48	59	(43)
Eight True Piety: Matthew 6:1-18	102	(18)
Nine God and Possessions: Matthew 6:19-34	120	(11)
Ten Judging-Condemnation and Discernment: Matthew 7:1-12	131	(7)
Eleven Exhortations, Warnings, and Closing: Matthew 7:13-27; 7:28-8:1	138	(9)
Twelve A Précis: Matthew 4:18-8:1	147	(2)
Sources	149	(12)
Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Sources	161	(18)
Index of Modern Authors	179