With Jesus

In an old JBL article (on Peter in Matthew), Jack Dean Kingsbury points out that “with” statements frame the gospel of Matthew: “God with us” at one end, and “I am with you always” at the other. Within the gospel, Kingsbury argues that Jesus is mainly “with” the Twelve. Matthew “accomplishes at least two things: Jesus and his disciples are characterized as a group distinct from Israel; and the relationship he has with them is shown to be absolutely unique . . . . through his own presence Jesus Messiah, the Son of God, mediates to his followers the gracious, saving presence of God and his rule.”