The Use of David’s Story in Matthew 12:1-8: Appraisal of Jesus’ Hermeneutics

Abstract

Scholars identify Jesus’ hermeneutical methodology of David’s example in Matthew 12:3-4 as (a) rabbinic hermeneutics and (b) typological hermeneutics. In all, Jesus is connected with David. Contemporary New Testament scholars understand Matthean Jesus’s use of the story of David as (1) Jesus has authority like David; (2) Jesus presents himself as the Messiah and an antitype of David; or (3) Jesus sees himself as greater than David and/or the Temple. Thus, scholars compare Jesus with David and postulate that Jesus has authority to ignore the law. Hence, Matthew 12:3-4 has been interpreted through David-Jesus messianic lenses. However, a critical look at the text in its setting questions these long-held views. A critical review of related literature has presented two main gaps that this study seeks to address: (1) comparing David with Jesus makes the comparison awkward; (2) The David-typology approach makes an argument to justify the conduct of Jesus’ disciples, thereby advancing a Christological statement about Jesus and his ministry, without identifying the setting that allows Christological reading of the text. The burden of this research is to explore Jesus’ use David’s example in Matt 12:3-4 in the setting of Jesus and the Evangelist while investigating its hermeneutics.