Scripture In Nutshell.

Each of the synoptic gospels handles the choosing and sending out of Jesus’ twelve disciples differently. Matthew, the last of the four gospels to be produced, takes a unique approach: he combines the calling of the twelve and the sending out in one section. His gospel also includes the following instruction: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” What are we to make of this oddity - that the gospel is exclusive to Israel - which doesn’t seem consistent with the rest of Matthew or with scripture as a whole? Matthew is following a program in his Gospel which reflects the teaching of Paul in a nutshell: the gospel is offered to Gentiles, but they are not first. Israel is. It is their refusal that opens the door for Gentiles to accept the same teaching. The call and sending of the twelve in Matthew accomplishes two things: it affirms the Scriptural primacy of the mission to Israel; additionally it puts pressure on the Gentile addressees by reminding them of the seriousness of the matter; that when the gospel is offered to them, it will have already been offered to and refused by Israel; thus it is coming to them as a last opportunity.
Join me in a discussion of Matthew 10:1-8.

References:
Matthew 9:35, 36; 15:24, 28; 24:14; 28:16, 20
Romans 9:30
Revelation 21:12-14
1 Corinthians 10:1-10
ὄχλους ochlous (crowds)

“Funky” performed by Miles Davis and Prince.

Emasculation of the Priesthood.

In the Orthodox Church on the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and Forerunner, the gospel reading is complied from Luke. It includes the first 25 verses of chapter 1, plus a selection of additional verses dealing specifically with John. Despite offering an abridged version of the first chapter of Luke, this pericope expands on Mark’s approach of beginning the Gospel of Jesus with the origin of his Forerunner. In this “back story” we can note important details in the text and glean key Scriptural points for teaching. The silencing of Zachariah represents a total emasculation of the priesthood; at the same time it reinforces the implementation of grace according to the will of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable one to open his mouth and utter words of praise unto God.

Join me in a discussion of Luke 1:1-25; 57-68; 76; 80.

References

Genesis 6:9
צַדִּ֛יק (ṣad·dîq) - righteous
תָּמִ֥ים (tā·mîm) - blameless
Malachi 4:5-6
Matthew 17:13
Luke 1:39-42

“Crystal Ball” performed by Prince.

In his gospel, Mark presents an alternative to armed revolt: submission to the one God of both Jews and Gentiles. Thus for him, Jesus is both Christ and the Son of God in a very specific way: according to the Gospel preached by the Apostle Paul, which is itself the fulfillment of what was written in the prophets, the second part of Scripture. Here we have to understand that one could not call Jesus “Christ” if they expected him to lead the revolt and use earthly power to subdue Rome. On the contrary, Jesus would fulfill the role of Isaiah’s suffering servant, that is the sole one who submits fully to the will of God (Isaiah 53:7, 10).

Saint Mark by Emmanuel Tzanes.

Original intro and outro music performed by Raphael Shaheen.