Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem in our Gospel this Sunday. In his public acts since his arrival, like the cleansing of the Temple, he begins to attract animosity from the Jewish leaders who question his authority. In response to this questioning, Jesus offers the famous parable of the two sons, one obedient and one disobedient. Examining the broader context of the scene and the original Greek of the Gospel we are faced with a moving parable that is as convicting to each one us today as it was to those who first heard it many centuries ago.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Vol. 3. International Critical Commentary. London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004.
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009.
Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
Mass Readings Explained with Dr. Brant Pitre
REFERENCES
Matthew 22:17 - "'Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?'"
Isaiah 5:7 - "For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel"
Exodus 4:22 - "‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my first-born son'"
Exodus 24:6-7 - "Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, 'All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.'"
Matthew 9:2 - "'Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.'"
Matthew 7:21 - "'Not every one who says to me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.'"