The life of Jesus as presented by Matthew. The gospel covers His virginal birth to His death and resurrection. Matthew also presents Jesus as the Lion of Judah and the fulfillment of prophecy. It is placed first in the New Testament because many of the early church leaders believed it to be the ...
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What does “meek” mean in Matthew 5:5?
Matthew 5:5 (NIV)
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
What does "meek" mean in the original language? Is "meek" a good translation for the original Greek word?
5
votes
8answers
521 views
What does it mean that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist?
Matthew 11:11 (KJV):
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is ...
8
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2answers
149 views
If a “house divided cannot stand” how did non-disciples cast out demons?
Really what I'm getting at is two lines of reasoning I see in gospel accounts that seem to contradict one another.
In particular I'm thinking of the pericope in which Jesus is accused of casting out ...
8
votes
2answers
53 views
What did Jesus mean by “be perfect” in the Sermon on the Mount?
I asked this on the Christianity Stack Exchange site, and they told me it would be better here. So I here I am asking it...
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
What did Jesus mean by “the queen of the South”?
Answering a different question, I noticed this passage:
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and ...
6
votes
3answers
8k views
What is the meaning of “poor in spirit” in Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - KJV Matthew 5:3
How can the "poor in spirit" get the kingdom of heaven? Is there a similar usage else where?
4
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2answers
59 views
Parallelism in the Beatitudes
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit ...
5
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1answer
46 views
How should πονηρός be translated in Matthew 7:11, and why?
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone ...
0
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1answer
54 views
Does Matthew 6 prohibit public displays of faith? [closed]
Does Matthew 6 prohibit public displays - such as the nativity?
7
votes
3answers
158 views
Does Theophilus of Antioch's statement have any bearing on interpreting Mathew 5:28?
I found a quote on this site which calls into question the accuracy of Matthew 5:28 in the KJV according to a quotation of Theophilus of Antioch:
"ἡ δὲ εὐαγγέλιος φωνὴ ἐπιτατικώτερον διδάσκει ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
What does 'Salt of the Earth' mean?
"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost
its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and
trampled underfoot as worthless."
- Matthew 5:13 (NLT)
...
6
votes
5answers
681 views
Who is being “taken” in Matthew 24:40-41?
Matthew 24:40-41 (ESV)
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two
women will be grinding oat at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
One of the interpretations ...
4
votes
1answer
79 views
Was Jesus unaware of Joel 2:32?
Matthew records Jesus saying:
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to ...
6
votes
1answer
43 views
Who are the disciples to fear in Matthew 10:28?
Who is Jesus telling the disciples to fear here in Matthew 10:28 (ESV):
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in ...
4
votes
1answer
69 views
Who was Matthew 5-7 addressed to?
Matthew 5 begins:
1Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ESV
and Matthew 7 ends:
...
10
votes
4answers
2k views
Why is the “give to Caesar what is Caesar's” answer so great?
After being asked whether it was right to pax taxes, Jesus repies:
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Why is that an answer that "amazed" them? To a modern person, it ...
6
votes
1answer
124 views
How did Judas die?
In fact, there are multiple discrepancies between these two verses, what did really happen?
Matthew 27:5-8
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged ...
6
votes
2answers
75 views
Did Jesus teach people to literally pluck their eye out and cut their hand off?
The passage from the Sermon on the Mount (and see also Matthew 18:8-9) is a familiar one:
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at ...
4
votes
2answers
116 views
Matthew 27:62: “the day that followed the day of the preparation” - Why not call Sabbath a Sabbath?
In the following verse
Matthew 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of
the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto
Pilate
Why didn't Matthew simply say "on ...
5
votes
2answers
278 views
Does the New Testament predict Jesus' return on Rosh Hashanah?
The day of the Lord's return is sometimes associated with trumpets in the New Testament:
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and ...
4
votes
1answer
79 views
Were they Roman guards who watched Jesus' tomb in Matthew 27?
A recent question about the securing of a tomb on the Sabbath made me wonder whether the guards posted at Jesus' tomb in Matthew 27:62-66 are Roman guards (which I guess I'd always assumed) or Jewish ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Would the Pharisees go to Pilate and secure the tomb on the Sabbath?
This is in relation to another post in which the question was asked why the Sabbath was called "the day after the Day of Preparation."
It strikes me odd that Pharisees would be about this sort of ...
5
votes
1answer
74 views
Why does Luke 11:20 read “The Finger of God” instead of “Spirit of God”?
In Matthew's account (12:27-28), we read (All quotes from NIV, all empahsis mine):
And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ...
0
votes
2answers
123 views
Why wouldn't the Son of Man know the day and hour of his coming? [closed]
God is all knowing, and Jesus is God. So, why would Jesus not know the day nor the hour?
But of that day and houre knoweth no man, no, not the Angels of heauen, but my Father onely.—Matthew ...
4
votes
3answers
273 views
Did Jesus endorse tithing for all when addressing the Pharisees?
Here's the text of Luke 11:42:
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the ...
8
votes
3answers
174 views
What is the difference in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God?
Some assert the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God refer to the same thing while others say they are synonyms. Which is accurate?
For example: Luke 17:21 uses Kingdom of God while Matthew 11:11 ...
5
votes
2answers
320 views
How did Jesus say “Unless the marriage is unlawful”?
Often, when passages have parentheses they're meant to convey an extra meaning or add to the context of the sentence or something of that nature.
But when Jesus says this:
31“It was also said, ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
Who are “the least of these my brothers” in Matthew 25?
In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus teaches that when the Son of Man comes in his glory, he will separate sheep and goats along certain lines, saying: "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of ...
7
votes
4answers
934 views
Forgive us our “debts”? “sins”? “trespasses”? Which is the most accurate translation?
It seems that there are three popular versions of this passage in the Lord's prayer. "Forgive us our sins", "Forgive us our debts", and "Forgive us our trespasses".
I see one version here in the ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
Comparison of English word “fool” in original Hebrew and Greek
Question is based on this comment on Christiantity SE.
In the OT, the word fool is apparently used to describe atheists:
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1 and Psalm ...
3
votes
3answers
416 views
What is Micah 5:5-6 talking about?
Matthew 2:6 quotes Micah 2:2 as a prophesy concerning Jesus:
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ...
1
vote
2answers
243 views
In Matthew 14 Jesus walks on the water. What are the similarities between this account and the ancient Egyptian writings about Horus?
In Matthew 14 Jesus walks on the water. What are the similarities and differences between this account and the ancient Egyptian writings about Horus from Pyramid texts in 25th Century BC?
For ...
7
votes
1answer
154 views
What does Jesus mean by “vain repetition” or “babbling” in Matthew 6:7?
What ancient tradition of prayer is Jesus critical of in Matthew 6:7?
In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. (NABRE)
But ...
11
votes
3answers
632 views
How is it that Jesus could be “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”?
This verse is usually interpreted as a prophetic word by Jesus about Himself:
Matthew 12:40: For as Jonas was three days and three nights
in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three ...
9
votes
3answers
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What is the significance of '14 generations' in Matthew’s account of Jesus's genealogy?
After giving Jesus's genealogy in the first chapter, Matthew goes on to point out the number of generations between significant events:
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
Should Matthew 27:6-7 Be Taken as a Demonstration of Hypocrisy?
Would the people who heard Matthew's account of what was done with the 30 silver pieces have understood that to be a hypocritical act by the chief priests?
6 And the chief priests took the pieces ...
8
votes
3answers
91 views
How many animals is the King of Zion to ride according to Zechariah?
I've read that Zechariah prophesied that the King of Zion would enter the city on a donkey with another donkey in tow. But the passage seems to indicate just one animal to me:
Rejoice greatly, O ...
3
votes
4answers
129 views
Was it Jesus' flight to or return from Egypt that fulfilled Hosea 11:1?
This question is related to this one about Matthew 2:14-15.
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was ...
6
votes
2answers
144 views
Matthew 11:25: What question is Jesus answering here?
Matthew 11:25: “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes”
...
4
votes
2answers
110 views
Is “puppies” a justifiable translation of κυναρίοις?
Mark 7 contains an odd little story:
And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But ...
10
votes
3answers
618 views
Why does Matthew double people?
Matthew seems to mention two people (or animals) where other Gospels mention just one, e.g.
two demon possessed men, in Matthew 8:28-34 (compare Mark 5:1-17 and Luke 8:26-39)
two blind men, in ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
When did Jesus change his view on preaching to Gentiles?
In John 10:16 Jesus says (ESV quoted):
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
The ...
4
votes
1answer
123 views
Was Barabbas' given name Jesus?
The ESV is typical in it's rendering of Barabbas' name:
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious ...
8
votes
4answers
881 views
Are good works supposed to be seen or not?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his disciples, saying, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew ...
4
votes
1answer
65 views
To what degree does the Didache depend on Matthew or vise versa?
Reading the Didache for the first time, I was struck by many similarities between it and Matthew (particularly the Sermon on the Mount section). For instance, this is from the first chapter of the ...
7
votes
2answers
217 views
“My son” in Hosea 11:1 quoted in Matt. 2:14-15
Matthew 2:14-15 (NASB) reads:
14So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill ...
6
votes
1answer
189 views
How can the flight to Egypt in Matthew 2:15 be a fulfillment of Hosea 11:1? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“My son” in Hosea 11:1 quoted in Matt. 2:14-15
I don't understand the basis for dual fulfillment, specifically as referenced:
Now when they had departed, behold, an ...
8
votes
5answers
512 views
What does Jesus mean in Matthew 26:64 with “You have said so”?
There was a question recently about this verse and what Jesus actually meant here. So, I thought I'd post this question to see what you guys thought.
In Matthew 26, Jesus is before the Sanhedrin. ...
5
votes
3answers
183 views
Satan: Stumbling Block or Accuser?
I was always taught that Satan meant "stumbling block" or some such. When Jesus cursed Peter saying, "Get behind me Satan" (Matthew 16:23), my parish priest, at least, always says Jesus is saying ...
2
votes
1answer
420 views
Why does Jesus refuse to help the Syrophoenician woman, and then help her?
Jon Ericson has already asked a question about the "odd little story" of Jesus' interaction with the Syrophoenician woman, and more could be asked (e.g., What is the main point of the story in ...
