Mike Blogs

“ And teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28: 20b)    What does “to obey all that I have commanded you”...

“And teaching them  to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28: 20b) Notice that Jesus did not say, “teaching them to...

“And teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you ” (Matthew 28: 20a)  Where should we go for a definition of teaching? The...

“ “Baptizing them  into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”   (Matthew 28: 19b)  Some scholars wonder whether or not...

Matthew 28: 19b, “ Baptizing them…     For his earthly mission, Jesus, “ though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with...

“Therefore, go and make disciples  of all nations .   (Matthew 28: 19a)  The Bible presents a theology of inclusion. From the beginning,...

“Therefore, go and make disciples  of all nations.   (Matthew 28: 19a)   As I have indicated earlier, the main verb of this sentence is...

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations”   (Matthew 28: 19a).  As you walk along the beach, do you ever hope to find something...

It is possible, and I believe profitable, to review the Gospel according to Matthew through the lens of Jesus’ parting words. The speech...

The Gospel with the stories that Matthew chose to tell about Jesus is drawing to a close. We will consider later what Matthew was trying...

28: 1.  After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.   Jesus was...

This is a long chapter. Who divided these things up anyway? Actually, it was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, leader of...

The male disciples have fled. Jesus has died alone on the cross. Well, not quite alone.  27: 55-56. Many women  were also there, looking...

Matthew describes the crucifixion without elaboration, unlike some preachers and movie directors. If the details were important, then...

Only the Romans had the power to execute convicted prisoners, which is why the Jerusalem leadership took Jesus to Pilate for judgment....

We are nearing the end of Jesus’ ordeal. Accusations are made, Jesus has no answer; or rather Jesus offers no answer. He knows what he is...

The unusual, perhaps even extra-judicial (as in a kangaroo court) proceedings unfold, but who is in charge? The Roman prefect, Pilate? He...

Let’s remember what Jesus was saying and doing as there is an abrupt shift into a new phase of this Passion Week.   “Then he came to the...

It is not difficult to figure out what is heavy on Jesus’ mind. The Passover meal has many layers, but Matthew chose to record mainly...

We come now to one of the foundational moments in our Christian tradition as well as a keystone to our beliefs about who Jesus is...