Category: Uncategorized

  • Sunday, 1st November 2026

    Matthew 23:1-1223:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 23:2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 23:3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 23:4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Sunday, 18th October 2026

    Matthew 22:15-22 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 22:16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do…

  • 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…

  • Sunday, 11th October 2026

    Matthew 22:1-1422:1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 22:3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 22:4 Again he sent…

  • 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…

  • Sunday, 4th October 2026

    Philippians 3:4b-14 3:4b If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 3:5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 3:6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church;…

  • 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…