The Story as Told by Matthew

Before I left Scott encouraged me to read through the gospels as stories, and that's proven to be a very rich approach. You pick up context, mood, and flow that you wouldn't when breaking the text down paragraph by paragraph. Matthew is a strange book. It's certainly the gospel I've read the least. He doesn't dwell long on any story. Jesus is full of fire, healing , teaching, rebuking, and laying down the parables. His teaching is hard. For instance, chapter 13, The Parable of the Sower. Linger on verse 22:

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns

is the man who hears the word,

but the worries of this life

and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it.

At the end of chapter 18 we find The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. The servant in question begs for and receives forgiveness for a fortune in debt that he owes him master, but when he finds a fellow servant who owes him a few bucks he has him thrown in prison. When the master finds out he is furious and locks up the unmerciful servant for good. Jesus finshes the story with these words in verse 35:

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you

unless you forgive your brother from your heart.

Jesus is a leader you can follow. He is someone who inspires fear. He loves you.