Having returned to ordinary time we once more take up a sequential reading of the Gospel of Matthew. We pick up in Matthew’s second “book,” a section sometimes called the "Missionary Discourse." Having experienced the opposition of the Pharisees and recognizing that the crowds are like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus gives authority to the Twelve and sends them out to shepherd Israel. He spends the text of our Gospel warning the Twelve of the dangers of persecution but reminding them of God the Father’s constant care.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RESOURCES
Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Vol. 2. International Critical Commentary. London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004.
Faithlife Corporation. “Denarius.” Verbum, Computer software. Verbum Factbook. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, June 15, 2020. https://ref.ly/logos4/Factbook?ref=bk.%24denarius.
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. "ἀσσάριον." Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
Mass Readings Explained by Dr. Brant Pitre
Verbum Bible Software - www.verbum.com
REFERENCES
Matthew 9:33-34 - "The crowds were amazed and said, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.' But the Pharisees said, 'He drives out demons by the prince of demons.'"
Matthew 4:23, 9:35 - These verses form an "inclusio" demarcating the first "book" of the Gospel of Matthew
Ezekiel 34:23, 30-31 - "'And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd [...] And they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord GOD. And you are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord GOD.'”
Matthew 10:1-2 - "And he called to him his twelve disciples [δώδεκα μαθητὰς / dodeka mathetas] and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles [δώδεκα ἀποστόλων / dodeka apostolon] are these [...]"
Jeremiah 20:7-9 - "You seduced me, LORD, and I let myself be seduced; you were too strong for me, and you prevailed. All day long I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage I proclaim; The word of the LORD has brought me reproach and derision all day long. I say I will not mention him, I will no longer speak in his name. But then it is as if fire is burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding back, I cannot!"
Philippians 2:10-12 - "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."