readrevelation.org

If Matthew’s said it once, he’s said it twice. I challenge you to read Matthew straight through several times and make notes of the places you find identical wording or a similar action repeated in a different setting. You will find many, many such instances. I have considered why there are two citings for so many sayings and actions, and not three or four.

Although there are other theories, I think perhaps Matthew insisted on twice repeats in order to indicate that these sayings and actions were repeated many times in many settings, but that he had to choose which he would record since his writing resources couldn’t contain all the instances for each saying or action. My sense is that Matthew may have felt a bit overwhelmed at the task of putting on record something of this Man Jesus, and some piece of him felt unfinished until he had written a thing twice.

In a previous article here, we noted one of Matthew’s twos telling of God’s great desire to be with us (Matthew 1:23 and 28:20). For starters on your own, try these twos: (1) Matthew 8:24-27 and 14:24-33: Jesus stills a storm. (2) Matthew 9:13 and 12:7: Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6. (3) Matthew 12:39 and 16:4: Jesus mentions the sign of the prophet Jonah.

I’d be interested to see your list of twos if you care to share it.