Why do Matthew and Luke offer us different nativity stories?

James Bejon offers this fascinating exploration of the differences between Matthew and Luke. For a discussion of the historical issues in Luke’s nativity narrative, see this article. As Christians, most of us are familiar with harmonised versions of the NT’s birth narratives. We see them acted out each year in Nativity plays (if we subject … Continue Reading

‘Render unto Caesar’: the question of taxes in Matthew 22

The gospel reading for Trinity 20 in Year A is Matthew 22.15–22, the short exchange between Jesus and his opponents on the question of the Roman ‘poll’ tax. This has important theological implications for our understanding of issues of politics and power, though it is often misread. We are now well embedded in Matthew’s triple … Continue Reading

‘Render unto Caesar’: the question of taxes in Matt 22 video discussion

The gospel reading for Trinity 20 in Year A is Matthew 22.15–22, the short exchange between Jesus and his opponents on the question of the Roman ‘poll’ tax. This has important theological implications for our understanding of issues of politics and power, though it is often misread. It comes at a particular moment in Matthew’s … Continue Reading