Tag: christianity

  • 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…

  • 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, 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…

  • Preaching Paths 27 September 2026

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The context of the dialogue and parable in today’s text, Mt 21:23-32, guides our interpretation. Jesus’ triumphal entry has taken place amid shouts of the Messianic cry, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”—much to the dismay of the Jewish Temple leadership. Jesus has overturned the tables in…

  • Preaching Paths 6 September 2026

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s Gospel reading, Mt 18:15-20, is brief; yet its implications for the inter-relational life of Christians, assembling down the centuries for divine worship and public witness, has been profound. Jesus is not naïve; he anticipates that rifts and instances of personal failure among his disciples are inevitable.…

  • Preaching Paths 30 August 2026 Proper 17A

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Preachers should take care to read today’s gospel text, Mt 16:21-28, in close relation to last week’s lection (Mt 16:13-20), especially Peter’s confession and commissioning (vv. 15-19). Jesus predicts his suffering, sharply undercutting reigning notions of “messiahship” as the exercise of political or military power. Commentators note…

  • Preaching Paths 16 August 2026 Proper 15A

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita of Preaching and Worship                     In today’s text, Mt 15:21-28, Jesus and his disciples are traveling in the region of Tyre and Sidon, a locale populated by both Jewish and Canaanite villages. Suddenly, they are accosted by a persistent Canaanite woman making a public spectacle of herself for the best of…

  • Preaching Paths 2 August 2026 Proper 13A

    Sally A Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Matthew 14:13-21 presents Matthew’s version of the wilderness feeding of 5,000 men and unnumbered women and children, the only “mighty work” of Jesus found in all four Gospels. The context in which each evangelist sets this scene is significant. In Mt, it occurs immediately after Jesus and…