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Preaching Paths 1 November 2026
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem amid much popular acclaim (Mt 21) provoked a series of sharp confrontations with different cohorts of the Jerusalem leadership (Mt 22). Now, as chapter 23 opens, Jesus’ detractors have left the scene. He speaks to his disciples and other followers—and, of course, by…
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Sunday, 25th October 2026
Matthew 22:34-46 22:34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 22:35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 22:36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 22:37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your…
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Preaching Paths 25 October 2026
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s gospel reading, Mt 22:43-46, is a drama in two scenes. In the wake of Jesus’ acclaimed entry into Jerusalem and his bold clearing of the Temple court, the hostile verbal assaults of the Pharisees and Temple leaders (whom Jesus has criticized) have intensified. In scene 1…
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Preaching Paths 18 October 2026
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary A good place to begin work on Mt 22:15-22, a debate between Jesus and a strange coalition of Pharisee disciples and Herodians, is to take careful note of its historical and cultural context. This helps us to avoid pursuing an anachronistic interpretation of the text. Understanding the…
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Preaching Paths 11 October 2026
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Matthew scholars generally agree that Matthew presents Jesus in the mode of “apocalyptic prophet.” In the tradition of Amos, Isaiah, and his cousin John the Baptist, Jesus announces the approach of God’s day of reckoning, taking to task religious leaders. He calls for a return to the…
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Preaching Paths 4 October 2026
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The Second NT reading for this date, Philippians 3:4b-14, has often been misinterpreted as Paul’s blunt repudiation of his Jewish faith in exchange for Christian beliefs. After a quick review of his credentials as a pure-blooded, law-keeping Jew and zealous Pharisee, Paul seems to sweep it all…
