(2) Based on your reading of Matthew’s Gospel, especially chapters 5-7 (i.e., the Sermon on the Mount), what is Matthew’s attitude toward the Jewish Law? How do the standards established by the Law of Moses differ from the expectations Jesus has for his followers?
In Matthew’s Gospel, it is said explicitly that Jesus wants people to follow the Jewish Law without failure. Matthew definitely thinks that Jesus takes the Jewish Law very seriously. Jesus expects His followers to abide by the Jewish Law and tells them that failure to do so will make them “called least in the kingdom of heaven.” However, the standards established by the Law of Moses differ from the expectations Jesus has for his followers. In Matthew 5, it can be seen that Jesus expects even more from His follower than what the Law of Moses demanded. While the decalogue just says to not murder, Jesus extends this law to anger towards others and belittling others. While the decalogue says to not commit adultery, Jesus extends this to looking at a woman with lust. While the Law of Moses says to not make false vows, Jesus tells His followers to not make oaths at all. Jesus tries to convey to His followers a more extensive understanding of the laws by which His followers should abide. Jesus urges His followers to do right and refrain from sin in every way, from what may seem like small things such as thinking about a woman in a lustful way to big things like murder.
My Spiritual Journey 
Your blog post got me thinking about something I’ve always realized yet never really explored further- that many early Christians were once Jews. The religions have become seemingly very different in methodology, but it is interesting to think that originally Jesus wanted his followers to keep with Jewish tradition. He did not set out to create a new religion, but it was his followers who did that for him
I enjoyed reading your analysis on Christ’s reinterpretation of Jewish Law. While Jesus expected his followers to remain faithful to the rules God gave to the Israelites, Jesus also wished to remove corruption and focus on what was truly important. I found it interesting to read the details you provided of which laws Jesus found to be of lesser importance or of greater importance.
Your blog post was very interesting in how you point out that Jesus extends the rules further than just the written laws. There is more underlying the concrete laws. Not only should you follow those laws but you should go further with them and refrain from all sin. I agree with your analysis and find it really interesting!
Good observations re: Jesus’ approach to the Jewish law in Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 5:17 (“I have come not to abolish [the Law] but to fulfill.”) is really key here. Far from ditching the core requirements of the Jewish Law, the Jewish Jesus of Matthew’s Gospel encourages his followers to keep the Law even better than the scribes and the Pharisees–focusing not just on not transgressing its superficial requirements, but on the deeper intentions behind those requirements which, if followed in the way Jesus advises, will lead to loving and respecting God and others.
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