Holy Textures

Matthew 9:35 - 10:23

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The lesson given for this Sunday has a shorter version, 9:35 - 10:8, and a longer one, 9:35 - 10:23. My choice of a shorter version is 10:5-23 since this gives more of the direct teaching of Jesus to his followers. (And that's what I'll comment on here.)

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

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Following the Sermon on the Mount, Chapters 5 through 7, there follows a series of healing stories and calling / discipleship stories:

• Cleansing a man with leprosy. (8:1-4)
• Healing a Roman army officer's servant (8:5-13)
• Healing Peter's mother and others at Peter's house (8:14-17)
• The costs of following Jesus (8:18-22)
• Stilling a storm (8:23-27)
• Casting out two violent demons (8:28-34)
• Healing a paralyzed man (9:1-8)
• Calling the tax collector, Matthew (9:9-13)
• New wine cannot be put in old wine skins (9:14-17)
• Healing a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, and
  bringing back to life the daughter of a synagogue leader (9:18-26)
• Healing a man who is blind (9:27-31)
• Casting out a silencing demon (9:32-34)
• The crowds are drawn to Jesus - the harvest is plentiful, but
  the laborers are few (9:35-38)

Matthew 5:38-41, Publicly Expose and Mock Injustice

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Matthew 5:38-41 has a tragic history of poor translations and even worse interpretations.

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.

This passage is NOT recommending becoming a doormat; nor does it tolerate domestic violence.

First of all, the translation, "Do not resist an evildoer" fails to convey the full meaning of the underlying Greek. It would be better translated as, "Do not violently resist an evildoer." Thus the teaching is primarily about non-violence. It is not about acquiescing to evil.

Jesus then goes on to offer three quick examples of how to non-violently resist an evildoer - in fact, of how to publicly shame and mock an evildoer.

Sermon On The Mount

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The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of the teachings of Jesus which Matthew records in Chapters 5 through 7. The sermon ends with a teaching from Jesus about a difference between those who are wise and those who are foolish: