Category: Uncategorized

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 set aside a couple of pathways toward the pulpit that may be tempting, but are not warranted by the text considered within its…

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 not regard…

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…

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, focusing especially on Israel’s leadership. He calls for a return to the…

Philippians 3:4b-143:4b 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; as…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The Second NT reading for this date, Philippians 3:4b-14, has often been interpreted 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  and former zealous Pharisee, Paul seems to sweep it all…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In today’s Gospel lection, the scene has shifted. The context of the dialogue and parable in Mt 21:23-32 is crucial to interpretation. Jesus’ triumphal entry has taken place amid shouts of the Messianic “Hosanna to the Son of David!”—much to the dismay of the Jewish Temple leadership.…

Matthew 21:23-3221:23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 21:24 Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me…

Matthew 20:1-1620:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 20:2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 20:3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s gospel text, Mt 20:1-16, presents a parable unique to Matthew. Like other parables in Matthew, it features a person of power behaving in ways that violate our assumptions. (See 17 Sept; and upcoming, Mt’s emended version of the Synoptic parable of the wedding guests, Mt 22:1-14.)…