Even before Jesus’ public ministry began, Matthew identifies him as the true, faithful Israel of God. The first Gospel readily connects Jesus’ genealogy, birth, journey to Egypt, baptism, and ministry to the nation of Israel. The Old Testament recounts the failure of Adam and Israel in fulfilling the divine requirements for imaging God on earth. God expected Adam and Israel to rule on his behalf, worship him and mediate his presence to others, and obey his law. But, as we’ve seen time and again, humanity is unable to obey perfectly.
