Matthew’s Gospel is written entirely within the context of the Roman Empire, framing the life of Jesus from his infancy until his execution on a Roman cross. Throughout the narrative, the powerful shadow of Rome is constantly felt via tax collectors enriching Roman coffers, Roman soldiers and centurions executing the empire’s will, regional rulers, and the emperor himself. Simultaneously, Matthew deploys an ironic literary technique against these political figures—King Herod, Herod the tetrarch, and Governor Pilate—by stripping them of their perceived authority and demonstrating their ultimate powerlessness over the people they govern.
Dorothy Jean Weaver is a Professor Emerita of New Testament at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, who holds a PhD from Union Presbyterian Seminary. Her scholarly publications include The Irony of Power: The Politics of God within Matthew’s Narrative and Matthew’s Missionary Discourse: A Literary Critical Analysis. In addition to her academic writing, she has extensive global experience leading alternative travel seminars to the Middle East and lecturing on the New Testament internationally.