Graduate Research School, Sydney College of Divinity
Matthew’s Servant and the establishment of מִשְׁפָּט/ κρίσις on the earth
Informed by disability theory and disability theology, the categorisation of Intersex/ DSD as a disability and the expectation of eschatological healing is contested within the theological literature. This paper contributes to the theological description of Intersex/ DSD by considering Matthew’s interpretation of Jesus’ healing ministry. In the First Gospel, Jesus’ restoration of bodily capacities is interpreted by Matthew as the fulfilment of the servant of YHWH establishing מִשְׁפָּט/ κρίσις on the earth (Matt 12:18–21 cf. Isa 42:1–4). The restoration of bodily incapacities and the rectification of ritual impurity, both of which are associated with death in Matthew’s Gospel, are consistent with Isaiah’s expectation for bodily healing (Isa 29:18, 35:5, 42:7) and the destruction of death (Isa 25:7–8). The implications of Matthew’s theological anthropology and interpretation of Jesus’ healing ministry are brought to bear on the expectation for eschatological healing and the implications for human identity.