Tag: Matthew
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Studying Matthew 9 18-26
We are focusing on Matthew 9:18-26, which is Matthew’s account of the healing of a woman on the way to restore a little girl to life, for Sunday, June 20. Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: We are continuing to focus on Matthew’s gospel, one of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, […]
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Reflecting on Matthew 8 23-27
We are studying Matthew 8:23-27 for Sunday, June 13. It’s the brief story of Jesus “stilling a storm” during a crossing of the Sea of Galiliee. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are some questions we might want to consider or discuss in class: If we were Jesuits, we might approach this text […]
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Reflecting on Matthew 6 19-34
We are studying Matthew 6:19-34 for Sunday, June 6. The text presents part of Jesus’s teaching, in particular the teaching on not being anxious about material things and the future. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are some questions we might want to consider or discuss in class: In verses 19-21, Jesus tells […]
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Studying Matthew 11 7-19
We are studying Matthew 11:7-19 for Sunday, July 5. This is the first in a series of four lessons that look at the way the gospels present Jesus as a wisdom figure. This week, we’re looking at a short, cryptic discourse on John the Baptist and his role in the kingdom of the heavens that […]
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Matthew 6 1-8
We are studying Matthew 6:1-8 for Sunday, February 9 – a portion of the Sermon on the Mount that deals with how to give alms (“don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing”) and how to pray (“in secret”). [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are a few questions […]
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Study Notes – Matthew 6 1-8
We are studying Matthew 6:1-8 for Sunday, February 9 – a portion of the Sermon on the Mount dealing with how to worship properly. Or, dealing with motives and the condition of the heart. We’ll have to think further about what this text is “about.” [Some study questions for the text are here.] Meanwhile, here […]
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Study Notes – Matthew 4 1-11
The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, and the devil tempts him – Matthew 4:1-11 – which we are studying for Sunday, February 2. This means we’re finally out of 1 Kings 8, for which hallelujah! [Some questions on the text are here.] Here are my notes on this week’s text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: […]
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Study Notes – Matthew 7 1-6, 15-23
We are studying Matthew 7:1-6 & 15-23 for Sunday, July 28. This is some, not all, of the concluding section of the Sermon on the Mount. [Some discussion questions for this text are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: This is our fourth [and last, for awhile] week studying the […]
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Matthew 5 38-48
We are studying Matthew 5:38-48 for Sunday, July 21 – Jesus’ teaching that deeply informs Christian commitment to the principle of non-retaliation. [Some notes on this text are here.] Here are a few questions we might want to think about before class, or discuss in class: In v39, Jesus says not to “resist an evildoer.” […]
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Study Notes – Matthew 5 38-48
We are studying Matthew 5:38-48 for Sunday, July 21. This is Jesus’ summation of “the antitheses,” that concludes with what may be Jesus’ most difficult command: being perfect, by loving our enemies. [Some questions on the text are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: We are still working our way […]
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Matthew 5 21-32
We are studying Matthew 5:21-32 for Sunday, July 14 – the first part of Jesus’ explanation of what it means for one’s righteousness to exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees. [Study notes on the text are here.] Here are some questions we might want to consider before or discuss during class: How well […]
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Study Notes – Matthew 5 21-32
We are studying Matthew 5:21-32 for Sunday, July 14 (Bastille Day!!). This is the beginning of the section of the Sermon on the Mount often labeled “the antitheses,” because Jesus is using the rhetoric of contrast between what “has been said” and what he is saying now. [Some questions on the text are here.] Here […]
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Matthew 5 13-20
We are studying Matthew 5:13-20 for Sunday, July 7 – a passage that includes Jesus’ familiar sayings about being salt and light, and Jesus’ relationship to “the law and the prophets.” [Study notes on this text are here.] Here are a few questions we might want to reflect on or discuss: What do we normally […]
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Study Notes – Matthew 5 13-20
We are studying Matthew 5:13-20 for Sunday, July 7. This is the continuation of the Sermon on the Mount we began studying last week – and which we’ll be studying for the rest of the month, through the end of Matthew 5, and then skipping over to sections of chapter 7. In other words, we’ll […]
Matters of Interpretation 