029: being "poor in spirit" is not a command

A closer look at Matt 5:3 "blessed are the poor in spirit because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens" 

stay tuned for more on this verse next time . . . 

028: Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matt 5:3 first look)

Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit because the kingdom of the heavens is of them." 

The first thing Jesus teaches in the book of Matthew is that the poor in spirit are blessed.

Over the next few episodes I'll present an exegetical interpretation of the first eight "beatitudes" or "makarisms" according to Matthew. 

Whilst there are plenty of biblical interpretations and theological interpretations around, it would be good to present an exegetical interpretation (based on the Matthean text).   

027: podcast update

 Just a 5-minute update on some minor changes to the podcast, namely replacing 

Critical Study of Matthew and Masculinity 

with 

Matthean Exegesis

026: The Authority to Teach (Matt 4:23–5:2, 7:28–29)

Matt 4:23-5:2 and 7:28-29 

The Frame for the Sermon on the Mount 

What is "not like the scribes"?

025: The First Four to Follow (Matt 4:18–22)

The first four to join Jesus on a mission to ... do what, exactly?
To "catch people"?

Is it a manly thing?

Peter, Andrew, James (Jacob), and John accept the invitation to become people catchers. 

Why? 

Matt 4:18–22

The Poetics of Matthew 1 Errata

I'm compiling a list of typos, minor errors, and revisions for the book The Poetics of Matthew 1. So far the only significant change to note is that the word "adultery" on page 56 should be "porneia" (the remaining revisions are less significant):

page x "according" should change to "according to" in fourth paragraph

page xii remove round brackets from fifth paragraph: "(and why...)"

page xiv "verse 18a)" change to "v. 18a)" in fourth paragraph

page xvi "interchangeable" change to "interchangeably" in first paragraph

page 1 "question" change to "questions" in third paragraph

page 19 "Temple" change to "temple" in second paragraph

page 27 "1:3–16" change to "1:2–16" in table heading

page 39 use small caps for "lord" namely "LORD" in first paragraph

page 44 add line break before "In all", between third and fourth paragraphs

page 56 change "adultery" to "porneia" beginning of third paragraph

page 68 delete redundant "(and making wrong plans)" in second paragraph

page 68 revise footnote wording from:

"Yamasaki explains the importance of creating empathy with a character. See Yamasaki, Perspective Criticism.

to:

Yamasaki, Perspective Criticism, explains the importance of creating empathy with a character.

page 70 delete "(Matt 1:19)" from bottom of table

page 70 change "How is it that:" to "Namely:" in fourth paragraph

page 93 make "n" in "name" italic in fifth-to-last line

page 102 change "were critical" to "were essential" in third-to-last line

page 109 change "waiting on a man" to "waiting for a certain man" in first line

page 111 "there are three" change to "the three" in third paragraph

page 124 insert "of us" into "those reading" so should be "those of us reading" end of fifth paragraph

page 129 change "nor" to "or" in paragraph four

page 129 change "In Matthew 13" to "In Matthew 23" paragraph four

page 131 un-capitalize the E in Eunuchs thus "eunuchs" end of second paragraph

024: Jesus Begins (Matt 4:12–17)

Matt 4:12–17

And so it begins.

Jesus begins his ministry in the North. Why?

023: Three trials (Matt 4:1–11)

Matt 4:1–11
Jesus refuses to take the easy way out

022: God is pleased with . . ? (Matt 3:16–17)

After Jesus is baptized, God is pleased 

. . . with what exactly?

(Matt 3:16–17)

021: John is Expecting Something Different (Matt 3:13–15)

Matt 3:13–15

John wants Jesus to take over the ministry and does not want to baptize Jesus.

Jesus has different plans.