Synoptic Gospels Set Free: Preaching without Anti-Semitism »

In this companion volume to Fr. George M. Smiga's The Gospel of John Set Free (Paulist Press, 2008), Jesuit Father Daniel J. Harrington has taken fifteen Sunday readings from each of the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and shows how they can be properly understood by placing them in their first-century Jewish context and thus freeing them from the disastrous effects produced by anti-Jewish readings of the past. Each section concludes with three study questions keyed to the Lectionary readings and Fr. Harrington's interpretation of them. A book for the pastor, the parishioner, seminarians, and ALL Christians of good will who wish to better understand the Scriptures in their context so that anti-Semitism does not seep in. An excellent teaching and preaching/homiletic resource replete with a glossary and bibliography.

Foreword

Introduction: Freeing the Word 1

The Gospel of Matthew

Pt. 1 Introduction 7

Pt. 2 Lectionary Commentary 14

1 Matthew 1:1-2:23: The Infancy Narrative 14

2 Matthew 3:13-17: The Baptism of Jesus 18

3 Matthew 4: 1-11 : The Testing of God's Son 21

4 Matthew 5:38-48: Nonretaliation and Love of Enemies 24

5 Matthew 11:25-30: Jesus the Wisdom of God 28

6 Matthew 13:24-43: Parables of God's Kingdom 32

7 Matthew 14:13-21: Jesus Feeds Five Thousand 36

8 Matthew 15:21-28: The Canaanite Woman's Faith 39

9 Matthew 18:15-20: Reconciliation to the Community 43

10 Matthew 21:33-46: The Parable of the Vineyard 47

11 Matthew 22:1-14: The Parable of the Royal Wedding Feast 51

12 Matthew 23:1-12: Scribes and Pharisees 55

13 Matthew 25:31-46: The Last Judgment 59

14 Matthew 26:1-27:66: The Passion Narrative 62

15 Matthew 28:16-20: The Great Commission 66

The Gospel of Mark

Part One: Introduction 73

A Jewish Narrative 74

A Jewish Author 74

Use of the Jewish Scriptures 76

Jewish Titles for Jesus 77

A Jewish Apocalyptic Drama 79

Portrayals of Jews 80

Pt. 2 Lectionary Commentary 83

1 Mark 1:1-8

Witnesses to Jesus 83

2 Mark 1:14-20

The Kingdom of God and Discipleship 86

3 Mark 1:21-28

Teaching and Healing on the Sabbath 90

4 Mark 2:23-3:6

Work on the Sabbath 94

5 Mark 3:20-35

The Family of Jesus 98

6 Mark 4:35-41

Who Is This? 102

7 Mark 7:1-23

Purity Rules 106

8 Mark 8:27-35: The Suffering Messiah 111

9 Mark 9:2-10: The Transfiguration115

10 Mark 10:2-16: Marriage and Divorce; Children 119

11 Mark 12:28-34: The Great Commandment 124

12 Mark 12:38-44: Scribes and a Widow 128

13 Mark 13:24-37: Eschatology 132

14 Mark 14:1-15:47: The Passion and Death of Jesus 136

15 Mark 16:1-8: Empty Tomb/Resurrection 143

The Gospel of Luke

Pt. 1 Introduction 149

Who, When, Where? 150

Why, What, How? 152

Sources and Structure 153

Major Lukan Themes 154

Is Luke Anti-Jewish? 157

Pt. 2 Lectionary Commentary 159

1 Luke 1:5-2:52: The Infancy Narrative 159

2 Luke 4:16-30: Jesus in the Synagogue at Nazareth 166

3 Luke 5: 1-11: The Call of the Fishermen 171

4 Luke 6:17,20-26: Blessings and Woes 175

5 Luke 9:51-62: The Journey Begins 178

6 Luke 10:25-37: The Good Samaritan 182

7 Luke 10:38-42: Women in Jesus' Circle 186

8 Luke 11:1-13: Prayer 190

9 Luke 14:1,7-14: At the Pharisees' Banquet 195

10 Luke 15:11-32: The Prodigal Son 199

11 Luke 16:1-13: Money Matters 203

12 Luke 16:19-31: The Rich Man and Lazarus 207

13 Luke 17: 11-19: Healing and Thanksgiving 211

14 Luke 23:34, 43, 46: The Last Words of Jesus 215

15 Luke 24:13-35: The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus 219

Epilogue: Reading the Gospels in Context 223

Glossary 225

For Further Study 229