Interrogating the Gospels

Matthew 10:24-39   You received without payment; give without payment  (Version: NRSV) Matthew 10:24-39   24    "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master;  25    it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!  26    " So have no fear of them ; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.  27    What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.  28    Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.   29    Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father .  30    And even the hairs of your head are all counted.  31    So do not be afraid ; you are of more value than

Matthew 9:35 - 10:8   You received without payment; give without payment  (Version: NRSV) The Harvest Is Great, the Labourers Few 35  Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.  36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless , like sheep without a shepherd.  37 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few;  38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ The Twelve Apostles 10 Then Jesus  summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.  2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;  3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; Jam

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, I have come to call not the righteous but sinners, for Sunday June 11, 2023 The Calling of Matthew NRSV Translation 9  As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘ Follow me .’ And he got up and followed him.  10  And as he sat at dinner  in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting  with him and his disciples.  11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘ Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners? ’  12 But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  13 Go and learn what this means , “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners .’ *************** The Gospel for Hearers translation 9 When Jesus went on a bit further, he saw a man sitting in the tax-office, Matthew by name, and he said to him, " Follow me ." Getting up, he followed him. 10 An

Matthew 28:16-20, ...but some doubted (Version: NRSV) The Commissioning of the Disciples 16  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  17 When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted .  18 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ,  20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ Alternative translation: Matthew 28:16-20,  ... though some doubted (Version: The Gospels for Hearers) 16 The eleven disciples made their way to Galilee and to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him they worshipped (him), though some doubted . And Jesus came to them, and spoke to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. Go and make disciples o

John 7:37-39a, ...Rivers of Living Water (Version: NRSV) Rivers of Living Water 37  On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘ Let anyone who is thirsty come to m e,  38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As  the scripture has said, “ Out of the believer’s heart  shall flow rivers of living water .”   ’  39 Now he said this about the Spirit , which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit ,  because Jesus was not yet glorified. Alternative translation: John 7:37-39a,  ... Rivers of Living Water (Version: The Gospels for Hearers) 37 On the last day - the climax of the festival - Jesus stood up and called out, " Whoever is thirsty, let them come to me and drink . From the one who believes in me , as the scripture says, will flow rivers of living water ." 39 In this he was referring to the Spirit which those who believed in him would receive, for the Spirit was not yet because Jesus had not yet

John 17:1-11, ...I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world (Version: NRSV) Jesus Prays for His Disciples 17 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,  2 since you have given him authority over all people,  to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.  5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. 6  ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word .  7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;  8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them , and they have received them and know in truth tha

John 14:15-21, If you love me (Version: NRSV) 15  ‘If you love me, you will keep *  my commandments .  16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, *  to be with you for ever.  17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive , because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in *  you. 18  ‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.  19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.  20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.  21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ Alternative translation: John 14:15-21, If you love me (Version: The Gospels for Hearers) 15 If you love me you will keep my commandments . And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper t