1,716 total views
1,716 total views The “book of parables” (Mt 13) ends with three short parables, all exclusively Matthean. They are drawn from the everyday experience of three non-elite groups in Jesus’s world: farmers, merchants, and fishermen (vv44-50). Matthew concluded it with a logion appreciating the old (the law and the prophets) as well as the new (Jesus’
1,401 total views
1,401 total views The parable of the sower is followed by other three parables drawing on images common to the Palestinian culture to portray the reign of God in its various manifestations (Mt 13:24-43): the parable of the wheat and the weeds (vv24-30), which underscores the co-existence of good and evil in the reign’s present state,
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999 total views Chapter 13 of the gospel of St. Matthew is called the “book of the parables” because of the way Jesus preaches and the reason for doing so. In Chapter 11 Jesus started receiving opposition to his message, especially from the Jews. In the later part of Chapter 12, they even asked Jesus for
1,013 total views
1,013 total views The noun “zygos” (ζυγός) is figuratively understood as “yoke” throughout all six occurrences in NT (Mt 11:29, 30; Acts 15:10; Gal 5:1; 1 Tm 6:1). From the literal “yoke” which refers to an instrument designed to keep a pair of beasts of burden walking and working in tandem, it could mean, metaphorically, enslavement,
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486 total views It must be shocking for Jesus’ audience to hear the first verse of the gospel today (Mt 10:37-42): ‘Anyone who loves father or mother, son or daughter more than him is not worthy of him’. For in the ancient Mediterranean world, the family is considered the central social institution. It consists not only
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495 total views After summoning the twelve, commissioning and instructing them, (Mt 10:1-15), Jesus was so forthright to tell them what their mission would entail- future opposition and persecution, (vv16-25). He, then encouraged the disciples to stand firm and not to be afraid, (vv26-33, the gospel for today). The verb “phobeō” (φοβἐω) is frequently used (in
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616 total views The gospel reading today (Mt 9:36-10:8) shows the movement of Jesus’ mission, from his self-presentation in word and deed (Mt 5-9) to commissioning and instructing his disciples (ch. 10). It appears that Jesus’ compassion was triggered ‘while going around to all towns and villages, seeing the crowds like sheep without a shepherd and
