Form Criticism: Matthew 5.43-48 Name/s: ______

With Form Criticism, we are trying to determine a standard pattern in which particular kinds of stories are told and the occasion for which they would have been told. For our purposes, the main thing we are going to try to do is see how our passage matches with similar stories and then see how the form is ‘bent.’ This allows us to see aspects of the story that the author is trying to highlight.

First, take a look at the list of forms described in Powell, Gospels, page 21-23. What form does Matthew 5.43-48 seem most closely to match? (Note that sometimes it is difficult to be too specific about a form. Sometimes the forms might overlap, and sometimes a passage may be composed of more than one form.)

Next, let us gather similar accounts and look for regular patterns. I’ve tried to help you out by providing a table with the Matthew text and a few others. The idea here is that you will copy/move the various components of the text into the correct boxes. Start by breaking the Matthew 5.43-48 text into 5 or so units. That is, outline the text in a way that makes sense to you. Next, look at the other texts and see if they at all fit that outline. If needed add extra outline points or leave some blank. (NB: I found it difficult to match up the Leviticus text very well.) In a fuller study, we would also want to include other such stories from even non-biblical literature. This is just a good start…

Once you have your comparative outlines worked out, let us see what observations can you make about the Matthew text and how it works with or strays from the standard form for telling such a story.

How does Matthew 5.43-48 compare to the parallel story in Luke 6:27-28 and 32-36?

How does Matthew 5.43-48 compare to the parallel story in Matthew 5:33-37?

How does Matthew 5.43-48 compare to the parallel story in Leviticus 19:15-19?

Why might this passage have been remembered, and under what circumstances might it have been retold? Matthew 5.43-48 Luke 6:27-28 and 32-36 Matthew 5:33-37 Leviticus 19:15-19

"You have heard that it "But I say to you that listen, Love 33 "Again, you have heard that 15 You shall not render an was said, 'You shall love your enemies, do good to those it was said to those of ancient unjust judgment; you shall your neighbor and hate who hate you, 28 bless those who times, 'You shall not swear not be partial to the poor or your enemy.' 44 But I say curse you, falsely, but carry out the defer to the great: with justice to you, Love your pray for those who abuse you. vows you have made to the you shall judge your enemies and pray for "If you love those who love you, Lord.' 34 But I say to you, Do neighbor. 16 You shall not go those who persecute what credit is that to you? For not swear at all, either by around as a slanderer1 among you, 45 so that you may even sinners love those who love heaven, for it is the throne of your people, and you shall not be children of your them. 33 If you do good to those God, 35 or by the earth, for it profit by the blood2 of your Father in heaven; for he who do good to you, what credit is his footstool, or by neighbor: I am the LORD. 17 makes his sun rise on the is that to you? For even sinners Jerusalem, for it is the city of You shall not hate in your evil and on the good, do the same. 34 If you lend to the great King. 36 And do not heart anyone of your kin; you and sends rain on the those from whom you hope to swear by your head, for you shall reprove your neighbor, righteous and on the receive, what credit is that to cannot make one hair white or you will incur guilt unrighteous. 46 For if you you? Even sinners lend to or black. 37 Let your word be yourself. 18 You shall not love those who love you, sinners, to receive as much again. 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; take vengeance or bear a what reward do you 35 But love your enemies, do anything more than this grudge against any of your have? Do not even the good, and lend, expecting comes from the evil one.1 people, but you shall love tax collectors do the nothing in return.1 Your reward your neighbor as yourself: I same? 47 And if you will be great, and you will be am the LORD. 19 You shall greet only your brothers children of the Most High; for he keep my statutes. You shall and sisters, what more is kind to the ungrateful and the not let your animals breed are you doing than wicked. with a different kind; you others? Do not even the 36 Be merciful, just as your Father shall not sow your field with Gentiles do the same? 48 is merciful. two kinds of seed; nor shall Be perfect, therefore, as you put on a garment made of your heavenly Father is two different materials. perfect.