Bible Study: Parody and Subversion in Matthew's Gospel

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I review the work that I did in episodes 59-61 on chapters 24-25 of Matthew, often referred to as "The Little Apocalypse." I reflect on this sermon by Jesus in these chapters during a time when the world as we know it may be coming to an end, i.e. the world in which the U.S. is the dominant hegemon. What is the message for us from these chapters? What wa...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, I interview Ched Myers about his new book, Healing Affluenza and Resisting Plutocracy; Luke's Jesus and Sabbath Economics . To order the book, go to Bookshop.org and search for Ched Myers. Through the end of July 2025, the promo code SOJO20 will reduce the price by 20%. You can also use this link: https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Ched+Myers D...

Send us Fan Mail This is a sermon that I preached with a friend who is from Gaza. The text that was read before the sermon is Psalm 22: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?..."

Send us Fan Mail This is a replay of Episode 31 with a brief new intro.  Jesus tells a parable about a demon exorcism which results in a situation worse than the original demon possession. Those who read the Bible at surface level (and somehow don't seem to notice all the problems that presents) tend to read this passage literally, but Jesus is clearly speaking parabolically. This parable can...

Send us Fan Mail For many modern Christians, especially in the West, the miracles of the Bible are such an uncomfortable subject that we often pretend that they are not even there in the text. We ignore them. But they are key to understanding the message of the Gospel.

Send us Fan Mail What is the intersection between the "hidden things" and "secrets" of Matthew 13 and the recent conspiracy theories that have played significant role in U.S. politics? If you need to review Matthew 13, click here . If you want to watch clips of Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid, click here.

Send us Fan Mail Could the Gospel of Matthew have been written to address the aftermath of a genocide, much like the one happening in Gaza right now?

Send us Fan Mail I recommend to my listeners the amazing documentary, Gaza Fights for Freedom . You can find it free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnZSaKYmP2s It centers on  the 21 months of nonviolent demonstrations by Gazans at the border with Israel in 2018-2019.

Send us Fan Mail The story of my short sojourn in Palestine 22 years ago and what I learned from the Palestinians. This is a slightly revised sermon that I delivered at Pasadena Mennonite Church in August of 2001.

Send us Fan Mail The Gospel overturns not just the order of society but our conception of God as well. When Jesus cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" we should be shocked. We should not just gloss over the implications of such a statement in this story about God revealed in a human Palestinian Jewish peasant. It may be an earth shattering revelation about what "Go...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a sermon that I delivered at Pasadena Mennonite Church on September 17, 2023. In this sermon I connect the dots between U.S. military and economic aggression abroad with domestic housing justice. The passages cited are: Matthew 12:46-50 Mark 10:29-30 Matthew 6:19-21

Send us Fan Mail The Making Housing and Community Happen (MHCH) Podcast has launched, telling stories of social transformation and housing justice! You can listen to the first episode here . You can also search for "Making Housing and Community Happen" on your podcast app. You can visit the Making Housing and Community Happen website here .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I revisit the text about Jesus' interaction with the centurion to focus more than I did in episode 16 on the "banquet" (NRSV) that Jesus refers to. What is this "banquet" of which Jesus speaks? How does it evolve in the writings of ancient Israel, and what form does it take in the Gospel of Matthew?

Send us Fan Mail Some new research and connections in these two passages that occur together in Matthew 19:13-30.

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, I interview Dr. Timothy Lewis, creator of the Podcast Matthewlinity , and author of the upcoming book, The Poetics of Matthew One . Through poetic/literary analysis of the Gospel of Matthew, Dr. Lewis has found a pattern in which the narrative consistently undermines patriarchal structures and customs, challenging men to put aside male privilege. This patt...

Send us Fan Mail I've often thought about what I would say were I to be invited to participate in an on stage "debate" with an atheist. Well, here is my opening statement.

Send us Fan Mail Why does Matthew divide up the genealogy into 3 sets of 14 generations? What does this signify? Link to Dr. Timothy Lewis' podcast, Matthewlinity: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/matthewlinity/id1398795694

Send us Fan Mail Revisiting the theme of Jonah in Matthew. The "big fish" ain't just a big fish!

Send us Fan Mail The text is Matthew 4:23-25. This special episode is mostly a recording of me, Bert, doing a workshop (as the sermon!) at Pasadena Mennonite Church, but I added a 10 minute introduction.

Send us Fan Mail Jesus' resurrection brings the victory of the future into the present, and Jesus gives his disciples a nonviolent commission to counter the imperial violent domination of the powers and authorities of this present age.

Send us Fan Mail Jesus experiences abandonment by God, but the apocalyptic signs reveal the victory of the cross.

Send us Fan Mail We look at two important passages, the suicide of Judas and the release of Barabbas.

Send us Fan Mail Jesus goes on trial before the Sanhedrin, but who is really on trial? Those with eyes to see can see as through the vision of Daniel 7.

Send us Fan Mail In these passages, Jesus is more human than we have seen him; he is afraid and doesn't want to go to the cross, yet he still rejects violent resistance, even by angels.

Send us Fan Mail A woman anoints Jesus, and Jesus becomes the liberating sacrifice for the nation (and all nations or people).