Correcting the Imbalance: The Masculinity of Jesus in its Original Matthean Context

Abstract

A discussion of the overemphasis of the stereotypically feminine characteristics of Jesus leads to a comparison and analysis of an ancient Jewish male gender ideology against the portrayal of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew. A five-point model is developed from an in-depth look at different examples and references to masculinity in Jewish literature of the second temple period. The model is then contrasted with examples and excerpts from the Gospel of Matthew that reveal not only cohesion with the model but also extends to reveal that the message of Jesus is distinctly masculine. The implications of Jesus masculinity is then discussed in terms of faltering male attendance in the Australian Christian church.