sermon notesA collection of resources, background information, and periodic reflections on the scripture readings in worship from Pr Josh Ehrler. Archives
July 2018
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Authority Issues in Matthew 286/7/2017 Our gospel reading for this weekend is Matthew 28.16-20, often labeled "The Great Commission." These are the final words that Christ has for the Church he has been organizing since his arrival as a fully formed adult in chapter 3. In many ways, this last paragraph reinforces, synthesizes, and bears the weight of every other word Matthew has written.
For instance, one way to think of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew is as a community organizer. The book was written roughly 80-90 BCE, about two generations after the death and resurrection of Christ. The first Church is already off the ground and running, thanks to Peter, Paul, Barnabas and the many unnamed messengers in the book of Acts. The kingdom of heaven Jesus proclaims is taking shape and yet, its still vague and scattered. Matthew portrays Jesus as one who pulls together a ragtag group of misfits that he calls his disciples (akin to bringing together a loose association of new church bodies) and spends the rest of the gospel teaching with authority. Authority is a significant word for Matthew and it appears one last time in 28.16-20. Jesus declares that he has it and because he's got it, the disciples should head out to spread the message they've been holding onto, making disciples by discipling nations. Ten times Matthew refers to authority, often reflected through the eyes of onlookers who recognize it in Jesus. It is as if everyone (minus the Pharisees and those moving against Jesus in chapter 21) can see it. The disciples have already received Jesus' authority as part of their first mission trip in chapter 10. By chapter 28, Jesus is stating the obvious that still requires stating because, even though the disciples worship the risen Christ, they doubt (28.17). By the way, this same thing - worship and doubt - happens at 14.31-3, after Peter tries to drown himself imitating Jesus in the sea. Jesus saves him, the waves cease, the disciples worship him and doubt him. Maybe this is a subtle word of reassurance from Matthew for any of us who wander into worship on any given weekend. With great authority comes great responsibility and since Jesus has been organizing the Church all along, the duties are formally shifted to the disciples post-resurrection. "Go disciple disciples" across Creation (28.19) is a continuance of Christ's church building, it is not a call to save individual souls. Douglas R A Hare observes in Interpretation: Matthew that the disciples are instruments of Jesus. Baptism is not the final goal, it is part of the on-going movement of faith in community that "must continue indefinitely" (pg 334). Michael Joseph Brown, commentator in True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary, takes this call to community building well beyond its current church confines by quoting Delores S Williams, womanist theologian, who writes, "The goal of this community building is, of course, to establish a positive quality of life-for black women, men, and children" (pg.117, "Womanist Theology: Black Women's Voices," in Black Theology: A Documentary History, ed James H Cone and Gayraud Wilmore, pg 269). The disciples are being called by Christ, through his authority already transferred to them, to leave the hill upon which their light passively shines (5.14) and be of the world God is creating. This authority is their protection from fear, it is their encouragement through doubt, it is their confidence when the kings, rulers and powerful of this world claim their own false authority. "The kingdom of heaven has come near!" is the refrain Jesus opens his ministry with (4.17) and it is the good news that has been transferred to we disciples today, wondering what we can do against the crashing waves of doubt and powerful voices who wield their weapons against God's suffering people. Keep discipling disciples with hope and expectation that wherever we go, Christ is with us, building the kingdom here and now.
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