The Mariological interpretation of the pericope Jesus in Nazareth (Mt 13, 53–58)

Abstract

In his article the author shows that the evangelical account of Mt 12, 46–50 as well as the pericope of Mt 13, 54–58 do not bring anything new as far as the Marian motifs are concerned just as it was previously presented in his research on Mt 1 and 2. Mt 13, 53–58 does not include any clear reference to the virginal conception. One can conclude that it is assumed and understood. In Mt 13, 53–58 it is the motherhood of Mary that is emphasized. She is the Mother of Jesus, the Messiah. Such a treatment of the theme is well grounded in the aforementioned editorial means of St. Matthew who wanted to stress the Christological motifs in his Gospel but also to present them as inseparably connected with and depended on the Mariological theme.

In his article the author asserts that in his account in Mt 13, 53–58 St. Matthew critically refers to the earlier account of St. Mark (which is his source) in which Mark presents Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Messiah in an inconspicuous, perhaps even ineffective, way. Such a presentation is at least partially smoothed out and therefore the tone of Matthew’s presentation of Mary becomes more neutral and veritable. Thus the account of Mt 13, 53–58 acquires a new, positive undertone which has already been introduced at the beginning of the narrative in Mt 1–2.