Endnote 16 – Understanding Matthew’s Vitriol

The Greek word anomia means literally “lawlessness,” but in its various forms it also suggests wickedness and godlessness and generally the opposite of justice. For example, those who do not do the will of God are designated, in the words of Psalms 6:9, “doers of lawlessness” (compare Matthew 7:23). Overman (Matthew’s Gospel, p. 98) associates lawlessness with the sectarian language in Matthew. Matthew levels the charge of anomia against those who do not do God’s will and who are not bearing fruit (7:21–23).