The Story Retold Quotes

“These end-time kingdom ethics are not deeply intertwined with Israel's status as a theocratic nation living in the "old age." Instead, they are intended for a community of saints, a people group that has been reconstituted around King Jesus in the eschatological "new age.”
― Gregory K. Beale, The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament

“The "law" that Jesus prescribes on the Sermon on the Mount is not antithetical to the law that Moses issued; rather, it is the fulfillment of Moses' instruction (Mt 5:1-7:29). Jesus even says in 5:17 that he did not “come to abolish" the Mosaic commandments but to "fulfill them." Jesus is essentially claiming that he and his teaching, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, fulfill Old Testament patterns and expectations. The Mosaic covenant anticipated Jesus' person, his acts, and teaching on the kingdom.”
― Gregory K. Beale, The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament

“Like Adam and Eve, the Israelites failed to obey and succumbed to pride and idolatry. In the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7), Jesus rehearses the well-known story but with a twist: instead of failure, Israel is marked by obedience to the covenant. Participants of true Israel will obey these commands because their representative, Jesus, obeyed in the wilderness.”
― Gregory K. Beale, The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament

“Throughout his gospel, Matthew picks up on this important theme of God dwelling on mountains by placing several key events within Jesus’ ministry on mountains. In fulfillment of these Old Testament expectations, the first evangelist claims that Jesus is the true temple and Israel’s God incarnate who once again meets with his people on a mountain. As God fashioned and commissioned the nation of Israel at Sinai, so too Jesus fashions and commissions true Israel on a mountain. God gave Israel the old covenant stipulations on Sinai, and Jesus gives the new covenant stipulations on a mountain.”
― Gregory K. Beale, The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament