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Preaching Paths 5 July 2026, Proper 9
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s Gospel lection, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, can seem an odd collection of rhetorically disparate fragments. A parable (vv.16-17), judgment in the form of an antimony (vv.18-19b), a proverb (v. 19c), a brief prayer (vv. 25-26), a chiastic theological self-identification (v.27) and a summons accompanied by promise (vv.…
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Preaching Paths 28 June 2026 Proper 8
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s gospel reading, Matthew 10:40-42, concludes the discourse in which Jesus discloses what his disciples can expect as they disperse into the villages of Israel, announcing the reign of heaven and healing the sick (see Mt 9:36-10:1). As we have noted in previous postings, most scholars take…
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Sunday, 28th June & Sunday, 21st June 2026 (two entries)
Sunday, 28th June 2026 Proper 8 (13) Year A Matthew 10:40-42 Welcome Christ in those Christ sends 10:40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 10:41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person…
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Preaching Paths 14 June 2026 Proper 5 (Gospel text)
Sally A Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The opening verse of today’s Gospel reading (Mt 9:35-10:8) echoes Mt 4:23. These verses bracket Mt’s five-chapter summation of Jesus’ mission. Chs 5-7 (the Sermon on the Mount) present the essence of Jesus’ teaching about the ways of the reign of heaven. Chs 8-9 present Jesus’ enactment…
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Preaching Paths 7 June 2026
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Mt 9:9-13, 18-26 presents in four interlocked scenes the shocking, boundary-crossing nature of Jesus’ interpretation of the reign of God. Scene I: Rabbis like Jesus would choose disciples to learn their teachings and emulate their way of life, but none would choose a tax collector! Tax collectors…
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Preaching Paths 31 May 2026
Sally A Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary On this Trinity Sunday, the lectionary pairs two NT texts that contain early trinitarian formulas. In both cases, the book’s closing sentences name the Godhead as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28:19, we find a trinitarian baptismal formula; in 2 Corinthian 13:13, a trinitarian benediction.…
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Preaching Paths May 24 2026
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The text this Pentecost Sunday from ch 2 of The Acts of the Apostles falls into three sections. First, we witness the inrush of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ followers, who have been praying together in an upper room in Jerusalem on the Jewish feast called Pentecost.…
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Preaching Paths 10 May 2026
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s reading, John 14:15-21, is a continuation of Jesus’ parting words to his followers. Much of the vocabulary is familiar from previous verses. Yet, this section presents a significant new element: a dynamic of mutual and multidirectional love connecting Jesus, the Father, and Jesus’ followers. This current…
Insights into Biblical Greek Grammar and Syntax 