Jesus' Inclusive Attitude Towards the Gentiles In the Gospel of Matthew: A Challenge to The Osu Cast System In Igboland, Nigeria
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Date
2003
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
Having journeyed with Matthew in his Gospel, I was greatly fascinated by
how this text presents Jesus as the Messiah for the Jews and the Gentiles right from
his birth, during his earthly ministry and consummated after his resurrection. It is
clear, as we shall see in chapter one, that Matthew's Gospel is more Jewish than the
other synoptic gospels. Notwithstanding that fact, Matthew includes 'Gentiles' as
one of his main themes and presents Jesus as one who welcomes the Gentiles into
the plan of salvation.
The particular approach of Jesus invokes in me a consciousness of the reality
of the Osu Caste System (which is like the Gentiles of today) in Igbo Land of
Nigeria where I was born and brought up. The approach of Jesus to the Gentiles of
his time poses a great challenge to the Catholic Christians of Igbo land.
There are many texts in Matthew's Gospel that speak about the Gentiles, but
I have decided to choose some particular ones which portray Jesus' inclusive
attitude towards those who came to him with great faith. In these texts Jesus
marvelled at and praised the faith of these two Gentiles.
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Keywords
Jesus' Inclusive Attitude, Gentiles, Gospel of Matthew, Osu Cast System, Osu Cast System