The Relation between Christ, Believers and Authorities in Matthew
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Babeș-Bolyai University / Cluj University Press
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One can find not too many passages in Matthew, which deal with the relation be-tween Christ, his followers and the authorities. When Christ or the believers came into contact with the authorities, usually they ended up persecuted, mistreated, jailed or executed. We will examine the encounter with Herod, John the Baptist, the first and second centurion, Pharisees, Herodians, Pilate, chief priests, Simon from Cyrene and Joseph of Arimathea. There are very rare instances when a representative of the authorities does not abuse of his status and acts as a normal human being. Jesus prepares his disciples for the bad treatment to come and assures them of His help. During the persecution they have to react as the sons of the heavenly Father, they may rejoice in the suffering, knowing that the power of the authorities is finite, and the word of God is endless.