89 chapter project: Matthew

[Jaebius]

Thoughts on Matthew 26:10-13...

Jesus jumped to Mary's defense. They shouldn't cause her any unpleasantness, they shouldn't make her feel bad by confusing, disparaging or disturbing her.

To judge in regard to deeds, involving expenditures, made for honoring Jesus shows an ignorance of love toward Him.

She'd done a good deed. It wasn't an impulsive act and she'd embalmed him with this ointment for his burial.

Christ's bodily presence was to be taken from the missionaries, and acts of kindness toward him would then be no longer possible to do.

He declares that the woman's deed would be spoken of in her remembrance wherever the gospel would be proclaimed. Jesus knew that the gospel would be preached throughout the world. He knew that this woman's kindness would be remembered wherever such preaching would take place.

 

[paradox3]

Thoughts on Matthew 26:6-9...

When Christ came up to Bethany, he ate dinner with Simon, who'd been a leper and had been healed by Jesus. He was Lazarus' father and Martha's husband.

While the dinner was in progress, Mary, Lazarus' and Martha's sister, entered the room. She held a box of spikenard ointment, which she poured out over Jesus.

Anointing with oil, the Old Testament method of indicating dedication to God, was used in the case of kings, priests and prophets. It was bestowed on guests of honor.

Mary was generous in her caring. She broke off the flask's head and applied the perfume, filling the room with its odor.

One of the missionaries, Judas, who was a thief, objected. His show of charity hid his shame. The money being in his care, it'd be an easy matter to get some of it for himself.

Jae, I believe you are conflating Matthew's gospel with John's. In Matthew the woman is not named and Judas is not part of the anointing narrative. The disciples object to the oil being wasted because it could be sold and the money given to the poor. But Judas is not named.

I am uncertain about the family relationships. Where do you get Simon being the father of Lazarus? Is there a second Martha who is the wife of Simon?

I always understood Mary, Martha and Lazarus to be siblings. Unless I have missed something, we have not encountered them yet in Matthew's gospel.

 

[Jaebius]

Jae, I believe you are conflating Matthew's gospel with John's. In Matthew the woman is not named and Judas is not part of the anointing narrative. The disciples object to the oil being wasted because it could be sold and the money given to the poor. But Judas is not named.

I am uncertain about the family relationships. Where do you get Simon being the father of Lazarus? Is there a second Martha who is the wife of Simon?

I always understood Mary, Martha and Lazarus to be siblings. Unless I have missed something, we have not encountered them yet in Matthew's gospel.

Yes paradox3, I guess to a degree I am blending story elements from different gospel records together.

Simon being the father of Lazarus and Martha being the wife of Simon is according to tradition. It isn't in the biblical text.

 

[Jaebius]

Thoughts on Matthew 26:14-16...

One of the 12 missionaries in Jesus' inner circle would betray him. His name, Judas Iscariot, stands for treason. He stands as an example to warn all against yielding to the desire to sin. He was greedy, covetous and thieving. He went to the Chief Priests and made his offer. He'd give Christ to them for cash.

The Chief Priests realized the kind of man with whom they were dealing, his shame being written all over his face. They offered him 30 shekels, about 16,700 ₩, the price for a slave in those days. For this sum Judas sold Jesus, for this he bartered away his soul.

 

[Mendalla]

As a writer, I always wonder how I would approach Judas. Villain? Misguided anti-hero? Lost soul in over his head? In some respects, he is actually the most interesting character from a literary standpoint.

 

[paradox3]

As a writer, I always wonder how I would approach Judas. Villain? Misguided anti-hero? Lost soul in over his head? In some respects, he is actually the most interesting character from a literary standpoint.

Yes, and for prophecy to be fulfilled, someone had to betray Jesus. Judas ends up taking his own life (tomorrow's reading) which makes me wonder if he also represents "sacrifice" in the biblical narrative. In Sunday School days I learned he was a dreadful villain but I have seen more nuanced approaches to his role in recent years.

 

[Jaebius]

Thoughts on Matthew 26:17-19...

The Passover began sundown on the 14th of the month of Nisan. Jesus tended to celebrate the feast with his missionaries, which explains their question as to where they'd eat.

Passover preparations involved having a lamb slain, getting other food requisites, having the lamb roasted and preparing the dining room.

Two of the missionaries, Peter and John, were commissioned to attend to this work. They were to go to a certain place, and give a certain man a message. This man was a secret missionary, just as Nicodemus was.

Christ's time was at hand, the time when he'd be taken up into glory. With his missionaries, in this man's house, he would celebrate the Passover for the last time. The missionaries carried out Jesus' wishes.

 

[paradox3]

Thoughts on Matthew 26:17-19...

The Passover began sundown on the 14th of the month of Nisan. Jesus tended to celebrate the feast with his missionaries, which explains their question as to where they'd eat.

Passover preparations involved having a lamb slain, getting other food requisites, having the lamb roasted and preparing the dining room.

Two of the missionaries, Peter and John, were commissioned to attend to this work. They were to go to a certain place, and give a certain man a message. This man was a secret missionary, just as Nicodemus was.

Christ's time was at hand, the time when he'd be taken up into glory. With his missionaries, in this man's house, he would celebrate the Passover for the last time. The missionaries carried out Jesus' wishes.

Where do you get it being the 14th of Nisan?
Where do you get Peter and John being tasked with this work?
Where do you get the certain man being a secret missionary?

I don't see any of this in Matthew 26. If you are bringing other gospels (or epistles) into the story, that is fine, but please let us know when & why you are doing so.

I mention epistles only because another poster was conflating a lesson from one of the epistles and a parable of Jesus a few days ago.

 

[Jaebius]

Where do you get it being the 14th of Nisan?
Where do you get Peter and John being tasked with this work?
Where do you get the certain man being a secret missionary?

I don't see any of this in Matthew 26. If you are bringing other gospels (or epistles) into the story, that is fine, but please let us know when & why you are doing so.

I mention epistles only because another poster was conflating a lesson from one of the epistles and a parable of Jesus a few days ago.

Some of what I'm sharing I can remember from seminary but, yes, in the future I'll seek to include more information.

The 14th of Nisan is something I think is told by some of the Messianic Jewish groups. I may have heard it from Chosen People Ministries.

That it was Peter and John, I think, comes from tradition - perhaps because they are two of Jesus' best-known missionaries of the 12.

That the certain man was a secret missionary just makes logical sense - don't you think?

 

[paradox3]

That the certain man was a secret missionary just makes logical sense - don't you think?

Could be.

 

[Redbaron]

Some of what I'm sharing I can remember from seminary but, yes, in the future I'll seek to include more information.

The 14th of Nisan is something I think is told by some of the Messianic Jewish groups. I may have heard it from Chosen People Ministries.

That it was Peter and John, I think, comes from tradition - perhaps because they are two of Jesus' best-known missionaries of the 12.

That the certain man was a secret missionary just makes logical sense - don't you think?

Actually the passage from Matthew doesn't even specify there were TWO sent, let alone who they were. Nor does it mention anything bout the 'certain man' being a missionary, or disciple, secret or not. It may have been simply someone known to them. The 'secret missionary' thing not only doesn't make 'logical sense', it is totally unwarrented by a close reading of the text. Seems you're taking a fairly straightforward story and trying to make a cloak-and-dagger spy novel out of it.

Some (not all) of these details may come fro,m Mark, Luke or John; but they should wait until we get to those chapters to discuss them. Otherwise we run the risk of conflating, confusing and eisogeting.

 

[StevieG]

The Synoptic Gospels do present the "last Supper" as a Passover meal. However, John makes no mention of that and presents Passover as beginning after the death of Jesus. Passover, according to the Jewish calendar, begins on the 15th of Nisan. The Christian Bible has it on the 14th.

Matthew does not hint at any detail about the "certain man' or a number sent. It is in Mark 14:13 that it is said two are sent looking for a man carrying a jug of water. Luke 22:10 does not say how many were sent, but they again are to seek a man with a jar of water.

 

[StevieG]

Seeler, I could not resist looking at how Bible Study was going

 

[paradox3]

Summary: Matthew 27:1-66

1. The chief priests and elders bound Jesus and delivered him to the governor, Pontius Pilate.

2. Judas was remorseful and took back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. He threw down the money and went and hanged himself. The chief priests used the silver to buy the potter's field for burying strangers.

3. Jesus was questioned by Pilate but did not say a word.

4. Pilate asked the crowd whether he should release Barabbas or Jesus. The chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas. Pilate asked what evil had Jesus done and they cried out, "Crucify him!" Pilate could not prevail over the crowd and said "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person." Jesus was scourged and delivered to be crucified.

5. The soldiers mocked Jesus.

6. Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry the cross. When they reached Golgotha, the soldiers crucified Him and cast lots for His clothing.

7. Jesus was mocked by the chief priests, scribes and elders. Even the robbers who were crucified on either side of Him reviled Him.

8. There was darkness from the sixth hour to the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus died after calling out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

The veil of the temple was torn in two, the earth quaked and the rocks were split. Graves were opened and bodies of the saints were raised. The centurions were afraid and said, "Truly this was the Son of God." Many women were looking on from afar.

9. Joseph of Arimathea requested and was given the body of Jesus. He wrapped the body in clean linen and placed it in the tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sat opposite the tomb.

10. The chief priests and Pharisees recalled to Pilate that Jesus had said He would rise after three days. The tomb was secured.

 

[Luce NDs]

Could be.

Can "thinks" be thought on a site as definite as can be about indeterminates ... thus the dark side of gods ...

Is "eisogeting" common ... or in the vernacular ... therein ... kind of out there?

I find it a trying word ... use it carefully in context of the pool th

If one then looks into the lies out there ... would it form a dark mire or unclear reflection?

How to escape this ... perhaps investigating lost mysteries! Are lost things a mystery definition? Thus the redefinition of mind in a mindless society ... your honour: "I just don't know" ... due to affiliation with dissociated existence ... a broken people.

Thus legal truth is a false altruism ... anon ... it is a close metaphor! Thus anon omas!

Relax they are just word ... mean nothing to a hoard ... of disastrous splatter ... from the splash of dunkin ...

Thus could fracture the mind into two parts one cool/Kohl ... the opposing other-wise? People do despise asses that learn ... even though it is said that governments that cut education are headed fro brutal actions ... when repeated this is called pro*pagan*da ... and your goose may disappear! Black Swan ... antithesis?

 

[paradox3]

Reflection: Matthew 27:1-66

This is another story which has varying details from gospel to gospel. Matthew contains only one of the "seven last words" (actually sayings).

This is a powerful story which is difficult to even think about at this time. How rapidly we move through Good Friday and the Easter vigil to arrive at the resurrection every year!

Jesus had clearly been at odds with the scribes and the Pharisees, frequently calling them out for hypocrisy. Did He threaten their positions of privilege? Is this why they were so anxious to get rid of Him?

Why did the multitudes turn so quickly on Jesus? Were they afraid of their religious leaders? Or did they follow these leaders mindlessly?

 

[Luce NDs]

Honking Levity as thoughts take off ... the Long Green Milling ...

 

[Mendalla]

Why did the multitudes turn so quickly on Jesus? Were they afraid of their religious leaders? Or did they follow these leaders mindlessly?

Another, sometimes suggested, option is that he simply disappointed them. He wasn't radical enough. They were looking for a rebel to overthrow the elites, not a prophet to lecture them.

 

[Luce NDs]

Another, sometimes suggested, option is that he simply disappointed them. He wasn't radical enough. They were looking for a rebel to overthrow the elites, not a prophet to lecture them.

Learning requires painful knowledge of how full of naivete we "r" ... some in nova shun required to get ove rite ...

 

[paradox3]

Another, sometimes suggested, option is that he simply disappointed them. He wasn't radical enough. They were looking for a rebel to overthrow the elites, not a prophet to lecture them.

Quite possibly. Jesus certainly had plenty to say about end times and the final judgement.

Yet the crowds continued to clamor to Him for healing. Maybe the multitudes were both attracted to Jesus and put off by some of His teachings.