Multitudes Fine Art Brochure

T H E G O S P E L O F M A T T H E W I L L U S T R A T E D

M U LT I T u D E S

O R I G I N A L M E S S I A N I C A R T

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riginally from the Bronx, Steffi Geiser Rubin grew up with a strong Jewish background. In January of 1971 she encountered Moishe Rosen at a Bible study on the UC Berkeley campus. “What do you think God wants from you?” Moishe asked her. A few days later, after reading the four gospels (the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life), Steffi decided to put her faith in Yeshua (Jesus). After becoming a

believer in Yeshua, she completed her undergraduate education at Simpson Bible College in San Francisco.

She also became one of the founding members of Jews for Jesus, which provided abundant opportunities for her to use her gifts in art, writing, drama and music, including traveling with the first Liberated Wailing Wall music team, to serve God. More recently, Steffi completed a Masters’ degree in Jewish Studies from Baltimore Hebrew Institute of Towson University.

Steffi Geiser Rubin was commissioned by Jews for Jesus to create the original art for MULTITUDES. The opportunity for her to create art to illustrate the Gospel of Matthew in conjunction with Jews for Jesus so many years later was a full-circle experience for the artist. Steffi currently enjoys life in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

ARTIST INTRODUC TION

Steffi Geiser RubinCommissioned Artist

WHY THE GOSPEL OF MAT THE W ?

The Gospel According to Matthew is referred to as the most Jewish presentation of Yeshua the Messiah. This is due in part to the emphasis of the narrative itself, but also because of the inclusion of numerous references

to passages from the Tanakh (Old Testament). Examining this narrative arc both via the text and through the illustrative artwork unveils the Jewish continuity and historical awareness present in this important book.

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• 20 original 36" x 48" acrylic on canvas paintings

• 8 original vignettes

• Hebrew calligraphy from Old Testament scriptures

• 72-page accompanying hardcover art book

• 18-month accompanying Jewish Biblical Calendar

ABOUT THE ART ABOUT THE TE X T

• Licensed use of the new Tree of Life (TLV) version of both

the New Testament and Old Testament scriptures

• Each painting includes descriptive artist notes on the Old

Testament continuity of the text and connection to the

original artwork

Book this traveling art exhibit: M U LT I T u D E SLEARN MORE & REGISTER at WWW.THEMULTITUDES.COM/EXHIBIT

“In this visual depiction we follow the breadcrumbs of ancient reference in the prophetic language to lead reader and viewer on the trail that takes us from history past to a jubilant future.” —Steffi

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MAT THE W Chapters 1–5

MATTHEW 1Generations

he lineage of Joseph is etched on the faces of the generations that introduce the Gospel of Matthew. The portrait of Jewish ancestry follows its roots from the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and

Jacob, through the glory of the United Monarchy celebrated in David and Solomon, and to the reign of Hezekiah that shone amidst the dark era of the Divided Kingdom. The faces are familial, determined puzzle pieces, carrying their historical pedigree to a future descendant through the promise of Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and give birth to a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.” M

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MATTHEW 5Multitudes

ver two hundred unidentified faces create the cover of this book. Sensitive and knowing, Yeshua takes the opportunity to address those who have forsaken the familiar in

order to follow Him. Able to divine uniqueness in every soul, Yeshua notices the subtle details that make individuals out of a nameless, faceless, disenfranchised multitude. In Matthew 5, Yeshua looks over the masses from a mountain. He addresses their needs, which range from hunger to hope to faith. With features and expressions as diverse as their concerns, the details of gender, age, class and background sharpen into focus. Their prayers and aspirations stir Yeshua’s compassion, drawing even the least among them into the reach of God’s care.Co

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LEARN MORE & REGISTER at WWW.THEMULTITUDES.COM/EXHIBIT

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MAT THE W Chapters 6 –14

MATTHEW 6 Righteous Living

eware of practicing your righteousness before others to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2So whenever you do

tzedakah, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Amen, I tell you, they have their reward in full! 3But when you do tzedakah, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your tzedakah may be in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, shall reward you.


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MATTHEW 16 Religious Leaders Demand Signs

ow the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Yeshua, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2But He replied to them, “When evening comes,

you say, ‘Fair weather coming, for the sky is red,’ 3and in the morning, ‘Stormy weather today, for the sky is red and gloomy.’ You know how to discern the appear-ance of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times! 4An evil and adulterous generation clamors for a sign, yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”a And leaving them behind, He went away. . . .

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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows

—Psalm 23:5

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Traditional Blessing Over the WineBarukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, Melekh ha’olam, bo’re p’ri hagafen.

Matthew 26The Last Supper

And He took a cup; and after giving thanks, He gave to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the removal of sins. (vv 26–29)


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eshua (Jesus) cares for and has compassion on all people, even those who reject Him. This is one of the central themes of the Gospel of Matthew, and it is the one that we chose to emphasize in

the title of the project as “Multitudes.” The art commissioned for Matthew chapter five is also the central image used for this project and which forms the cover of the fine art book.

The concept of “multitude” or “crowd” appears 27 times within Matthew’s gospel account. Here are the three references as reflected in the New King James (NKJV) translation:

1. “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain… …then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying…” —Matthew 5:1-2

2. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” —Matthew 9:36

3. “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” —Matthew 14:14M

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WHY M U LT I T u D E S ?


INTERESTED IN BOOKING THIS ART EXHIBIT?Contact Marc Sternberg - Phone: 480-567-4021 | Email: [email protected]

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PURPOSE: To demonstrate the continuity of the New Testament scriptures with the Tanakh (Old Testament) .

O R I G I N A L M E S S I A N I C A R T

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Documents

Multitudes Fine Art Brochure