2-3 Matthew 5:20
5 Numbers 15:38; Deuteronomy 6:8; Matthew 6:1
8-10 Jeremiah 31:34
8 1 John 2:27
9 Mark 10:28-30
11 Matthew 20:26-27; Mark 9:35, 10:43-44; Luke 22:26
12 Luke 14:11, 18:14
16-22 Matthew 5:33-37
22 Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:34
23-24 Matthew 5:17-20
23 Leviticus 27:30
25-26 Mark 7:14-23; Thomas 89
27-28 Matthew 7:21-23
27 Acts 23:3
29-31 Matthew 5:11-12
33 Matthew 3:7, 12:34; Luke 3:7
35 Genesis 4:8; 2 Chronicles 24:20-21
2 John Dominic Crossan, In Search of Paul, p. 51
5-7 John Dominic Crossan, The Essential Jesus, p. 110, 163f.
8-12 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 214
8-10 Thomas G. Long, “Perpetual Students,” Consider This (Fall 1999), p. 3
“Perpetual Students”
8 Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love, p. 96
9 Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution, p. 175
The Irresistible Revolution
… the omission of fathers is consistent with Christ’s teaching in Matthew that we should call no one father but God (23:9). In an age in which fathers were seen as the lifeline of the family, the seemingly indispensable authority and provident centerpiece, this statement id God’s final triumph over patriarchy.
9 Geza Vermes, The Changing Faces of Jesus, p. 257
The Changing Faces of Jesus
The second grandson [of Honi the Circle-Drawer], Hanan the Hidden was so designated because of his self-effacing personality. In times of drought rabbis encouraged children to pull the fringes of his garments in the street and beg him, “Abba, Abba, give us rain!” He turned to God with the words, “Lord of the universe, do this for the sake of those who cannot distinguish the Father [Abba] who gives rain from the abba [he was no doubt known as Abba Hanan] who does not” (bTaanit 23b).
12 John Dominic Crossan, The Essential Jesus, p. 131, 167
13-39 Walter Brueggemann, “Criticism and Pathos in Jesus of Nazareth,” The Prophetic Imagination, p. 90 f.
“Criticism and Pathos in Jesus of Nazareth”
23-24 Alexander Solzhenitsyn, quoted in The Plough (Spring 2002), p. 38
The Plough
I must say that among educated people politics occupies far too great a proportion of time. All the periodicals, all the newspapers are saturated with politics, although many of the objects they are discussing are very transient and short term. Of course, everywhere in the world people do occupy themselves with higher themes, and not just writers, but they always have a narrow audience, sometimes even appear to be some strange group on the edge of things, peripheral. In truth, questions of higher spirit cannot even be compared to the sort of blinking frivolity or politics. The ultimate problems of life and death show up the colossal nature of this difference even more. Modern humankind is characterized precisely by the loss of the ability to answer the principal problems of life and death. People are prepared to stuff their heads with anything, and to talk of any subject, but only to block off the contemplation of this subject. This is the reason for the increasing pettiness of our society, the concentration on the small and irrelevant.
23-24 Richard Wilbur, “Violet and Jasper,” New and Collected Poems, p. 350
“Violet and Jasper”
24 Richard Rohr, Falling Upward, p. 48
Falling Upward
25-26 John Dominic Crossan, The Essential Jesus, p. 95, 161
27 R. H. Blythe, Haiku, Vol. 4, Autumn-Winter, p. 1232
Haiku
37 Bridget Meehan, Exploring the Feminine Face of God, p. 19
1 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. 11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; 12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If any one swears by the temple, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If any one swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 21 and he who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it; 22 and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. 26 You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation.
23:1 τοτε ο ιησους ελαλησεν τοις οχλοις και τοις μαθηταις αυτου 23:2 λεγων επι της μωσεως καθεδρας εκαθισαν οι γραμματεις και οι φαρισαιοι 23:3 παντα ουν οσα εαν ειπωσιν υμιν τηρειν τηρειτε και ποιειτε κατα δε τα εργα αυτων μη ποιειτε λεγουσιν γαρ και ου ποιουσιν 23:4 δεσμευουσιν γαρ φορτια βαρεα και δυσβαστακτα και επιτιθεασιν επι τους ωμους των ανθρωπων τω δε δακτυλω αυτων ου θελουσιν κινησαι αυτα 23:5 παντα δε τα εργα αυτων ποιουσιν προς το θεαθηναι τοις ανθρωποις πλατυνουσιν δε τα φυλακτηρια αυτων και μεγαλυνουσιν τα κρασπεδα των ιματιων αυτων 23:6 φιλουσιν τε την πρωτοκλισιαν εν τοις δειπνοις και τας πρωτοκαθεδριας εν ταις συναγωγαις 23:7 και τους ασπασμους εν ταις αγοραις και καλεισθαι υπο των ανθρωπων ραββι ραββι 23:8 υμεις δε μη κληθητε ραββι εις γαρ εστιν υμων ο καθηγητης ο χριστος παντες δε υμεις αδελφοι εστε 23:9 και πατερα μη καλεσητε υμων επι της γης εις γαρ εστιν ο πατηρ υμων ο εν τοις ουρανοις 23:10 μηδε κληθητε καθηγηται εις γαρ υμων εστιν ο καθηγητης ο χριστος 23:11 ο δε μειζων υμων εσται υμων διακονος 23:12 οστις δε υψωσει εαυτον ταπεινωθησεται και οστις ταπεινωσει εαυτον υψωθησεται
23:13 βουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι κλειετε την βασιλειαν των ουρανων εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων υμεις γαρ ουκ εισερχεσθε ουδε τους εισερχομενους αφιετε εισελθειν 23:14 βουαι δε υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι κατεσθιετε τας οικιας των χηρων και προφασει μακρα προσευχομενοι δια τουτο ληψεσθε περισσοτερον κριμα 23:15 ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι περιαγετε την θαλασσαν και την ξηραν ποιησαι ενα προσηλυτον και οταν γενηται ποιειτε αυτον υιον γεεννης διπλοτερον υμων
23:16 ουαι υμιν οδηγοι τυφλοι οι λεγοντες ος αν ομοση εν τω ναω ουδεν εστιν ος δ αν ομοση εν τω χρυσω του ναου οφειλει 23:17 μωροι και τυφλοι τις γαρ μειζων εστιν ο χρυσος η ο ναος ο αγιαζων τον χρυσον 23:18 και ος εαν ομοση εν τω θυσιαστηριω ουδεν εστιν ος δ αν ομοση εν τω δωρω τω επανω αυτου οφειλει 23:19 μωροι και τυφλοι τι γαρ μειζον το δωρον η το θυσιαστηριον το αγιαζον το δωρον 23:20 ο ουν ομοσας εν τω θυσιαστηριω ομνυει εν αυτω και εν πασιν τοις επανω αυτου 23:21 και ο ομοσας εν τω ναω ομνυει εν αυτω και εν τω κατοικησαντι αυτον 23:22 και ο ομοσας εν τω ουρανω ομνυει εν τω θρονω του θεου και εν τω καθημενω επανω αυτου
23:23 ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι αποδεκατουτε το ηδυοσμον και το ανηθον και το κυμινον και αφηκατε τα βαρυτερα του νομου την κρισιν και τον ελεον και την πιστιν ταυτα εδει ποιησαι κακεινα μη αφιεναι 23:24 οδηγοι τυφλοι οι διυλιζοντες τον κωνωπα την δε καμηλον καταπινοντες
23:25 ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι καθαριζετε το εξωθεν του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος εσωθεν δε γεμουσιν εξ αρπαγης και αδικιας 23:26 φαρισαιε τυφλε καθαρισον πρωτον το εντος του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος ινα γενηται και το εκτος αυτων καθαρον
23:27 ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι παρομοιαζετε ταφοις κεκονιαμενοις οιτινες εξωθεν μεν φαινονται ωραιοι εσωθεν δε γεμουσιν οστεων νεκρων και πασης ακαθαρσιας 23:28 ουτως και υμεις εξωθεν μεν φαινεσθε τοις ανθρωποις δικαιοι εσωθεν δε μεστοι εστε υποκρισεως και ανομιας
23:29 ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι οικοδομειτε τους ταφους των προφητων και κοσμειτε τα μνημεια των δικαιων 23:30 και λεγετε ει ημεν εν ταις ημεραις των πατερων ημων ουκ αν ημεν κοινωνοι αυτων εν τω αιματι των προφητων 23:31 ωστε μαρτυρειτε εαυτοις οτι υιοι εστε των φονευσαντων τους προφητας 23:32 και υμεις πληρωσατε το μετρον των πατερων υμων 23:33 οφεις γεννηματα εχιδνων πως φυγητε απο της κρισεως της γεεννης 23:34 δια τουτο ιδου εγω αποστελλω προς υμας προφητας και σοφους και γραμματεις και εξ αυτων αποκτενειτε και σταυρωσετε και εξ αυτων μαστιγωσετε εν ταις συναγωγαις υμων και διωξετε απο πολεως εις πολιν 23:35 οπως ελθη εφ υμας παν αιμα δικαιον εκχυνομενον επι της γης απο του αιματος αβελ του δικαιου εως του αιματος ζαχαριου υιου βαραχιου ον εφονευσατε μεταξυ του ναου και του θυσιαστηριου 23:36 αμην λεγω υμιν οτι ηξει παντα ταυτα επι την γενεαν ταυτην
38 Jeremiah 22:5
39 Psalm 118:26
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
23:37 ιερουσαλημ ιερουσαλημ η αποκτενουσα τους προφητας και λιθοβολουσα τους απεσταλμενους προς αυτην ποσακις ηθελησα επισυναγαγειν τα τεκνα σου ον τροπον επισυναγει ορνις τα νοσσια εαυτης υπο τας πτερυγας και ουκ ηθελησατε 23:38 ιδου αφιεται υμιν ο οικος υμων ερημος 23:39 λεγω γαρ υμιν ου μη με ιδητε απ αρτι εως αν ειπητε ευλογημενος ο ερχομενος εν ονοματι κυριου