Matthew and the Pentateuch

Book excerpt: Why are there four Gospels? If we read one, do we really need to read the others? In this book, David Kerr seeks to answer those questions. The four Gospels, particularly the Synoptic Gospels, do not simply rehash the same material in a slightly different order. They each present Jesus in a unique way. In this volume, Kerr attempts to show how Matthew presents Jesus as fulfilling the Old Testament narrative as recorded in the books of Moses, commonly called the Pentateuch. Matthew uses the Pentateuch as his basic structuring device for telling the story of Jesus and his life on earth. Therefore, the Gospel of Matthew and the Pentateuch are mutually interpretive of one another. Jesus' life cannot be truly understood without the illumination of the Old Testament, and the Old Testament always pointed forward to Jesus' coming. In this study, Kerr explores the relationship between Matthew and the Pentateuch.