July 8th, 2023

This Sunday is what is typically known as the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. And the Gospel Reading for this Sunday is from Matthew 11[:25-30], and in these weekly writings we have been examining that gospel account in a progressive fashion, but we have been going at our own pace. Currently we are just a little farther ahead, in chapter fifteen, but the appointed readings will soon be there in just a few weeks.

Since we have been near the center of this gospel account, that has given us a good opportunity to have a broader look at what is called the ‘historical present’ within this gospel account. (That is when the verb would normally be in the past tense, but it is given in the present.) Last week’s writing made connections between these historical presents and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Last week’s writing also gave a somewhat-literal translation of the first part of what is below, a significant part of what is usually called chapter fifteen, since it contained an important historical present. And the word ‘then’ right in front of the historical present was used often in this gospel account to connect people to the significant actions of Jesus on earth. The addition in the text of the description of the religious groups, that they come from the significant city of Jerusalem, also connects to his significant actions. This helps one to see the purpose of Jesus going toward the cross (just outside of Jerusalem) and, after that, to go away from the empty tomb (also near Jerusalem). The historical presents below (in bold) help the reader or listener to get an idea of the heightening tension between Jesus and the important ‘Jerusalem-ers’ of his day.

What follows is a good portion of chapter fifteen of the Gospel according to Matthew [15:1-31], in a somewhat-literal translation (and you should feel free to compare it to other translations and to read what some study bibles have to say regarding the text):

Then, they approach the Jesus, from Jerusalem, Pharisees and Scribes, saying, “On account of what the disciples of you transgress the tradition of the Elders? For not they wash the hands of them whenever bread they eat.”

Now he, answering, he said to them, “On account of what, indeed, do you yourselves transgress the commandment of the God on account of the tradition of you? For the God said, ‘Honor the father and the mother’, and ‘The one speaking evil of the father or mother, by death, let him die.’ Now you, yourselves, say, ‘Whoever says to the father or the mother, “A Gift”, whatever by me, you would have benefitted, certainly not will not honor the father of him,’ and you annulled the word of the God on account of the tradition of you. Hypocrites! Well, he prophesied about you, Isaiah, saying, ‘The people, this, with the lips, me he honors, now the heart of them, far, is away from me. Now in vain they worship me, teaching teachings, ordinances of men.’”

And calling forward the crowd, he said to them, “Hear and understand; not the thing entering into the mouth defiles the person, but on the contrary, the thing coming forth out of the mouth, this defiles the person.”

Then, approaching, the disciples say to him, “You know that the Pharisees, having heard the word, they were offended.” Now he, answering, said, “Every plant which not he planted, the Father of me, the heavenly, it will be uprooted. Leave them. Blind they are, guides of blind; now a blind man, a blind man, if he guides, both into a ditch they will fall.”

Now, answering, the Peter, he said to him, “Explain to us the parable, this.”

Now he said, “Thus, also, you, yourselves unintelligent are? You do understand, do you not, that everything entering into the mouth, into the stomach it goes, and into a drain it is thrown out? Now the things coming forth out of the mouth, out of the heart it comes forth, and those defile the person. For out of the heart come forth thoughts, evil, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnessings, blasphemies. These things are the ones defiling the person; now the unwashed hands to eat, not defiles the person.”

And going out from there, the Jesus withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman, a Canaanite, from the borders, those, coming out, she cried out, saying, “Pity me, Lord, Son of David; the daughter of me, badly, is demon possessed.” Now he, not he answered her a word.

And, approaching, the disciples of him, they were asking him, saying, “Dismiss her, because she is crying out behind us.”

Now he, answering, said, “Not I was sent, except into the sheep, the lost, of a house of Israel.”

Now she, coming, was worshipping him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

Now he, answering, said, “Not it is good to take the bread of the children and to throw to the dogs.”

Now she said, “Yes, Lord, for also the dogs, it eats from the crumbs, the falling, from the table of the lords of them.”

Then, answering, the Jesus said to her, “O woman, great of you the faith; let it be to you as you desire.” And she was healed, the daughter of her, from the hour, that.

And removing from there, the Jesus came by the Sea of the Galilee, and going up into the mountain, he sat there. And they approached him, crowds, many, having with themselves lame, maimed, blind, crippled, mute, and others, many, and they cast them at the feet of him, and he healed them, so that the crowd, to marvel, seeing mute speaking, crippled healthy, and lame walking, and blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel.
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Much could be said about the above text. Much has already been said by many people. The endpoint given (‘… and they glorified the God of Israel.’) is different from other reactions to Jesus’ miracles, mainly because of the rarity of the title, ‘God of Israel’. It is a good reminder as to what nation God is connected. After all, Jesus was just present in parts of both Tyre and Sidon. But when he went to Jerusalem, he went for all people of all time.