Parallel Beginnings
- Infancy Narratives: The narrative of Jesus' early life contains echoes of Moses' story. Just as Moses was born into a situation where Hebrew boys were being killed by Pharaoh's decree (Exodus 1:15-22), Jesus is born at a time when Herod orders the massacre of Bethlehem's male infants (Matthew 2:16-18). Both figures survive these attempts on their lives, Moses through the protection of his family and the Pharaoh's daughter, and Jesus through the divine warning given to Joseph to flee to Egypt.
- Egypt as a Place of Refuge: The sojourn of Jesus' family in Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15) and their subsequent return to Israel after Herod's death recall Israel's exodus from Egypt under Moses' leadership. Matthew explicitly interprets this event through Hosea's prophecy: "Out of Egypt I called my son" (Hosea 11:1), applied to Jesus to emphasize His role as the one who would lead a new exodus.
Teachers and Lawgivers
- Sermon on the Mount: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) positions Jesus as a new lawgiver. Just as Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive the law from God (Exodus 19-20), Jesus delivers His foundational teachings on a mountainside, providing a new interpretation of the law that focuses on the spirit rather than the letter. His teachings fulfill and transcend the Mosaic law, emphasizing internal righteousness, mercy, and purity of heart.
- Authority Over the Law: Jesus' authority over the law is further demonstrated in His statements like, "You have heard that it was said... But I say to you..." (Matthew 5:21-48). This contrasts with Moses, who delivered the law as received from God without alteration. Jesus, however, speaks as one with authority to reinterpret and fulfill the law.
Signs and Wonders
Moses was known for performing signs and wonders, such as the ten plagues and parting the Red Sea, to deliver Israel from Egypt. Similarly, Jesus performs miracles, including healing the sick, feeding thousands with a few loaves and fish, calming storms, and raising the dead. These acts serve as signs of the Kingdom of Heaven's arrival and Jesus' authority over nature, illness, and even death, pointing to His divine mission.
Mediator of a New Covenant
The Last Supper echoes the Passover meal that commemorated the Israelites' liberation from Egypt, which Moses instituted. During this meal, Jesus establishes a new covenant through His blood, akin to the covenant established through Moses but surpassing it in its universal scope and its offer of forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28). This new covenant fulfills Jeremiah's prophecy of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) and marks Jesus not just as a liberator from physical bondage but from the bondage of sin.
Intercessor and Leader
Moses was known as an intercessor who stood in the gap for the people of Israel, especially when they sinned and faced God's wrath (Exodus 32:11-14). Similarly, Jesus is portrayed as the ultimate intercessor, whose death on the cross atones for the sins of humanity. His role as the mediator between God and humans surpasses that of Moses by providing a means for eternal redemption and reconciliation with God.
Conclusion
The theme of Jesus as the new Moses in the Gospel of Matthew is rich and multifaceted, drawing deep parallels between the lives, missions, and legacies of these two pivotal figures. Through this theme, Matthew illustrates how Jesus fulfills the Jewish expectations of a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15) but also transcends Moses by inaugurating a new covenant that offers a more profound liberation and a closer relationship with God. This portrayal not only affirms Jesus' messianic identity to a Jewish audience but also invites reflection on the continuity and fulfillment of God's salvific plan through Jesus Christ, the new Moses, who leads His people into the ultimate promised land of God's Kingdom.