The idea
Matthew quotes Jeremiah's Rachel at the Massacre of the Innocents in Bethlehem. Mary, the mother from Bethlehem, takes up Rachel's role — weeping for and interceding for her children, as Jewish tradition long honored Rachel doing.
Key verses
- Matthew 2:16 — Herod's slaughter of the infants of Bethlehem; Matthew 2:18 — the quotation of 'Rachel weeping.'
- Jeremiah 31:16 — 'there is hope for your future' — the weeping is answered.
The connection
| Old Testament root | New Testament fulfilment | |
|---|---|---|
| Rachel intercedes for exiled children | → | Mary intercedes as Mother of the Church |
Matthew quotes Jeremiah's weeping Rachel at the massacre of the Bethlehem infants. Pitre argues Mary steps into Rachel's role, weeping and interceding for her children as the Mother of the Church.
Sources
- Modern scholars Pitre cites — David Flusser, Jacob Neusner and Craig Keener on Rachel and Mary (pp 148–149)