Texts in Conversation
Matthew 7 and 1 Samuel 24 both use similar language to signal the end of an important speech, showing Jesus following David’s pattern and authority. In 1 Samuel, David finishes speaking before Saul’s emotional reaction, and in Matthew, Jesus ends his message before the next major events begin.
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1 Samuel 24:16
Hebrew Bible
15 May the Lord be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands.” 16 When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Then Saul wept loudly. 17 He said to David, “You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you. 18 You have explained today how you have treated me well. The Lord delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me.
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Matthew 7:28
New Testament
26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed—it was utterly destroyed!” 28 When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching, 29 because he taught them like one who had authority, not like their experts in the law.
Date: 70-90 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... No sooner had Jesus uttered his words of warning about an impending ominous event than the narrative overtakes his preaching, revealing the unfolding of end-time events. Some commentators consider Matthew’s five notations of points in the narrative when Jesus had concluded speaking (viz. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1) to indicate five internal divisions within the texts, corresponding to the Five Books of Moses. In my opinion, the use of “concluded all of these words” is an indicator of prophetic significance. Jesus has spoken, and his words are about become reality. In 1 Samuel 24:16 the use of the same phrase is also forward looking: “And it was as David concluded these words ...” David had just declared to Saul that God would judge between the two of them; one would be found innocent and the other guilty. In so doing he quoted an ancient proverb: “From the wicked comes forth wickedness,” which also sums up Jesus’ message in the previous chapter. Just as the events of history overtake David’s words, so too with Jesus. It seems unlikely that these literary parallels between Jesus and David are random or accidental ..."
Basser, Herbert W.
The Gospel of Matthew and Judaic Traditions: A Relevance-Based Commentary
(p. 656) Brill, 2015
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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