Some of the things we found in Matthew's gospel.

Over the past several months of studying Matthew's gospel, we have considered a large set of questions. From our prayer and discussion, we have found many things of note:

1. What is the significance for us in the worship offered by the magi?
   1. Len: The magi were a bit like apostles, except that they were called inwards, to Jerusalem.
   2. Scott: The magi were like the first Christians.
   3. It is interesting to consider how the Lord used the astrologer concepts of the magi to draw them to the Messiah. Len suggested that this is similar to Paul's famous speech to the smart Athenians, where he started form their religious activity and led them to the message of Jesus the Messiah. Each man's life is like that -- called from outside to come in toward the center, Jesus.
2. Regarding the judgement in Matthew 25:31-46, is there matching truth in the Beatitudes of Matthew ch. 5?
   1. Len: the King divides the sheep from the goats on the basis of pure hearts. That is, the sheep had pure hearts, and the goats did not.
   2. Ken: the persecution that comes when people mock you for serving the poor and doing the right thing.
3. Why would this silence of Jesus before Ponius Pilate be so stunning, so curious, to Pontius Pilate? What does it tell us?
   1. Bob: When Jesus stands mute, he is making no excuses, not making a cop out, volunteering nothing that can be twisted.
4. If the crucifixion was such a defeat (as the Enemy viewed it), then why does the angel feature it, saying "Jesus the crucified" when addressing the women in v. 5?
   1. Al: All you have to do is read the next verse!
5. Why does everybody keep telling the women not to be afraid?
   1. Dave: They still do not grasp the full concept of there Lord's resurrection.
   2. Ken: We'd probably be more like the guards, who feinted dead away!
   3. Al:The fact that there was an angel shows that God knew they'd need help to get across the bridge to understanding.
6. What were the women doing there at the tomb, anyway?
   1. Dave: corporal works of mercy.
   2. Len: Following the Torah faithfully, especially the command to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
7. When was the last time you hugged the feet of anyone?
   1. Al: Other than Publisher's Clearing House... X
   2. Len: It reminds you of Mary in the house of Lazarus. Martha was hustling and bustling with fixing the meal, but Mary sat at the Lord's feet to listen.

Image: Brooklyn Bridge in 1918.

We finish, we begin

This Thursday, we finish studying the gospel of Matthew, closing out with these remaining questions:

5. Fear thou not! Why does everybody keep telling the women not to be afraid?
6. What were the women doing there, anyway?
7. Just curious: When was the last time you hugged the feet of anyone?
8. What is the significance of Jesus rising on that particular day of the week?
9. Review the end of John's gospel for comparison. Matthew's account emphasizes something a bit more than John does. What is it?
10. Is baptism important for a Christian?

Though we finish Matthew's gospelthis Thursday morning, we also begin something new, if we desire to be a doer of the Word. Good.

What we found

Some of the more important comments and findings of the men this past Thursday morning:

1. The chief priests and Pharisees caused the Messiah's tomb to be sealed against mischief from dishonest disciples. Did their action, sealing the tomb, work for their purposes or for God's? Why did Matthew include this?(question #9 last Thursday)
   1. Len: This clarifies the position of the apostles. Later on, in Acts, one can then see the Holy Spirit really operating in the apostles.
   2. Bob: 2000 years later, we can understand their doubts.
   3. Scott: It is the literal details that make you sit up and take notice.
   4. St. John Chrysostom: But mark thou, I pray you, the disciples' love of truth, how they conceal from us none of the things that are said by His enemies, though they use opprobrious language.
2. If the crucifixion was such a defeat (as the Enemy viewed it), then why does the angel feature it, saying "Jesus the crucified" when addressing the women in v. 5? (question #3 last Thursday)
   1. Al: All you have to do is read the next verse!
   2. St. John Chrysostom: The angel is not ashamed to call Him "crucified" for this is the chief of the blessings.

A few questions from last week plus some new ones

We have a few questions from last week, and new ones concerning chapter 28.

9. The chief priests and Pharisees caused the Messiah's tomb to be sealed against mischief from dishonest disciples. Did their action, sealing the tomb, work for their purposes or for God's?
10. What basis do the chief priests and Pharisees have for expecting the eleven to steal a dead body?

PLUS

1. 
   When was the last time in this gospel that we saw someone whose appearance was like lightning?
2. Is there mention of the women actually going into the tomb or even peeking in?
3. If the crucifixion was such a defeat (as the Enemy viewed it), then why does the angel feature it, saying "Jesus the crucified" when addressing the women?
4. What is this business about being "fearful yet overjoyed" when the women left?
5. Fear thou not! Why does everybody keep telling the women not to be afraid?
6. What were the women doing there, anyway?
7. Just curious: When was the last time you hugged the feet of anyone?

Well, we have a lot to learn but looking at these questions will at least get us started early this Thursday morning.

Findings about curious events in the Crucifixion

Here are some of the conclusions of the men last Thursday morning, concerning some of the questions:

1. Why would this silence be so stunning, so curious, to Pontius Pilate? What does it tell us?
   1. Bob: When Jesus stands mute, he is making no excuses, not making a cop out, volunteering nothing that can be twisted.
2. What was the factor that made Judas change his mind and throw the blood money back into the Temple?
   1. Jim: Perhaps Judas realized, "They have Jesus in deeper trouble than I thought it'd be."
3. What should be the true currency of the Church?
   1. Bob: Look at Matthew the crooked but wealthy tax collector. Matthew gave himself to Jesus.

The conclusion of the matter, the example that Matthew presents, is a great example of doing the Word.

We will dive deeper into chapter 27 this Thursday.

The curious incident of the dog in the night time

We occasionally refer to fictional works like the Shack during our study of the Bible, and today is another case of that: we will refer to a famous passage in a Sherlock Holmes story, "Silver Blaze," by Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes has unraveled a mystery for one Colonel Ross, in the rustic Dartmoor region of southern England, delivering the answer with this conversation between Holmes and Inspector Gregory...

Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companion's ability, but I saw by the inspector's face that his attention had been keenly aroused.

"You consider that to be important?" he [Inspector Gregory] asked.

"Exceedingly so."

"Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?"

"To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."

"The dog did nothing in the night-time."

"That was the curious incident," remarked Sherlock Holmes.

We find other mysterious situations in Matthew's 27th chapter. Let's ask a few questions:

1. The curious incident of the Messiah before Pilate: Pilate repeats the accusations of the chief priests and elders, to which Jesus makes no reply, stunning the Roman governor. Why would this silence be so stunning, so curious, to Pontius Pilate? What does it tell us?
2. At the Crucifixion, the passersby railed at the Messiah, and flung the words of Jesus back in His face, words about rebuilding the Temple and saving others. Obviously some of them had seen Jesus at work and listened to His words, yet another curious incident. How should they have reacted to seeing the innocent man voluntarily being crucified?
3. Yet another curious incident: Judas does not change his mind when Jesus is first captured, but only later. What was the factor that made Judas change his mind and throw the blood money back into the Temple?
4. After Judas returns the silver pieces, he ends his actions permanently, but the chief priests and elders continued. What was different about the chief priests and elders, that they could continue?
5. Did the chief priests and elders know they had purchased murder?
6. Is Jesus Christ willing to be served by the gold and wealth coming from covetousness, crime and duplicity?
7. What should be the true currency of the Church?

Let's start our study this morning with these questions, asking the Lord for clear eyes to see His Word.

Questions

A few more questions to finish up ch. 26 of Matthew:

1. How does Jesus celebrate this new action, the Eucharist? With joy or with fear?
   
2. Why does Jesus initiate the new covenant from within the Passover celebration of the old covenant?
   
3. Why should the gospel include the accounts of the Twelve abandoning the Messiah in this time of suffering?
   
4. How is Peter's denial different from the actions of Judas?
   
5. Why did Jesus rebuke Peter for having a sword?

Ch. 26, Passover

We will continue our consideration of the Lord's exodus that began in Jerusalem on the evening before the Passover began, in ch. 26 of Matthew's gospel. For instance, we can consider some of these questions:

1. Why didn't Jesus or the Twelve own a condo in Jerusalem where they could have supper?
   
2. Jesus knew that his own suffering, death and resurrection would be THE paschal sacrifice, THE escape from Egyptland, THE true Passover of the Lord, so why did he keep the old timey ritual passover meal?
   
3. Why didn't Jesus cite his betrayer by name, Judas Iscariot, but only as "one of you," one of the Twelve?
   
4. Each of the Twelve asked himself, "This betrayer, is it I?" It is an honest question, given the circus stances. What godly property does this show, to have asked this question?
5. 
   Judas was a shameless traitor, eating at the table with the man he had already betrayed. Why does Jesus permit it?
   
6. St. Paul writes that "all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Is this Passover of the The Lord an example of what Paul described?
   
7. Who is to blame for the evil that Judas wrought, God for allowing Judas to be born or Judas himself?
   
8. Why wasn't Jesus in agony and suffering while at this Passover meal, instead of later, in the garden of Gethsemane?

How many thousands of questions can we ask of the Lord's passion? But we will start today with these few and see if the Lord's wisdom can penetrate our hearts.

Ch. 26, Holy Thursday, Good Friday

Today is Holy Thursday.

It is good that we are digging into Ch. 26 of Matthew's gospel, and we have all of last week's questions to work on, plus a few more:

1. Matthew writes, "When Jesus finished all these words..." and then Jesus points out that in two days will be a celebration, the Passover. How is the last part of "all these words" -- the last judgement of Matthew 25:31-46 -- related to the escape from Egyptland?
   
2. Why do these goombahs have to plot in secrecy?
   
3. Does the high priest Caiaphas fear the Lord more than the people of Jerusalem?
   
4. Jesus is a son of Abraham, a son of David. Who was it in the story of the Exodus that wanted to kill off the sons of Abraham?
   
5. Does the woman with the jar of perfumed oil have a malady of some kind?
   
6. When Moses died, did he have a public burial, with all the rituals, for all to see?
   
7. How would it come about that this woman acquires enduring fame, even though she is nameless?
   
8. Why does the gospel record the surname of Judas the betrayer?
   
9. WHy is it that Matthew even mentions the reproachful fact that Judas the betrayer is one of the Twelve? Is it necessary to the gospel message?
   
10. Oughtn't Jesus to have cut off Judas the betrayer long before this? Why didn't he do so?
    
11. Why could Jusus not have just forced the issue with Judas and turned him from the path of betrayal like He turned Paul on the way to Damascus?
    
12. Whom does the covetous man hate?

There are a lot of things to consider this morning, and it is a good thing that tomorrow is Good Friday.

 

Image: spikenard

Forward to chapter 26

We will continue working on last week's questions, #9 - #14,

9. How does it help the King to make the positive judgement first, for those on his right, and after that, to make his negative judgement?
   
10. What is the significance of the word inherit, compared to, for instance, in Ch. 9, where Jesus commands the healed man to take up his mat?
    
11. If a person does more than just to visit a prisoner, more than just to feed a hungry family, more than just to put a roof over a man's head, if a person does more than that, what kind of person is that? How would you describe that person?
    
12. For whom was the kingdom prepared? For whom was the eternal fire prepared?
    
13. Have you ever known someone who helped an enemy, someone who was down, even though under normal circumstances they would be persona non grata?
    
14. What does it tell you that Jesus left this last direct prophetic message as the last one before the events of crucifixion, starting in Ch. 26?
    

then push forward into the passion of the Messiah, chapter 26. For starters, here are a few questions to work with:

1. Matthew writes, "When Jesus finished all these words..." and then Jesus points out that in two days will be a celebration, the Passover. How is the last part of "all these words" -- the last judgement of Matthew 25:31-46 -- related to the escape from Egyptland?
   
2. Why do these goombahs have to plot in secrecy?
   
3. Does the high priest Caiaphas fear the Lord more than the people of Jerusalem?
   
4. Jesus is a son of Abraham, a son of David. Who was it in the story of the Exodus that wanted to kill off the sons of Abraham?
   
5. 
   Does the woman with the jar of perfumed oil have a malady of some kind?
   
6. When Moses died, did he have a public burial, with all the rituals, for all to see?
   
7. How would it come about that this woman acquires enduring fame, even though she is nameless?

Let's start with these questions today, maybe have some coffee, too, and ask the Holy Spirit to help us see into the perfect law of freedom, God's Word!

Deeper into the 25th chapter of Matthew

We finished last Thursday during a discussion of the Eucharist. We will extend that discussion today, plus a few more areas, viz.

1. How many individuals were involved in the parables of the vigilant handmaidens and the parable of the talents? How many in this prophetic description of the last judgement?
   
2. What effect is there from the presence of all his holy angels?
   
3. Jesus the King will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. Does that remind you of an parable of the kingdom?
   
4. Which is easier:
   1. to visit a prisoner, or
      
   2. to set the prisoner free?
5. Why didn't the ones on the King's left share their bread, their drink, their clothes, their presence?
   
6. Why does Jesus the King call them the "least" of his brothers?
   
7. Have you ever heard a story about a king who walked about in his kingdom disguised as a beggar? What is it about that kind of story that rouses your interest?
   
8. Can a poor man be on the King's right by reason of having shared something with another poor man? What could he share?
   
9. How does it help the King to make the positive judgement first, for those on his right, and after that, to make his negative judgement?
   
10. What is the significance of the word inherit, compared to, for instance, in Ch. 9, where Jesus commands the healed man to take up his mat?
    
11. If a person does more than just to visit a prisoner, more than just to feed a hungry family, more than just to put a roof over a man's head, if a person does more than that, what kind of person is that? How would you describe that person?
    
12. For whom was the kingdom prepared? For whom was the eternal fire prepared?
    
13. Have you ever known someone who helped an enemy, someone who was down, even though under normal circumstances they would be persona non grata?
    
14. What does it tell you that Jesus left this last direct prophetic message as the last one before the events of crucifixion, starting in Ch. 26?

Well, there is a lot to think about, a lot to take into our heart and execute. Let's have some coffee and talk it over this Thursday morning.

Findings

Findings from some of the Thursday morning questions, concerning the judgement in Matthew 25:31-46.

2. Is there matching truth in the Beatitudes of Matthew ch. 5?
   Len: the King divides the sheep from the goats on the basis of pure hearts. That is, the sheep had pure hearts, and the goats did not.
   
   Ken: the persecution that comes when people mock you for serving the poor and doing the right thing.
3. BRAIN-BURNER: Is there any place in the Old Testament that correlates with the actions that the Son of Man rewards?
   Len: the 4th commandment has a reward.
4. In all the actions rewarded by th Messiah, note that there is no teaching or preaching mentioned. Why is that?
   Al: As St. Francis said, sometimes the preaching of the gospel comes in with ones actions, as the King describes the actions of the righteous.
   
   Len: It's because Jesus is THE teacher; also because the Natural Law exists.

Thursday this week we will continue with discussion of the Eucharist.

The judgement of the nations, Matthew 25

We have a section of Matthew's gospel, ch. 25, verses 31-46, that is loaded with importance. Here are a few questions to help us look into it and put it into action:

1. How does the Our Father jibe with the judgement of the nations in this section?
2. Is there matching truth in the Beatitudes of Matthew ch. 5?
3. BRAIN-BURNER: Is there any place in the Old Testament that correlates with the actions that the Son of Man rewards?
4. In all the actions rewarded by th Messiah, note that there is no teaching or preaching mentioned. Why is that?
5. In the "make my day" miracle of healing, where the four men lowered their friend by ropes through the roof to Jesus, were they acting in the manner that finds reward in this section of Matthew's gospel?
6. What does this passage tell us about the Eucharist?

We are only walking in the foothills of this mountain, but these few questions can get our feet headed upward, especially if accompanied by some coffee this Thursday morning!

Finish ch. 24, dip forward to ch. 25 of Matthew's gospel.

We will take one more look into chapter 24 of Matthew's gospel early this Thursday morning, and then we will dip forward to chapter 25. Here are a few questions to use for studying and thinking ahead:

1. Is the fig tree here in chapter 24 a parable or something else?
   
2. Does this sprouting of the fig tree occur before, during or after the destruction of Jerusalem?
   
3. What would it be like, to be in the Lord's summertime?
   
4. Do fig trees always behave in this manner, sprouting leaves and so forth? How does that help Jesus form the Twelve?
   
5. Jesus is the Lord, the Alpha and the Omega. All time and all the ages belong to Him. Yet how is it that Jesus does not know the hour and day of His coming to the gates?
   
6. "A person who is damned to hell is damned because of the entire history of his entire family." ←← True or false?
   
7. "A person who is damned to hell can actually be damned accidentally, through no fault of their own." ←← True or false?
   
8. "Hell is temporary." ←← True or false?
   
9. In America, we hold that all men are created equal. Does this apply to the talents that each man has?
   
10. Why does God give talents in the way that He does?
    
11. When you enter God's joy, what will you be placed in charge of?
    
    
    

We can look into the perfect Torah of freedom, God's word, by thinking over these questions and discussing it all early on Thursday morning.

Continue in Ch. 24

We will continue to look into Ch. 24 of Matthew's Gospel today, starting with one leftover question from last week.

1. What is the abomination of desolation?
Now some new questions...
2. How will the Twelve prevail in the time of trouble? What trait will see them to victory?
   
3. What does it mean to preach as a witness, instead of preaching for belief?
   
4. True or false? The Roman army and the government of Rome was very hospitable and accommodating to the Twelve and other early apostles.
   
5. If the people of Jerusalem could be expected to return safely, would they be asked to take their clothes and other belongings when escaping? What does Jesus communicate in this direction, to drop everything?
6. Why does God allow grievous destruction of Jerusalem but not a total wipe out of the people of Jerusalem?
7. Side question: WHy doesn't Blessed John mention the destruction of Jerusalem in his gospel account?
8. Does Jesus skip a beat when describing the destruction of Jerusalem, THEN the signs of His coming?
9. When Jesus was born, it was fitting that a herald should precede Him, known as John the Baptizer. At His second coming, will that be necessary?
   

We will get to work with these and a few other questions, asking the Holy Spirit to help us, this early morning.

Woe and the beginning of sorrows

Woe to the Pharisees, sayeth the Lord (Matthew 23). But would any of us escape the same scrutiny? Here are a few questions we could usefully ask:

1. Can one make a useful set of questions, an examination of conscience, from these words of the Lord, as a preparation for the sacrament of confession?
   

   ---

   Now some questions about Matthew 24:
2. Did the Twelve expect to escape trouble?
3. What is the nature of the trouble that is coming? Who is it that comes against Jerusalem and the Church?
4. WHo has love, that their love maybe can go cold?
5. Will love exist in those who preach this gospel of the kingdom perseveringly?
6. What is the abomination of desolation?
   

It is an interesting admonition to persevere. As St. John Chrysostom wrote:

O strange and wonderful facts! Countless myriads of Jews did the Romans then subdue, and they did not prevail over twelve men fighting against them naked and unarmed. What language can set forth this miracle?

More about the parable of the vineyard

We are looking into Matthew, Chapter 21. Tomorrow we will consider the parable of the vineyard. A few questions stir up the mind:

1. Which of the two sons from the previous parable work in this second parable's vineyard?
2. God did not go into a far country; He is always present. But what does that mean in the parable, that God "went on a journey" in v. 33?
3. What is the fruit that God seeks from this vineyard?
4. By the way, who was it that actually did all the heavy lifting to make this vineyard? And who is it that benefits from it?

With some coffee and discussion, we will dive into the meaning of this second parable tomorrow morning.

January 5 questions

Now that we have passed the Christmas celebration, we dive back into the 21st chapter of Matthew, starting with the parable of the two sons. Here are a few questions to jump start your brain from two weeks of hibernation:

1. 
   Which of the two sons talks a good game?
2. Which sone causes most trouble?
3. Which son needed more of God's grace to carry out his actions?
4. Which sone needed to go to confession?
5. Which son could have been a member of the den of thieves, and which son could have been welcome in the house of prayer?
6. To which son could the chief priests and elders be compared?
7. Which son was like the Israelites after they escaped through the Red Sea?
8. What is the function of John the Baptizer in this parable?
9. Were the IRS men and prostitutes more like the first son or the second son?

These questions plus some coffee will help us gaze into God's perfect Torah of freedom tomorrow morning.

Matthew 21

We now dive into Matthew's 21st chapter, which begins with Jesus formally entering Jerusalem to cries of praise. Here are a few questions to stir the pot:

1. Did the two blind men, now healed, follow Jesus into Jerusalem?
2. Had Jesus entered Jerusalem on other occasions, prior to this? Did he shake up the city?
3. Did Jesus previously teach the Twelve about giving up their possessions?
4. Did the owner of the ass and the colt make a complaint when giving up his property?
5. When do we sing the Jerusalem greeting, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" at Mass? Why then?
6. It pleased Jesus to hear the little ones singing words of praise for him. Would it have encouraged the Twelve to hear the little children singing out to the Son of David?

OK, let's get ready for the Jerusalem events here at the end of Matthew's gospel.

19

Here are some questions to tackle while warming up your grey matter for chapter 19 of Matthew's gospel.

1. A camel can get through the narrow gate, so an unladen poor man should matriculate through there handily. Is that how the Twelve see it?
2. Why do the Pharisees come back for more punishment, asking another question of Jesus and hoping to trap Him? Is there a "make my day" type of situation ahead for them... again?
3. Hardness of heart and divorce lie on one side of marriage, and on the opposite side is holding oneself unmarried. To hold oneself unmarried is not from hardness of heart -- but what property must the heart have in order to remain unmarried?

These are three large questions. We will work on them and a few others early tomorrow morning.