Within the Gospel of Matthew are places where Jesus addresses woes to those who do not follow God’s will. They are especially concentrated in Matthew 23 where Jesus is condemning the attitudes and practices of the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus speaks against these leaders for closing the kingdom in people’s faces, for corrupting proselytes…
Humility describes Jesus’ behavior and is necessary in the life of discipleship. Though rarely used in the Gospel according to Matthew, the word is of great importance. In a quotation from the prophet Zechariah, Jesus is described as humble, as He is about to come into Jerusalem on what we call the Sunday of the Passion, or Palm…
The disciple is not bereft of consolation from Christ in the midst of the fierce battle against evil that precedes the full coming of the kingdom. There is joy in the forgiveness of sins that comes from Him, and Him alone. There is joy in serving Him accoring to His will. In Matthew, and only…
In Matthew 14 Jesus comes to the disciples, walking on the sea. They were terrified when they saw Him, thinking that He was a ghost. Jesus responds to their fear by saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid..” (Matthew 14: 27b ESV) In this article we will consider the use of the…
Jesus told the parable of the sower while sitting in a boat on the sea with the people standing on the beach. Only with His disciples did he give an interpretation of the parable. The sower cast seed upon various types of soil, some on the path; some on rocky ground; some among thorns; and,…
In more than any other Gospel, Matthew uses the word Gentile or Gentiles, referring either to non-Christians or non-Jews. Gentiles are unbelievers to whom the Christian mission is directed along with Israel. The Gentiles fall short of those who follow Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, “And if you greet only your brothers, what more…
The life of a disciple is one grounded in repentance and the forgiveness of sins. It is life in Christ that impels the believer to fulfill the imperatives of discipleship. It is life in Christ that impels the believer to defend the faith when its is challenged and to witness to others so that they too…
We call Jesus the “Prince of Peace,” (Isaiah 9: 6) but He said that He brings a sword (Matthew 10: 34). How can we reconcile these two? Because of Jesus, division will occur, even in families. Christ requires us to make a choice of following Him or not. ” . . . and whoever does not take up his cross and follow…
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells His disciples that the tree is known by its fruit. The Sermon on the Mount in which this text is found emphasizes the importance of doing good works, even toward the enemy. Programmatic to the Sermon is the text: “. . . let your light shine before…
The “ethics of the kingdom” are found in the Sermon on the Mount (a title coined by Saint Augustine of Hippo) in Matthew 5-7. The Sermon is a manual that disciples are called to follow as they tread the pilgrim’s path in this world. How do the commands of Jesus apply to apologetics and witness? Among…
