This Sunday the lectionary invites us to ponder the third parable Jesus used to answer the question religious leaders put to him: “By what authority do you do these things?” The passage is Matthew 22:1-14. The ESV supplies it the heading “The parable of the Wedding Feast.” As I said before, Jesus gave his response …
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to hear Jesus’ parable which the ESV[1] titles “The parable of the tenants.” It’s in Matthew 21:33-46. I’ve read the passage often. I’ve heard many sermons about it. But until this week, I didn’t really ask “Why’s there a stone in it?” It’s one week before Jesus is crucified. …
Why’s there a stone in “the parable of the wicked tenants”? Read More »
A first response to the gospel portion in this Sunday’s Lectionary reading could be “why did Jesus offer an unfair trade to the Jewish[1] leaders?” The passage is Matthew 21:23-32. The ESV[2] includes two headings: “The authority of Jesus challenged” and “The parable of the two sons.” The portion says Jewish leaders interrupted Jesus while …
Did Jesus offer an unfair trade to the Jewish leaders? Read More »
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder a passage which the ESV[1] titles “Labourers in the vineyard.” It’s in the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 20, verses 1-16. Do read it before you continue reading this post. It’s a Jesus parable, a story with a sting. There are two key players. First, a wealthy …
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder Jesus’ “Parable of the unforgiving servant.”[1] The passage is in verses 21-35 of chapter 18 of the Gospel according to Matthew. Click here to read it. Chapter 18 could be titled “Community prescription.”[2] It contains five pericopes.[3] Our passage is the last of them. I title it …
This Sunday, the lectionary will invite us to ponder our personal and communal responsibility for sin committed by others. The passage, Matthew 18:15-20, also teaches us about the onerous and blessed responsibilities of church leaders – do click now and read it. Why does Jesus care about sin? What is sin anyway? Why did Jesus …
The lectionary invites us this Sunday to ponder Jesus’ prediction of his suffering and death in Jerusalem, Peter’s reaction, and Jesus’ response. It reminds us we’re caught between a sentence now and in the future. The passage is Matthew 16:21-28. Most bibles split it in half and supply the headings “Jesus Foretells His Death and …
Caught between a sentence now and in the future? Read More »
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder the gospel passage which many translations title “Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ” (Matthew 16:13-20). The passage features Jesus and Peter and “the disciples,” the twelve members of Jesus’ inner circle. It tells of a conversation between them. By this time, Jesus has performed miraculous healings, exorcisms, …
Was Jesus incredibly rude to a desperate mother? Why didn’t his biographers bury the story? This Sunday the lectionary invites us to ponder Jesus’ encounter with a desperate woman, reported in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 15, verses 21-28. The Gospel of Mark gives a parallel account, in chapter 7, verses 24-30. Matthew calls her …
Was Jesus incredibly rude to a desperate mother? Read More »
Why did Jesus water-walk but not teleport?[1] You know the report. After Jesus “fed the 5,000,” it was dark. But Jesus insisted[2] his disciples set off on a dangerous night journey across the sea (lake) of Galilee, without him, before he dismissed the crowds. There was a terrible storm. The disciples rowed for hours. They …
