This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to reflect on Matthew 23:1-12. In this passage, Matthew reports what Jesus – in the Jerusalem Temple – said about religious leaders and applies it to church leaders. Jesus spoke about “the scribes and the Pharisees.” The scribes were people who did various kinds of work which required the …
If the pastor is young, drives a nice car, dresses well … Read More »
Today’s column is not about the lectionary text for this Sunday. It’s about the Parable of the Talents, found in the Gospel according to Matthew in 25:14-28 and in the Gospel according to Luke in 19:12-27. It’s a parable. I’ll tell it briefly. A rich man, before leaving on a long trip, gives money to …
Pak Bono says we misread the Parable of the Talents Read More »
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to reflect on “the request of James and John,”[1] two of Jesus’ closest associates, to appoint them to the two most important positions in His kingdom. The text is in Mark 10:35-45. Whenever I read the passage, I think of why government ministers often ask their inner circle to …
Failed graduates of the leadership school of Jesus? Read More »
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 …
Tomorrow, 10th of October, is the 19th World Day Against the Death Penalty. It’s “a day to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and to raise awareness of the conditions and the circumstances which affect prisoners with death sentences.”In Malaysia, until the 3rd of July this year, the death penalty was mandatory for 11 offences. On the 4th of …
Should Christians in Malaysia support the death penalty? Read More »
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 …
Today, 16th September, we celebrate Malaysia Day. On this day, in 1963, Malaysia was birthed as a nation. In Exodus, there is another story of birth of a nation, the nation of Israel[1]. And like every story of beginnings, it begins with the birth of its great leader, Prophet Moses. As I was reading Exodus …
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 …
