David's
personal favorites may get his stamp of approval. This is very subjective. 
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David's
personal favorites may get his stamp of approval. This is very subjective.
Passages that seem significant to the contents of the course are marked:
Name: Eric G
Reference: Mt 12:30-37
Quote: Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Time: 04:34:24 PM
Matthew draws a line in the sand with this quote and its surrounding passages, calling his readers to make a clear decision -- yes or no to Jesus. There is no abivalance with Matthew here. Matthew uses this quote as a hinge between vv22-29 and vv31-37, stories told seperately in Mk and Lk. In the former the Pharisees try to attribute Jesus' power to heal as santanic. In the latter, Jesus warns against blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Matthews "sermonizes" in vv33-37 to make the point clear: Jesus possesses divine authority [from God]. Jesus warns the religious leadership to choose their words wisely; challenging Jesus is one thing - but taking on the divine authority has devistating results.
Name: Sonia
Reference: Mt.. 25:14-30
Quote: The Parable of the Talents
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Time: 03:08:56 PM
Although there are parallels in Mk. & Luke, this parable, which Matthew expounds on, does not show up in the other gospels. Not surprising for a tax collector!
Name: Sonia
Reference: Mt. 21:4-5 , Mt. 27:9-10 and more
Quote: "fulfill what was spoken of the prophet..."
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Time: 02:46:16 PM
There are many passages in Matthew that are used to show the fulfilment of OT prophets. One book I am reading explains that there are exactly twelve 'fulfillment citations' in Matthew (his desire to organize things into groups belies his role as a number guy/ tax collector) - and that twelve is a symbolic number in the Hebrew scriptures i.e. twelve tribes of Israel.
Name: Barb Sagat
Reference: Matthew 12:40
Quote: So will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Time: 02:06:31 PM
The author refers to Jon. 1:17 just prior to this, and then explains where Jesus will be between death and resurrection.
Name: Fran
Reference: Mt 10:17-18
Quote: Beware of men;for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synogogues and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles.
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Time: 10:37:13 AM
There are certains risks to the "call to discipleship".
Name: Burt Williams
Reference: Matthew 3:14-15
Quote: John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented.
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Time: 08:48:16 AM
This particular part of the Baptism story shows up no where else in the four Gospels. It would seem that Matthew is concerned with the divinity of Jesus here and is trying to give a reason for why Jesus, who should have been without sin, needed to be baptized by John who is baptizing for the remission of sin.
Name: TPB
Reference: Matt 5:31 and 19:9
Quote: Whosoever shall put away his wife, EXCEPT FOR FORNICATION
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Time: 07:34:10 AM
Matthew is the only Gospel that offers an exclusion for the law against divorce by saying it is
permissible
in the case of adultery.
Name: Alice
Reference: Matt 27:9-10
Quote: "Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me"
Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Time: 10:13:34 PM
In Matthew 27:3-10 the author seems to have felt it necessary to complete the story of Judas and
reinforces it by the inclusion of a prophesy SPOKEN by Jeremiah.
Name: Ezra Chapola
Reference: Matth 25:37
Quote: The righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see thee Hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Time: 06:20:34 PM
Matthew came up with an answer to articulate his point by explaining why the righteous did not remember what Christ was saying.
Name: Judy Ahles
Reference: Matthew 21:31
Quote: Which of the two did the ill of his father?" They said," The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of
you.
Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Time: 01:12:21 PM
In an attempt to say the first shall be last Matthew uses the marginalized (prostitutes and tax collectors) to make his point. Matthew is able to elevate himself and his profession in the eyes of the reader.
Name: Genise K
Reference: Matthew 21:10-11
Quote: And when he entered Jerusalem all the city was stirred, saying "Who is this?" and the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee."
Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Time: 12:22:32 PM
The very nature of using the grammatical quotations indicates that this is from the author of the book.
However, in reviewing the passage from Mark 11:9 where the people before and after him
on the road are described as knowing who he was and no indication that others are questioning; and in Luke 19:39 it was the Pharisees questioning his identity. It was important to Matthew to be sure we understand that this is fulfillment of prophesy from Isaiah.
Name: Clare
Reference: Mt.13:36-43
Quote: "And his disciples came to him, saying ,"Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." Jesus goes on to explain the significance of the sower, the field, the good seed, the weeds, the sower of the weeds, the harvest and the reapers.
Date: Monday, October 17, 2005
Time: 10:57:54 PM
Other Gospels, as well as other places in Matthew include parables about the sower, see Mt.13:1-9; Mt.13:18-23; Mk.4:1-9; Mk.4:13-20; Lk.8:4-8; Lk.8:11-15. Matthew and Mark both contain a parable about sowing seeds among the wheat, see Mt.13:24-30; Mk. 4:26-29. But only Matthew, in Mt.13:36-43, explains in detail the significance of the weeds. One might have thought that in light of the multitude of parables about seeds and planting that all that needed to be explained had already been explained.
However, Matthew seems to have believed there was an outstanding question about the weeds that needed further emphasis, and therefore provided a unique, in depth explanation of the weeds and the dire consequences that would befall the weeds/"sons of the evil one."
Name: Dave
Reference: Mt 17: 24-27
Quote: When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel tax
went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the tax?" He
said "Yes".....take the first fish that comes up, and when you open
its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for
yourself"
Date: Monday, October 17, 2005
Time: 05:12:50 PM
Matthew, true to form as the tax collector he is himself, has to include a
piece about the collection of taxes and Jesus' take on this. This text is not
included in any of the other Gospels and my guess would be that it has personal
significance for Matthew given his past vocation.
Name: Sarah
Reference: Matth 28:12-15
Quote: And when they assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said "tell
people,' his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep'. And
if it comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble". So they took the money and did as they were directed
Date: Monday, October 17, 2005
Time: 02:47:53 PM
Only Matthew includes this passage ( and makes no extra canonical reference) about the guards being bribed-a detail included to avert rumors concerning Jesus' death and resurrection.
Name: Audrey
Reference: Mt 27:52-53
Quote: the tombs are opened...the saints who had fallen asleep were raised...
Date: Monday, October 17, 2005
Time: 08:51:23 AM
Matthew wants his audience to know that the world is now changed even before the resurrection.
Name: Zareen
Reference: Matthew 22:1-3
Quote: And again "Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying "The kingdom may be compared to..."
Date: Sunday, October 16, 2005
Time: 01:51:08 PM
This sentence goes from one page to the second line of the next page. It involves Jesus and the telling of a parable. The author tells the parable AND describes part of the story all in one sentence.
Name: Poppy Arford
Reference: Matth 9:9
Quote: 9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.
Date: Sunday, October 16, 2005
Time: 03:56:46 AM
In the gospel according to Matthew the use of the name "Matthew" in verse 9:9 is original text. In the gospel of Mark verse 2:14 and Luke verse 5:27 the man identified as being a tax collector is given the name of "Levi".
Name: Cathie
Reference: Matt 26:25
Quote: Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Is it I, Master?" He said to him, "You have said so."
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2005
Time: 05:49:49 PM
Though other gospels speak of who is to betray Jesus, in this passage, which isn't the same in any other, Matthew seems to have Jesus clearly state to Judas that he knows he is to betray him. It is direct and succinct as Matthew tends to be.
Name: Pam L.
Reference: Mt 15:21-28 and Mk 7:24-30
Quote: The Canaanite Woman's Faith (Matthew) contrasted to The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith (Mark)
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2005
Time: 04:00:43 PM
These two passages tell the same story. Matthew tries to engage his audience by utilizing more active quotations - a total of 7. Whereas Mark only utilizes 3 quotations in his telling of the story.
Name: Amy
Reference: MT 2:23
Quote: ...that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2005
Time: 03:29:13 PM
Matthew uses this nonexistent quote from the Old Testament to explain why Jesus came from Nazareth and how the messiah could come from a place with a somewhat negative reputation.
Name: Sheryl
Reference: Matt. 3:4
Quote: Now John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2005
Time: 01:37:13 PM
If indeed Jesus was a follower of John the Baptist, this passage would make John the picture of a true holy man. An ascetic who gave all to serve God and, therefore, worthy of being a leader of Jesus.
Name: Gail
Reference: Matthew 21:4-5
Quote: This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt the foal of a donkey."
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2005
Time: 09:31:02 AM
As we have noted earlier, Matthew does good exegetical research inserting quotes from
scripture and making editorial comment in his story. This would have helped those of his time who knew scripture well connect Jesus as the "anointed" one.
Name: Laura
Reference: Mt. 28:11-15
Quote: ...behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests and elders all that had taken place...they gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'.....So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
Date: Friday, October 14, 2005
Time: 11:51:04 PM
This is Matthew explicitly stating the source of certain erroneous rumors about Jesus which his audience may have heard.
Name: Mair
Reference: Mt. 16:18
Quote: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
Date: Friday, October 14, 2005
Time: 11:28:34 PM
This passage is not found in the other gospels though Simon is given the name Peter in Mk and Lk and Cephas in John by Jesus.It could probably be argued that this was a later edited addition cinching Peter as the first head of the church but it appears to be the voice of Mt.-the powers of death shall not prevail against it - very close to- lo, I am with you always to the close of the age- Mt's final statement.
Name: Sarah PL
Reference: Matthew 18:15-18
Quote: "If your brother sins against you go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Date: Friday, October 14, 2005
Time: 02:29:22 PM
A concern and interest for Matthew is the community of believers and is revealed by the fact that several sayings of Jesus that are unique to Matthew deal with the behaviors of those who would follow Jesus. Here Jesus outlines what should be done if there is a dispute between two members of the community. The need for forgiveness is stressed by the parable of the unforgiving servant that follows the statement about community discipline. Matthew wishes to highlight how the Christian community should conduct itself differently than the community of Pharisees.
DT:
Matthew's concern for the community, the "Church", is an important help to understanding why he changes in Mark what he changes. He is interested in taking Jesus out of the Palestine context and proclaiming Christ's message to the
whole world.
Name: Barbara Anne
Reference: Matth 24:3
Quote: As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2005
Time: 07:52:03 PM
It's a classic Matthew transition/introduction which conveniently gives him the chance to explain things about Jesus he thinks are really important.
Name: Jim Roche
Reference: MT 27:62-66
Quote: "Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ..."
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2005
Time: 06:25:53 PM
This does not appear in Mark or Luke. Matthew is telling of a meeting where Pilate is warned that Jesus' body might be stolen by his disciples to fake his resurrection to defraud the people.
Name: Jim Roche
Reference: MT 27:62-66
Quote: "Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ..."
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2005
Time: 06:25:19 PM
This does not appear in Mark or Luke. Matthew is telling of a meeting where Pilate is warned that Jesus' body might be stolen by his disciples to fake his resurrection to defraud the people.
Name: Terah Ames
Reference: Matt. 6:1-4
Quote: Teaching about Almsgiving
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2005
Time: 08:34:19 AM
This is part of Matthew's organization of Jesus; sayings into long speeches. However, this section on almsgiving is not present in the other gospels.
Name: Rosemary
Reference: MT 7:28, 11:1, 13:53, 19:1, 26:1
Quote: "Now when Jesus had finished these sayings"
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2005
Time: 07:50:40 AM
Matthew organizes his Gospel into 5 major sections of Jesus' sayings. He uses this phrase to let us know that a group of sayings/instructions have been completed.
Name: Dina L.
Reference: Mt 12:5-6
Quote: "Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the
Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. "
Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Time: 10:11:20 PM
This quote seems to be Matthew making an editorial statement that to obey God's law means that it has to be broken occasionally. (The service in the temple (work) is of a greater good than the keeping the Sabbath free of work.) It is another instance in which he rebukes the Pharisees for following the letter and not the spirit of God's law.