Jesus has strong words regarding relatives in our Gospel today. We are to put him first, even over family. In a first century Jewish context, guided by the fourth commandment, this is a demand that really only God can make and, though difficult, in exploring the Gospel through a lens hinted at by St. Irenaeus, we discover that two figures in the Old Testament perfectly embodied this demand and so offer us an example of its fulfillment. Those figures are Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah.
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.
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
Micah 7:6 - "For the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house."
Irenaeus, Against Heresies 4.5.4 - "Righteously also the apostles, being of the race of Abraham, left the ship and their father, and followed the Word. Righteously also do we, possessing the same faith as Abraham, and taking up the cross as Isaac did the wood, follow Him."