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The Sunday lectionary reading for Trinity 18 in Year A is the second of three judgement parables against the Jerusalem leaders in Matt 21.33–46: traditionally, the parable of the wicked husbandmen, or the parable of the wicked tenants. There is plenty to explore within the passage, and in its relation to the surrounding texts—but it … Continue Reading
To ‘carry one’s cross’ has commonly been understood as bearing a heavy burden through life, and some are sceptical as to whether Jesus could have said this in his lifetime. But a closer look shows that it fits with Jesus’ other teaching, and is actually a call to liberation and new life. The lectionary gospel … Continue Reading
Peter’s confession of Jesus in Matthew 16.13–20 has some fascinating differences from the parallel accounts in Luke and Mark—and a unique Matthean comment addressed by Jesus to Peter. Video discussion can be found here and is also linked at the end of this article. The reading for Trinity 12 in Year A is Matt 16.13–20, … Continue Reading
The reading for Trinity 12 in Year A is Matthew 16.13–20. It is Peter’s confession of who Jesus is as Messiah, but it also contains Matthew’s unique material in which Jesus calls Peter ‘rock’, gives him the keys to the kingdom, and commissions him to bind and loose. But these three ideas are much misunderstood, … Continue Reading
The feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew is much briefer than in the other gospels. But he draws extensively on images from the Old Testament, and focuses on Jesus, the one who invites us, provides for us, and invites us to follow him. The Sunday lectionary reading for the Trinity 9 in Year A is … Continue Reading
The lectionary gospel reading for the Trinity 7 in Year A once more splits up a text in order to unite a parable and its interpretation by Jesus, though with less damage than was done previously. The parable itself is given in Matthew 13.24–30; we then skip over the brief parables of the mustard seed … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 5 in this Year A is another odd selection of verses, Matthew 11.16–19 and 25–30. It is yet one more occasion where we could really do with a lectionary commentary which explains the rationale for this choice. Although it might appear to be irritating, it actually illustrates a far … Continue Reading
The gospel read for Trinity 4 in Year A of Matt 10.40–42 is perhaps the strangest choice in the whole lectionary—at only three verses! (The lectionary epistle is Romans 6.12–23; the video discussion for that is here, and the video discussion for Matt 10 is here. Both are included at the end of this article.) … Continue Reading
The gospel reading for Trinity 3 in Year A is Matthew 10.24–39—we continue to work through Jesus’ teaching on mission in Matthew 10, but the lectionary has jumped across from the specifics of his sending out the Twelve (last week in Matthew 9.35–10.8) to more general teaching about being faithful under pressure. (You can find … Continue Reading
At last! After the detours in Luke-Acts and John for the series of feasts around Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity, the lectionary finally brings us back to the Gospel according to Matthew for Trinity 2 in Year A! Whew! The reading set, Matt 9.35–10.8, is slightly odd, in that it bridges from one section of Matthew, … Continue Reading
The Sunday gospel lectionary reading for Trinity Sunday in this Year A is Matt 28.16–20. As with the readings in Years B and C, it is short and compact. (See below for commentary on this, and here for video discussion of it, and here for video discussion of the epistle from 2 Cor 13, both … Continue Reading
Ian Paul: theologian, author, speaker, academic consultant. Associate Senior Research Fellow, Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology; Associate Minister, St Nic's, Nottingham; Managing Editor, Grove Books; member of General Synod and Archbishops' Council. Mac user; chocoholic. Tweets at @psephizo
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Gospel commentary index Lectionary Year A
Andrew Goddard Bible biblical interpretation Biblical literacy biblical theology Church of England culture discipleship discussion doctrine eschatology evangelism gay General Synod Grove guest Hermeneutics History hope interpretation James Blandford Baker Jesus John's gospel Justin Welby leadership lectionary Luke Luke's gospel Matthew ministry mission New Testament Paul politics power preaching Revelation same sex marriage same sex unions sexuality theology video Year A Year B Year C
