Insights into Biblical Greek Grammar and Syntax

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The parable of the separation of sheep and goats by the reigning Son of Man (Mt 25:31-46) brings to a close the lectionary gospel readings for Year A. It is the last of four eschatological parables Jesus addresses to his disciples. Its theme of division brings to…

Matthew 25:14-3025:14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 25:15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 25:16 The one who had received the five talents went…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary There is a clear divide among scholars about how best to interpret Jesus’ eschatological parable of the three servants and the talents. The divide turns on what one makes of the third servant’s description of the master who has returned after a long absence: “a harsh man,”…

Matthew 25:1-1325:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 25:3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 25:4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Attention to literary and historical context will be essential as the preacher moves from text to pulpit this week. The parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids (or virgins) and their lamps (Mt 25:1-13) is the second of four parables set within Matthew’s “Eschatological Discourse” (Mt 24:1-25:46).…

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…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem amid much popular acclaim (Mt 21:1-11) has 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,…

Matthew 22:34-4622:34 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 heart,…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The two pericopes in today’s gospel reading are best treated separately. First, a lawyer’s question about the greatest commandment (Mt 22:34-40) prompts a response from Jesus that grants equal priority to love of God and neighbor. Then Jesus poses his own question about the identity of the…

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…