The “Exodus” sequence in Matthew’s Gospel is a story of rivalry between two royal sons, and it all takes place upon a cruciform stage.
“Instead of seeking wisdom from the created heavens, the wise men now understood that ‘there is a God in heaven’ who reveals such secrets.”
Matthew’s disregard for chronology in his brief mention of the saints resurrected along with Jesus is baffling until we discern his use of literary...
If the Lord’s Prayer recapitulates the structure of the Ten Commandments, its arrangement is ideal for responsive reading in worship.
The rulers of Jerusalem tested Yahweh and refused to enter into His rest. In Matthew 21-22, Jesus is challenged by the authorities five times. The...
Jesus’ seven last “words” from the cross follow the pattern of Creation. Why? Because He was making all things new.
The seventh cycle deals with the saints in the court of God as a new Hierarchy. Unlike the Abrahamic demarcation, this is a division...
In the English New Testament, “Judas” and “Judah” as personal and corporate names are a helpful differentiation. But when it comes to Judas Iscariot, his Hebrew...
Matthew’s account of Jesus, Peter and their miraculous payment of the Temple tax is a classic literary puzzle. Providentially, the Bible’s own covenant-literary matrix...
Since most modern Christians do not have the Bible’s sacred architecture hidden in their hearts, much of the impact of Jesus’ words is lost...