Year ASeason after PentecostProper 20 (25) Matthew 20:1-16 Contextual Background: Jesus tells a parable of workers hired at different times but all paid the same. Those hired first grumble, but the landowner insists on his right to be generous. Within the Jewish […]
Year ASeason after PentecostProper 19 (24) Matthew 18:21-35 Contextual Background: Peter asks how many times to forgive. Jesus replies, “Seventy times seven.” He tells of a servant forgiven a great debt who refuses to forgive a smaller debt, and is condemned. This […]
Year ASeason after PentecostProper 18 (23)Matthew 18:15-20 Contextual Background: Jesus teaches about reconciliation within the community: if someone sins, go to them privately; if they refuse, bring witnesses; if they still refuse, treat them as a Gentile or tax collector. He concludes: […]
Year ASeason after PentecostProper 17 (22) Matthew 16:21-28 Contextual Background: After Peter confesses Jesus as Messiah, Jesus predicts his suffering and death. Peter resists; Jesus rebukes him. He then calls the disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow. The […]
Year ASeason after PentecostProper 16 (21) Matthew 16:13-20 Contextual Background: At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responds: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blesses him and declares, “On this rock […]
Year ASeason after PentecostProper 15 (20) Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 Contextual Background: A Canaanite woman begs Jesus to heal her daughter. At first, Jesus refuses, citing his mission to Israel. She persists, saying, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from […]
Year ASeason after PentecostProper 14 (19)Matthew 14:22-33 Contextual Background: Jesus walks on the sea to meet the disciples in a storm. Peter steps out but begins to sink when he fears. Jesus reaches out: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” […]
Year ASeason after PentecostProper 13 (18) Matthew 14:13-21 Contextual Background: After John the Baptist’s death, Jesus withdraws to grieve. Crowds follow him, and he has compassion on them. With five loaves and two fish, he feeds more than five thousand people, and […]
Year ASeason after PentecostProper 12 (17) Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Contextual Background: Jesus offers several short parables: the mustard seed that grows into a great tree, the yeast that leavens the dough, the treasure hidden in a field, the pearl of great price, […]
Year ASeason after PentecostProper 11 (16) Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Contextual Background: Jesus tells a parable of wheat and weeds growing together until the harvest. The disciples are warned not to uproot the weeds. Within the Jewish Tradition: Prophets used harvest imagery for […]