Uncertain Women: Sexual Irregularity and the Greater Righteousness in Matthew 1

Abstract

The identification of the concept of the “greater righteousness” as a central theme of Matthew's gospel provides a clue about the significance of the surprising inclusion of five women in the genealogy that opens the gospel. Matthew portrays Jesus' teaching about the greater righteousness as being concerned not with what the world sees and perceives, but with what God sees and wants. Accordingly, it is possible that a person may be tainted in the eyes of the world and yet demonstrate the greater righteousness. It is argued that in Matthew 1 Joseph's actions model and announce the theme of the greater righteousness for the remainder of the gospel. Further, it is argued that close consideration of the stories of the four Old Testament women mentioned in the genealogy in Matthew 1 reveals that each of the four women typifies the Matthean greater righteousness and that Mary, by analogy, is also portrayed in this way. These characters chosen to model the greater righteousness stand in antithesis to the characters chosen to model the “lesser” or “old” righteousness, the scribes and Pharisees.