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| Hermeneutics with Jim Leffel |
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Interpreting the teaching of Jesus
Introductory comments:
What kind of teacher was Jesus?
Jesus as rabbi (teacher): "Teacher" used 40 times in Gospels (Mt. 23:8; 10:24,25)
Jesus as prophet (Mk. 5:15; 8:28; 14:65; Lk. 7:16; Mt. 21:11, 46)
Prophetic signs and miracles (Lk. 17:16; Jn. 3:2)
Message inspired by the Holy Spirit (Mt. 12:18; Lk. 4:16-30)
Divine calling and message (Lk. 4:18; 10:21; Mt. 5:21)
Rejected like the prophets (Lk. 13:33-34)
Unique authority of Jesus
"You have heard… but I say (Mt. 5:21,22; 27,28; 31,32; 33,34; 38,39; 43,44)
Testimony of John the Baptist (Jn. 3:31-36)
"I AM" sayings
Modes of teaching: parabolic action shown in narrative
Jesus’ actions as a form of teaching
Eating at Zaccheaus’ house showing "sinners" are included among God’s people (Lk. 19:1-6, cf. Lk. 18:9ff)
Talking to the Samaritan woman showing universality of God’s plan (Jn. 4:7-27)
Healings and miracles ("signs") as proof of the messianic kingdom (Mt. 11:4-6; Lk. 5:17-26)
Sermon on the mount—a new Moses for a new people of God (Mt. 5—7)
Modes of teaching: Commonly used figures of speech
Usually a single point is made and should be interpreted in the literary context
| Figure of Speech | Definition | Text |
| Overstatement/hyperbole | Exaggeration to make a point | Lk. 14:26; Mt. 5:29,30 |
| Pun | Play on words | Mt. 23:23,24 (salma vs. samla) Jn. 3:8 (spirit and wind) |
| Simile | Comparison using like or as | Mt. 10:16; Mt. 12:40 |
| Metaphor | Comparison not using like, as | Mk. 8:15 |
| Proverb | Wise saying, aphorism | Mt. 6:21; Mt. 26:52 |
| Riddle | Puzzling story with a deeper meaning | Mk. 14:58; Mt. 11:12 |
| Paradox | Statement that seems contradictory, but isn’t | Mt. 5:1ff; Mt. 16:25 |
| A fortiori | "how much more… " | Mt. 7:9—11; Mt. 10:25 |
| Irony/sarcasm | Unexpected result | Mt. 16:2,3; Lk. 16:20 |
| Question | Mk. 8:27—32; Mk. 3:1—4; 9:50 | |
| Poetic parallelism | Repetition used to advance, contrast thought of first line | Mt. 7:7,8; Mk. 9:37; Lk. 16:10 |
| Parable | Extended metaphor with single meaning, or allegory | Mt. 13; Lk. 15:4—10 |
Use of the Old Testament in the New
"fulfill" (pleroo): Mt. 5:17
Kingdom
Messiah
Salvation
A unique problem for interpretation
Mt. 2:15 cf. Hosea 11:1
Principles for interpreting Old Testament citations in the New
Use of OT language and citations as a vehicle of expression
Allusion expresses a similar thought or draws analogy to a similar situation
Mk. 14:34 cf. Ps. 42, 43
Application or accommodation of an Old Testament principle
Principle relates to a situation not envisioned by the original author
1 Cor. 9:9 cf. Deut. 25:4
1 Cor. 10:26 cf. Ps. 24:1
Old Testament text cited to represent opponents’ view and often given more central meaning
Mt. 5:21,22; 27,28; 31,32; 33,34; 38,39; 43,44
Direct fulfillment in which events or prophecies recorded in the New Testament fulfill the clear intended meaning of the Old Testament author
Lk. 4:18 cf. Is. 61:1,2
Ac. 2:17 ff. cf. Joel 2:28-32
Fulfillment of Old Testament passages not immediately tied to the explicit historical intent of the author, but which implicitly mean what the New Testament interprets. See 1 Peter 1:10-12.
Motif: Themes carried through the Old Testament and into the New Testament, fulfilled by Christ or others
Example: "seed"
Example: "out of Egypt"
Apostolic authority and the limits of interpretation
Inductive Study Worksheet: Gospels
Overview
Read the Gospel summarizing the main themes and emphases
Note: Gospel narrative is both chronological and thematic
Structure
1. Context: What actions/teaching directly precede and follow the passage?
2. Main point:
Narrative hint: Teaching hint: Summary statement (Mk. 2:17; 6:4) Note the literary genre Rhetorical question (Jn. 5:6; Mk. 2:9) Central concept (Mt. 13; 24) Teaching preceding or following Action preceding or following (Lk. 6:20ff) 3. Supporting points:
How does Jesus’ interaction with others illustrate or support main point?
Example: Ironic dialogue with woman at the well (Jn. 4) or Nicodemus (Jn. 3)
How does Jesus’ use of the Old Testament illustrate or support main point?
Example: Mt. 13:32
4. Application
How did people respond to Jesus’ teaching or action? What does that tell us?
Example: Mt. 13:53—58
How does this passage, as clarified by steps 1—4 relate to your life or fellowship?
Copyright © 2000 Jim Leffel
