89 chapter project: Matthew

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I think the argument is weakened, P3, by the fact that original ms have no chapter and verse markings, so "# of mentions per chapter" mightn't be very kabbalic, more coincidental.
 
BetteTheRed said:
I think the argument is weakened, P3, by the fact that original ms have no chapter and verse markings, so "# of mentions per chapter" mightn't be very kabbalic, more coincidental.
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That's a good point Bette. I had forgotte
paradox3 said:
Today we begin with Matthew 1. Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start . . . (as the song goes.)

First my biases when it comes to scripture.

I consider the Bible to be a human construction. Period. It is the record of Judaism and Christianity's search for God and their struggle to know God. It is our core document and our sacred story. Inspiration by God is apparent throughout but I don't see inspiration present in every single story. The assembly of the canon as we know it was also the work of human hands.

Like the Jewish people, I believe we are called to wrestle and dance with scripture.

WC members with different approaches are most welcome to post on these threads. Right now I am not seeking to debate how we read the Bible. I am interested in what everyone takes away from the passages.

I am personally growing weary of the literal vs. metaphorical discussion. Marcus Borg's words about metaphor were most encouraging to me when I first read them but that was several years ago. As I read through the gospels I will try to keep my mind open to whatever they might be saying to me.

In particular, I am looking for answers to my questions about the faith perspective of Jesus of Nazareth. On another thread @Mendalla pointed out I seemed to be using the lens of His humanity rather than His Divinity. I think this is another bias of mine although my Christology is not the lowest you will find around here.
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I'm playing a bit of catch up. Some thoughts about the Gospel of Matthew as a whole...

It seems that Matthew wrote in Greek for his fellow-countrymen to show the culmination of Old Testament type and prophecy, to prove that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, that his entire ministry on Earth fulfills the Old Covenant. I believe Matthew provides abundant evidence for this.

Matthew probably wrote his Gospel around 60 A. D., before Jerusalem's final destruction. It seems probable that he composed his Gospel at Jerusalem.

We have today, I believe, the Gospel as Matthew wrote it.by the Spirit' of God's inspiration.
 
BetteTheRed said:
I think the argument is weakened, P3, by the fact that original ms have no chapter and verse markings, so "# of mentions per chapter" mightn't be very kabbalic, more coincidental.
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Aside from the question of the verse and chapter breaks, there are 7 parables clustered together on a similar theme. The number could still be complete coincidence of course.
 
BetteTheRed said:
I think the argument is weakened, P3, by the fact that original ms have no chapter and verse markings, so "# of mentions per chapter" mightn't be very kabbalic, more coincidental.
Click to expand...

Sort of like life given the extent of the eternal stage ... mysterious stretch! Some Lycra resembles that ... covers the bummers of life! One must face it life is wyrd ...
 
paradox3 said:
Aside from the question of the verse and chapter breaks, there are 7 parables clustered together on a similar theme. The number could still be complete coincidence of course.
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Supporting an etude of computations and permutations ... go figure! Resembles quantum for all we know ... which isn't much except for the excessively esteemed for some false virtue that needs collapse to really know ... thus neigh MS!

Black Band ETz ... causes the death of horses ...
 
Summary: Matthew 14: 1 - 36

1. John the Baptist is beheaded in prison. His head is presented on a platter to the daughter of Herodias.

2. A crowd of 5000 (not including women and children) is fed with five loaves of bread and two fish. After everyone has eaten and been satisfied there are 12 baskets of broken pieces left over.

3. The crowd is dismissed and the disciples are directed to get into a boat. Jesus goes up to the mountain himself to pray. When he comes down he discovers the boat is far from land and battered by waves. Jesus walks toward the disciples on the water, telling them not to be afraid. Peter is asked to walk on the water towards Jesus but becomes frightened by a strong wind and begins to sink. Jesus helps him, saying (11: 31) "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

4. When they cross over to the other side, people recognize Him and bring the sick. Many beg to touch the hem of His garment and are healed.
 
From thereafter he was the head man ... directing the Roman Pall ... a smouldering maas hid in history as republicans love it ...

Empirican Judi-ism with a punch line ... like jumping brooms ...
 
Reflection: Matthew 14: 1 - 36

This chapter begins with a gruesome story which reminds me it takes place in a very brutal era.

This gospel presents Jesus more and more miraculously. Not only can he heal the sick and command the sea, he can feed an entire crowd with a pittance of food and walk on water. He is stressing the importance of faith in Himself.

The theme of touching the edge of His garment has reappeared.
 
paradox3 said:
Reflection: Matthew 14: 1 - 36

This chapter begins with a gruesome story which reminds me it takes place in a very brutal era.

This gospel presents Jesus more and more miraculously. Not only can he heal the sick and command the sea, he can feed an entire crowd with a pittance of food and walk on water. He is stressing the importance of faith in Himself.

The theme of touching the edge of His garment has reappeared.
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What is miraculous is that we can conjure up such images so far from what's past history and some folks say is best forgotten ...

Although there is this old adage that says if you forget ... you repeat old MS Takes ... so obviously we are a forgotten rush ... racing where? Into the dark my friends ... or so it appears we can't see or know ... thus the reason to listen like bats for egos and echos ... metaphors?

Poly Tech functions like poly Anna ... another thread of concern ... the religious reject it as unseen science ... blind ops?


Allah Oops ... prehistoric de Rhama ... dearly ham ass't!
 
The loaves and fishes story can be interpreted in different ways. In my Sunday School days (decades ago) I understood it quite literally as an account of a miraculous event. More recently I started to view it symbolically with the loaves and fishes representing something in the spiritual realm. Perhaps mercy, kindness or compassion.

Another explanation has the people in the crowd reaching into their pockets for food that has been there all along. Thus we have a story about generosity as they begin to share with others. Or maybe it is our faith that has been there all along and we simply need to reconnect with it.

I always seem to return to the metaphorical when I engage with scripture. But as I read through Matthew's gospel day by day, I am not getting the sense that it was written with this intention.
 
Jae said:
It seems that Matthew wrote in Greek for his fellow-countrymen to show the culmination of Old Testament type and prophecy, to prove that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, that his entire ministry on Earth fulfills the Old Covenant. I believe Matthew provides abundant evidence for this.
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Agreeing with Jae that the gospel writer has this in mind & writes to persuade the reader about these ideas. Does the gospel provide us with evidence? I am more inclined to say Matthew provides a strong faith testimony.
 
Fissure in the break makes place for the sausage ... Hungarian, Italian, or brat less ... bratwurst?

Does create curios ... like why the centre of a doughnut ... tis nothing but assigned ... some mist assignations ... they didn't grasp ... thus haunts ...

Tis all lost in present due to forgotten wisdumb about alien traditions of the dunne rover ... berib*boned by OCB?

Rested case after the saping ... sapience?
 
paradox3 said:
The loaves and fishes story can be interpreted in different ways. In my Sunday School days (decades ago) I understood it quite literally as an account of a miraculous event. More recently I started to view it symbolically with the loaves and fishes representing something in the spiritual realm. Perhaps mercy, kindness or compassion.

Another explanation has the people in the crowd reaching into their pockets for food that has been there all along. Thus we have a story about generosity as they begin to share with others. Or maybe it is our faith that has been there all along and we simply need to reconnect with it.

I always seem to return to the metaphorical when I engage with scripture. But as I read through Matthew's gospel day by day, I am not getting the sense that it was written with this intention.
Click to expand...

I believe the event literally happened. At the same time, I hold that there is meaning beyond the provision of fish and bread.
 
Hi,

The death of John is determined by the will of Herod. Though brief the dinner party, featuring the dance of his wife’s daughter, reveals the moral decadence in play. A gathered company indulges in a feast and is complicit in the presentation of John’s head on a platter. The life of a peasant prophet being considered to be of no value whatsoever.

This is followed by the feeding of five thousand. This notices the inversion of the prevailing social economy. Under Herod the few live in superfluous splendour while the majority live in abject poverty. The feeding of these excluded persons indicates the promise of God’s reign in which none is left out. This echoing the sign of manna in the wilderness and foreshadowing the post resurrection apostolic community.

Sad to say the realization of equity in human relations has not yet been realized.

George
 
Interesting that Herod sees John as having come back to life with powers at work in him.

Herod had imprisoned John the Baptist and wanted to kill him but feared the Jewish people because they considered John to be a prophet.

There seems to be a great deal of looking forwards and backwards in Matthew's gospel. Presenting both the fulfillment of prophecies and foreshadowing of the future.
 
More reflection . . . So if I am starting to read Matthew's gospel as fluid when it comes to time boundaries, I wonder if I am about to experience it in a more mystical way?

I have always considered John to be the most mystical of the gospels with Luke a close second. Matthew I have long understood to be written for a Jewish audience. But I am getting more of the impact of this by reading it chapter by chapter as I am doing right now.

I note that the number 12 appeared in today's reading, i.e. 12 baskets of bread fragments. This may mean nothing at all but we know there were 12 tribes of Israel and 12 disciples.

We are halfway through Matthew's gospel now. I may take a break for a day or two at Christmas but I am enjoying this pace of reading and reflection.
 
Hi,
GeoFee said:
The feeding of these excluded persons indicates the promise of God’s reign in which none is left out.
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Just realized this image is present in the reading for this Sunday: "And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." (Luke 3) Wonder how these words will be interpreted to those gathered to hear from God?

George
 
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