(chapters 1 - 21)
There are four canonic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Since the 1940s, scholars have discovered more than two dozen other gospels, but only four are accepted by the church. The four Gospels are divided into three "synoptic" Gospels (sharing the same content/view) and the Fourth Gospel (John is always called "the Fourth Gospel"), which uses mostly different material, with some overlap of stories. Unlike the other Gospels, JOHN has a clear view of Jesus as divine. The Gospels appear in the same order, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But scholars believe that MARK is the oldest gospel and that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source text for their gospels. Moreover, because Matthew and Luke share material (about 230 verses) not in Mark, it is believed there was another source text (now lost), which scholars call the "Q" text (after German, "quelle," which means "source"). Two of the most famous parables (The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan) only appear in Luke, not in Matthew. John is independent of all three, concerned especially with Jesus' divinity (that is, a "high Christology), whereas the synoptics (the other 3) suggest a "low Christology" (emphasis is placed on Jesus' human suffering). We will not solve the issue of whether Jesus was divine or not, or the son of God as Christians believe. But it's certain that a sense of Jesus' divinityemerged slowly over time and is not apparent in the earliest Gospels. Because Matthew is the longest Gospel, it was always the favorite of the early church, especially since only in Matthew are there verses that refer to a church.
1
1: The book of the genealogy [the birth line] of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew is concerned to show that Jesus comes from David's line (Luke is more concerned to show that Jesus came from Adam's line). Matthew was writing for a Jewish audience and so stressed the Jewish background of Jesus; his "rightful" place as the heir of King David's covenant. In fact, Matthew wants to prove to his fellow Jews that Jesus fulfilled Scripture; so he always quotes scripture to prove this point (hoping to persuade fellow Jews to accept Jesus as their promised Messiah).
2: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
5: and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
6: and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,
There's no reason for students in a survey course of the Bible to lose their way in all these names. What's important here is that Ruth and Rahab (a prostitute) were gentiles, as was Uriah, the Hittite (victim of David's adultery and murder). The point is "universalist" in the extreme: all people lead to Jesus: women, gentiles, even bad women. This theme has already been stated in the later prophets and Ruth, but Matthew goes out of his way to make this point in his genealogy.
16: and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
The Nativity stories in Matthew and Luke (the other Gospels have no such stories) may be the most famous stories from the New Testament, since they're told for a whole month in December. But they are certainly late additions to the life of Jesus. St. Paul, who should know, never mentions Mary's virgin conception, which means it was unknown in Paul's time; the Gospels came after Paul's letters in 50AD (the Gospels are dated between 70-100 AD). Besides, the Nativity is not mentioned in a Gospel as late as John's, around 90-100 AD. So it seems that the nativity stories were later additions to the original gospels of Matthew and Luke in order to backdate the christological moment; that is the moment when Jesus' divine nature is revealed. Rather John "trumps" what has been called "the christological moment" (the moment when Jesus becomes Christ) by having Jesus "begotten" at the same time as God, "in the beginning). It's possible under Roman influence (Romans made many of their kings "gods," like Julius or Augustus Caesar) the early Christians felt Jesus had to equal these Roman gods too.
18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit;
19: and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20: But an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit;
21: she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22: This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us).
Above is the famous text from Isaiah, translated into Greek as "virgin" rather than "young woman" (from the Hebrew, "almah").
24: When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife,
25: but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.
Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua (the Lord Saves). Hebrew: Yeshua.
2
1: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,
Micah is famous for predicting the birth of a savior (messiah) in Bethlehem. "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" (5:2ff.)
2: "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
13: Now . . . behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."
14: And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt,
15: and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."
See Hosea: "When Israel was a child, I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son" (11:1). The gospels are carefully composed "intertextual" texts (always referring to Hebrew scripture for proof). Matthew must show other Jews that Jesus is rightfully Messiah; he quotes Bible verses to prove this.
16: Then Herod, when he saw he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men.
Note how Jesus is here compared with the child Moses. Jesus is the NEW MOSES.
17: Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more."
From Jeremiah, 31.
19: When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
20: "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."
23: And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
This puzzles scholars, since there is no reference in the Hebrew scriptures. It is assumed this is an error for Nazirite (Samuel, Samson, etc.). It's possible the linking of Jesus and Samson (Samson as a type of Jesus) may come from this confusion too. Another interpretation is Isaiah's reference to the "branch" (the Hebrew root of "Nazirite" is the same root as that for "branch"): "A branch will come from the stump of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1). Jesus is the "branch" (also mentioned in Zechariah).
3
2: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
3: For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
5: Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan,
6: and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
11: "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. "
13: Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14: John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
The Baptist stories are included to show that Jesus was greater than John. Some scholars believe there was a rivalry between followers of John and Jesus; so John could not be ignored, but had to be placed a clear second to Jesus. It's like two strong political candidates, one of whom is promised second place (vice president) if he defers to the other for president.
15: But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil righteousness."
16: And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him;
17: and a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Without the Nativity story (probably a later addition), the "christological moment" would begin here. This may have worried a later redactor, so the Nativity was added to back-date the christological moment. Mark has that moment appear to Jesus only as an adult.
4
1: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2: And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry.
Another reference to Moses, as well as to the 40 years in the wilderness.
3: And the tempter said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."
The following quotes are from Deuteronomy:
4: But he answered, "It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
5: Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6: and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, `He will give his angels charge of you,' and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
V. 6 is a quote from the Trust Psalm 91:11-12.
7: Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" [Deut 6:16]
Jesus is superior to the founding Jews (Exodus) in his resistance against temptation.
8: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them;
9: and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."
10: Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! for it is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"
Deut 6:13
11: Then the devil left him, and angels attended him.
The idea here is that Jesus [the new Israel] fufills the Jewish people by perfectly obeying God in the wilderness in a way the Jews could not.
17: From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
18: As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19: And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20: Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
These are some of the famous 12 apostles (symbolically replacing the 12 tribes of Israel, to start a new Israel).
21: And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, in the boat with Zeb'edee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22: Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23: And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
5
1: Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him.
2: And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Poor in spirit" probably means humble.
4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
<>This seems to echo Second Isaiah, which begins, "Comfort, comfort ye my people" (Isaiah 40).
5: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
That is, "don't give up" in your quest for justice, for you shall get it.
7: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
"Sons of God" suggests another meaning to Jesus as "Son of God," perhaps only as a figure of speech.
10: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This is familiar from Daniel and is later in the Book of Revelation ("the Book of Life").
11: "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Note the otherworldly ("heaven") emphasis by the time of Jesus: rewards are now in another life, not this one.
13: "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and stamped under foot.
Isaian influence here (see Isaiah 60:1: "Arise, shine, for your light has come. . . ."; but also Malachi's "sun of righteousness").
15: Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Famous Gospel song: "Let it Shine."
17: "Think not I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come to fulfil them.
This is a key text showing that Jesus did not wish to end the Jewish law, only to revive its spirit.
18: For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away not a dot will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
This allows confusion: Does Jesus mean when his Ministry is "accomplished" the Law can be forgotten (as St. Paul later says)? Or does it mean accomplished at the end of time?
21: "You have heard it was said to the men of old, `You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.'
22: But I say to you every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.
Jesus fulfills Moses by taking the Law further than Moses.
27: "You have heard it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.'
28: But I say to you every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
31: "It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
See Malachi 2:16: "I hate divorce."
32: But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
This is the "Matthean exception." Only Matthew includes the exception that divorce is permissible for "unchastity." But what this means is unclear, though adultery is a good guess.
33: "Again you have heard it was said to the men of old, `You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'
34: But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35: or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36: And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
There's humor in the Bible. This is another example: why swear when you know you cannot turn one hair white or black?
37: Let what you say be simply `Yes' or `No'; anything more than this comes from evil.
38: "You have heard it said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39: But I say, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also;
Compare Lamentations: "It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. . . . Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace" (3:27ff.).
46: And if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
6
2: "When you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men.
3: But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
5: "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men.
6: But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
The following is the most famous prayer Christian prayer: The Lord's Prayer (also called the "Pater Noster" or, in English, the "Our Father").
9: Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11: Give us this day our daily bread;
The point seems to be to live one day at a time (so: "our daily bread").
12: And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors;
13: And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
24: "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money; but Jesus means any worldly gain].
27: And which of you by being anxious can add one inch to his span of life?
28: And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin;
29: yet I tell you, Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
7
5: You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
7: "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
9: Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
10: Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
This is argument by a fortiori, that is, by the stronger: in other words, if humans who are evil will answer requests, how much more so will God.
15: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
<>Remember Ezekiel 34, and Zechariah's two shepherds.
16: You will know them by their fruits.
17: So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit.
24: "Every one who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock;
25: and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26: And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;
27: and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."
28: And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
29: for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
The scribes (like some scholars) speak only the letter of the Law; Jesus speaks the Spirit of the Law (with authority/power).
8
24: And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.
25: And they went and woke him, saying, "Save, Lord; we are perishing."
26: And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27: And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"
Jesus must master the sea, the great threat of the Bible.
9
14: Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
Note the "John faction" and the "Jesus faction" at odds.
15: And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
20: And a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment;
21: for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well."
22: Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.
36: When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
See chapter 34 of Ezekiel; or Zechariah shepherd verses.
10
2: The names of the twelve apostles are: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3: Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4: Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5: These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7: And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Note that Jesus, the Jew, does not wish to save non-Jews (Gentiles) or even Samaritans. Rather he was sent to save "the lost sheep of Israel."
8: Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.
14: And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.
16: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
29: Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will.
<>A famous gospel song, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."
30: But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31: Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Another reference to Micah 7:6.
37: He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
38: and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39: He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it."
11
7: As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John:
10: "This is he of whom it is written, `Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.'
Jesus refers to Malachi, 3:1; for this reason, Malachi was placed last in the Christian Old Testament.
12
1: At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2: But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath."
3: He said to them, "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him:
4: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
6: I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.
7: And if you had known what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.
The second time Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6.
8: For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath."
By calling himself "Lord of the Sabbath," Jesus is saying he is God.
38: Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
39: But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Some scholars believe v. 40 a later addition; the sign of Jonah, therefore, becomes "repentance," not resurrection.
41: The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
13
44: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
46: who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind;
48: when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad.
49: So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous,
50: and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.
Above are several of Jesus' "parables." A parable is a story with a lesson. Some of these parables are very short, almost like analogies, or comparisons. Some are short-short stories, like "The Good Samaritan" (in LUKE).
14
15: When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves."
16: Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
17: They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."
18: And he said, "Bring them here to me."
19: Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20: And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
21: And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
22: Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
23: And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
24: but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them.
25: And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
26: But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
27: But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."
28: And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water."
29: He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus;
30: but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."
31: Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Peter has no problem until he begins to doubt.
32: And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33: And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
10: And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand:
11: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
This challenges the dietary (kosher) laws of the Jews. In ACTS, Peter has a vision where God shows that all food is good to eat.
12: Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
13: He answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.
V. 13 is insulting to Jesus' fellow Jews, saying in effect the Jews are not God's "Chosen People," since the image of a planted vineyard was the traditional image of Israel as God's Chosen People (see Isaiah). It is verses like these that fostered anitsemitism (that is, hatred of Jews).
14: Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
16
This is part of "Christology," or the study of Jesus' personhood: not only what Jesus was (man or god or both) but what he believed he was (it's possible Jesus himself did not claim to be divine).
14: And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15: He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16: Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17: And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon!
18: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
A key verse in history because the papacy (Catholic popes) made their claim to being Jesus' successors on this verse. This claim is rejected by Protestants, who broke with the Roman church. Jesus puns on Peter's name (Peter=Petros=rock). It's as if Jesus told the late Hollywood movie star, Rock Hudson, "On this rock I will build my church." But: Is Jesus saying he built his church on Peter, or only on Peter's faith in him (which anyone can have, just like Peter)? Besides, what does Jesus mean by "church." In Jesus' time a church meant (as in the protestant word) a congregation (or group) of a few people thinking about Jesus: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I shall be among you." (The Latin word for church is "ecclesia," which means "assembly," as in the assembly of saying called Eccesiastes.) Anyway, does this verse "justify" a fancy church with a Father at the head of it (pope=papa/father)? Protestants try to go back to what they think is the original meaning of church, a mere assembly of worshippers, all equal.
19: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
This verse continues the thought of the last, with the same importance. Does Jesus mean Peter (=pope) has the power to include or exclude ("excommunicate") worshippers, as the pope can do today and to forgive their sins? The Catholic church has based its authority to forgive sins on this short verse.
20: Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
21:From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
22: And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
23: But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."
24: Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
So the German philosopher Nietzsche said the last Christian died on the cross (meaning Jesus was the last Christian). Judged by Jesus' words, very few people are Christians ("follow Jesus" by taking up their cross). They prefer to worship Jesus instead of following him.
Scholars have several principles by which to decide which of Jesus' sayings were really spoken by him and which were invented by his followers, including the principle of embarassment; that is, would the early church make up a story insulting their hero, Peter (v. 23)? Probably not. Hence Jesus must have really said that.
25: For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26: For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his life?
27: For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done.
The reference is to Daniel's vision of the Son of Man, where this idea seems to be the "saints." This is part of what is called "eschatology" (eschaton=end), or the "end things."
28: Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
Here is another eschatological question: what did Jesus mean by these words (above)? Plainly it seems Jesus believed the world would not last long (past his own generation). Scholars have argued as much. Of course, there are other ways to read this (people can "see" the Son of man in their mind's eye, spiritually, etc.).
17
1: And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart.
2: And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light.
3: And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
Moses and Elijah represent the heart of the Jewish Bible: the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). In this sense, Jesus fulfills the Jewish Bible. Like Moses, Jesus has a strong light around him.
5: Then a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."
6: When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe.
7: But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear."
8: And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9: And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead."
Here the "Son of Man" clearly refers to Jesus himself. Note that v. 5 is another "Christological moment." Some scholars believe that the Christological moment (when Jesus=God) was increasingly back dated to an early a time as possible; this would be a remnant of an earlier text, and the baptism and Nativity scenes would be later redactions or revisions of the Christological moment. This does not mean the Christological moment was simply "made up" as a fiction; it may mean simply that it took Christians a while to realize who Jesus was.
10: And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Eli'jah must come?"
Refers to the final verses of the last of the minor prophets, Malachi.
11: He replied, "Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things;
12: but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands."
13: Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
18
18: Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The reference to Peter in chapter 16 is now expanded to include all the apostles.
19: Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20: For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
This means the "church" is simply a small group of believers. The "church" at this time does not mean a building, much less a fancy building, but just people of faith praying together. Today's Pentecostal churches (in the US South) are like this, whose leader is the Holy Spirit, not the Holy Father (Catholic pope).
19
28: Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Now the 12 apostles replace (even "judge") the 12 tribes of Israel.
30: But many that are first will be last, and the last first.
Bob Dylan quotes this famous verse in his early protest song, The Times They Are A-Changin'
21
1: And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth'phage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2: saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.
3: If any one says anything to you, you shall say, `The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them immediately."
4: This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5: "Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass."
This reference to Zechariah 9:9 shows that by this time Jews did not know how to read their own Bible, since they had no understanding of the parallel structure of Hebrew poetry, which says the same thing twice. The writer of Matthew read the text literally and (to his mind) in order to fulfill Zechariah's prophecy needed two animals brought to Jesus instead of one.
6: The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;
7: they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon.
8: Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9: And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
This is a good example of a "symbolic action": Jesus is showing his followers he is a Messiah of Peace, not a Messiah of Battle. Another symbolic action is the Cleansing of the Temple (below). Note also the ingenuous (clever?) use of Psalm 118:25ff., which is quoted here, even in Jesus' name (=Joshua: "the Lord saves"): "O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. . . . The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us." Psalm 118 is a key Messianic psalm with obvious influence on the Gospels, as in v. 22 also: "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone." (The "stone" is Jesus.)
12: And Jesus entered the temple of God and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.
13: He said to them, "It is written, `My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you make it a den of robbers."
Jesus refers to Jeremiah 7 here. The following parables are disguised attacks on Jews, placing gentiles above them in God's new plan:
28: "What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'
29: And he answered, `I will not'; but afterward he repented and went.
30: And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir,' but did not go.
31: Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
33: "Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants, and went into another country.
34: When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit;
35: and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
36: Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them.
37: Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.'
38: But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.'
39: And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
40: When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"
41: They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons."
42: Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?'
43: Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it."
Always Jesus is concerned with "fruit" or results. This is what he means by "fulfilling the law": "By their fruits ye shall know them."
45: When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they saw he was speaking about them.
46: But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the crowd, because they held him to be a prophet.
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