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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
In the lectionary reading for Trinity 13 year A, Romans 12.9–21, Paul sets out a remarkable vision of life in the redeemed community, using a particularly powerful rhetorical style. Instead of argumentation and logical connectives, Paul bundles together a series of punchy statements using infinitive and particle phrases. Just as striking is his use of … 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 first part of our passage is claimed to show that Jesus overturned the Jewish food laws. The second part is claimed to show that Jesus was racially prejudiced just as we are. Neither is true. The lectionary gospel reading for this Sunday, Trinity 11 in Year A, includes one mandatory pericope and an optional … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 11 in Year A is Matthew 15.[10-20] 21-28. If we take the whole text, there are two episodes which are both commonly misinterpreted. The first part concerns the dispute between Jesus and the Pharisees about the washing of hands, and his teaching of the disciples about whether ‘unclean’ food … Continue Reading
The gospel for Trinity 10 in Year A is Matthew 14.22–33, Jesus walking on the sea to the terrified disciples. The episode has parallels in Mark and John, but only Matthew includes the further account of Peter stepping out of the boat to meet Jesus—and this raises import issues of interpretation. Should we focus on … Continue Reading
The common reading of Jesus (and Peter) walking on the water is: when there is a storm, and you get out of the boat, keep your eyes on Jesus. But the passage is more intriguing than this, and the danger is that, in reading it this way, we are precisely repeating Peter’s error! The Sunday lectionary … 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
If gentiles are now coming to faith in Jesus, and many Jews are not, has the word of God and his promise to Israel failed? That is the critical question Paul starts to address in Roman 9.1–5, the epistle for Trinity 9 in Year A. This passage cannot be read in isolation, as Paul uses … Continue Reading
The readings for Trinity 8 in Year A are Romans 8.26–39, the ‘pinnacle’ of the New Testament, and Matt 13.31-33, 44-52, the collection of short—yet vivid and compelling—parables of the kingdom not yet read. The video discussion of Romans 8 can be found here, and is linked at the end of this article. The video … 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
