Jesus is the New Moses

One interesting thing that we, as westerners, could miss is the comparison that Matthew is making with Jesus as the new Moses, or the faithful Israelite.

This is very evident in the gospel of Matthew, and constantly Matthew is showing that Jesus is not only doing what the Israelites did, but he is accomplishing what the Israelites failed to do. He is fulfilling the law by his complete obedience to it and by his death on the cross in order to bless the nations. And if we just take a broad look at five pit stops in the life of Jesus, we will see that Matthew is setting up Jesus as the new and better Moses, the new and better Israel.

Egypt---Water---Desert---Mountain---Law

These are the five pit stops of the Israelites way back in Exodus.

If you remember with me, the story of the Israelites, you will remember that these are the five pit stops that they made as they were being rescued from slavery in Egypt.

First, they came out of Egypt. God judged the nation of Egypt with ten plagues, and by the last one, the Pharaoh let the Israelites go. And they packed up all their belongings, and set out for the promised land. On the way out of Egypt, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them to bring them back to their slavery in Egypt. The second pit stop the Israelites found themselves in was at the banks of the red sea, with the Egyptian army coming after them. But God parted the Red sea and allowed the Israelites to walk through on dry ground, rescuing them from their old way of life as slaved in Egypt. Then they entered the desert, and because of some bad decisions they would end up wandering in the desert for 40 years. This is the third pit stop. And before they were able to enter the promised land, they were tempted and tried over and over again during these forty years of wandering in the desert. The fourth pit stop is at the base of Mt. Sinai. Here, Moses climbed up on the mountain and received what would be the last pit stop, the law. This law was what would guide the Israelites and teach them how to be the people of God. It was their end of the bargain. God said, "I rescued you, I fulfilled my end of the deal, your end is to obey the law and follow all its rules."

This was the journey of the Israelites, being rescued from slavery in Egypt.

Egypt---Water---Desert---Mountain---Law

This is the exact path that Jesus took at the beginning of the book of Matthew. Because Jesus' parents were running away from Herod and his killing spree, they fled to Egypt. And Matthew 2.15 records what the prophet said: "out of Egypt I have called my son." And this happened to Jesus. He was in Egypt, and was called out of Egypt, just like the Israelites. Next, we see Jesus in Matthew 3, being baptized by John, water. Baptism symbolizes a death to old life and being raised to new life. This is what happened to the Israelites when they went through the Red Sea. They entered a new life, they were freed from the old. Then, immediately following Jesus' baptism, he was led into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days. The Israelites wandered through the desert for forty years. And now coming to Matthew 5, it reads this:

"Now when he saw the crowds he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him and he began to teach them saying..."

Jesus went up on a mountain and preached his most important sermon, the sermon on mount. This mirrors Moses going up on Mt. Sinai and receiving and giving the law to the Israelites. Jesus is giving his new law, the sermon on the mount, to his followers, the disciples.

Jesus is the new Moses and he is instituting his new law for his people, and it is the Sermon on the Mount.

This is our law, this is the center of what it means for us to be the people of God, to be the new Israel. This sermon is one of five messages that Jesus gives in the book of Matthew that represents center of what it means to be the people of God. This is what we are all about as Christians. And it begins with Jesus calling his disciples to him and teaching them.

What I learn from these first two verses of chapter 5 is this, being a disciple of Jesus means sitting at his feet and learning from him.

This is done by reading his word daily, eating your Bible. This is done by going to church and listening to teaching and most importantly, obeying that teaching. This is done by praying and listening to God, but pursuing a relationship with him daily. Disciples learn from Jesus what it means to be the people of God and bless the nations.

Are you learning from Jesus?