In a tradition that mocks Greek philosophy and human wisdom, it goes without saying that the wisdom afforded Solomon in the Old Testament is central to the Bible’s critique of Hellenism. What’s not so obvious—at least at first glance—is how this critique is expressed in the foolishness of David’s son and the outcome of his…
Category: Matthew
The City of David?
In a typical Disney movie, the writers present a protagonist-coming-of-age who faces adversity (usually an identity crisis, an injustice, or both) discovers who they are, overcomes their challenge, and then, finally, realizes their true destiny…as king, queen, or a special person of sorts who can change the world. These stories are popular because they soothe…
Breaching the High Wall
In the ancient world, kingly genealogies, like kingly cities, were constructed to establish a monarch’s credibility, divinity, authenticity, and permanence. It should come as no surprise, then, that Matthew (like Genesis) deconstructs the king’s genealogy by presenting a disruptive counter-narrative. Where Judah longs to boast, Matthew ridicules. Where David seeks credibility, Matthew discredits. Where Judah…
Prime Real Estate
As the first book of the New Testament, Matthew enjoys the distinct honor of headlining and setting the tone for all of part two of the Bible. Like a carefully placed advertisement in your social media feed, every verse, every word, every letter in the opening chapter of Matthew is both strategic and precious. Given…
What Kind of Messiah?
In the very first verse of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew raises a question that looms over the entire story: Whose son is Jesus and what kind of messiah will he be? How does Jesus relate to David? Why the mention of Abraham? Will the reign of Jesus prove to be different than…