Interrogating the Gospels

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, I have come to call not the righteous but sinners, for Sunday June 11, 2023 The Calling of Matthew NRSV Translation 9  As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘ Follow me .’ And he got up and followed him.  10  And as he sat at dinner  in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting  with him and his disciples.  11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘ Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners? ’  12 But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  13 Go and learn what this means , “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners .’ *************** The Gospel for Hearers translation 9 When Jesus went on a bit further, he saw a man sitting in the tax-office, Matthew by name, and he said to him, " Follow me ." Getti...

Matthew 28:16-20, ...but some doubted (Version: NRSV) The Commissioning of the Disciples 16  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  17 When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted .  18 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ,  20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ Alternative translation: Matthew 28:16-20,  ... though some doubted (Version: The Gospels for Hearers) 16 The eleven disciples made their way to Galilee and to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him they worshipped (him), though some doubted . And Jesus came to them, and spoke to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth is given t...

John 7:37-39a, ...Rivers of Living Water (Version: NRSV) Rivers of Living Water 37  On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘ Let anyone who is thirsty come to m e,  38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As  the scripture has said, “ Out of the believer’s heart  shall flow rivers of living water .”   ’  39 Now he said this about the Spirit , which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit ,  because Jesus was not yet glorified. Alternative translation: John 7:37-39a,  ... Rivers of Living Water (Version: The Gospels for Hearers) 37 On the last day - the climax of the festival - Jesus stood up and called out, " Whoever is thirsty, let them come to me and drink . From the one who believes in me , as the scripture says, will flow rivers of living water ." 39 In this he was referring to the Spirit which those who believed in him would receive, for the Spirit ...

John 17:1-11, ...I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world (Version: NRSV) Jesus Prays for His Disciples 17 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,  2 since you have given him authority over all people,  to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.  5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. 6  ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word .  7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;  8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them , and t...

John 14:15-21, If you love me (Version: NRSV) 15  ‘If you love me, you will keep *  my commandments .  16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, *  to be with you for ever.  17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive , because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in *  you. 18  ‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.  19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.  20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.  21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ Alternative translation: John 14:15-21, If you love me (Version: The Gospels for Hearers) 15 If you love me you will keep my commandments . And I will ask...

  John 14:1-14, Do not let your hearts be troubled (Version: NRSV) 14 ‘ Do not let your hearts be troubled . Believe *  in God, believe also in me.  2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? *   3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.  4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ *   5 Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’  6 Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.   7 If you know me, you will know *  my Father also . From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ 8  Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’  9 Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you stil...

J ohn 10:1-10, Jesus the Good Shepherd (Version: NRSV) ‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and ...