Jesus' Most Ignored Teaching: "Do Whatever They Tell You" (Matt 23:2-3) (Podcast on Sunday Readings)

Matthew 23 (the lectionary reading from the Gospel this Sunday) contains Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees. However, it also contains one of the most overlooked passages in Scripture. Speaking of the scribes and Pharisees Jesus says, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you. . ." (Matt 23:2-3). Of course, Jesus goes on to complain that the Pharisees are hypocrites.

The part that is overlooked however is that Jesus recognizes a binding teaching authoritative office without attributing to it sinlessness.

Notably, Jesus' description of Peter's role in Matthew 16 echoes his description of the Pharisees. For more, listen to the podcast on the Sunday readings below.

Here are my thoughts on it all.


Podcast: "Jesus' Shocking Words About the Pharisees in Matthew 23")(31st Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle A) [right click to download]

During the podcast I mentioned some of the parallels between Jesus' teaching and the rabbis. Here is some more on that.

Podcast: "The Greatest Commandment" (Thoughts on Sunday's Readings)

This Sunday the Gospel reading from Matthew recounts how, after having silenced those who sought to entrap him in his own words, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment.

Here are my thoughts on his answer.


Podcast: "The Greatest Commandment")(30th Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle A) [right click to download]

During the podcast I mentioned some of the parallels between Jesus' teaching and the rabbis. Here is some more on that.

Rabbi Aqiba: “This is the encompassing principle of the Law” (Sipra Lev. §200 [on Lev 19:15–20])

Rabbi Hillel: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor; that is the whole Law” (b. Šabb. 31a)

The idea of loving God and neighbor as related concepts:
-- T. Iss. 5:2: “love the Lord and your neighbor"
--T. Iss. 7:6: “I loved the Lord and humanity with the whole heart"
--T. Dan 5:3: “Love the Lord with all your life and one another with a true heart”
--Philo, Spec. Laws 2.63: But among the vast number of particular truths and principles [are] two main heads: one of duty to God. . . one of duty to humans”[1]

Please leave your thoughts or comments on the podcast in the comment box. We'd appreciate your feedback!

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[1] For further discussion of rabbinic and Jewish parallels see Craig Evans, Mark 8:27–16:20 (WBC 34B; Dallas: Nelson, 2002), 265.

Podcast 7: Bible Study & Evangelization in the 21st Century

Episode 7 of The Sacred Page Podcast focused on Biblical Study and Evangelization in the digital age. In this episode I spoke with Andrew Jones, who is with Logos Bible Software. Our guests were Andrew Jones and Kevin Meziere.

Anddrew Jones is the new Catholic product manager at Logos Bible Software. He has helped to launch an amazing new package available from Logos called "The Catholic Scholar's Library". (I'll be reviewing it soon!) However, he is not simply all about amazing cutting-edge technology. Jones is also finishing up a Ph.D. in Church History. In this episode, Jones brings together both knowledge sets as we discuss tools used for Bible study over the ages (e.g., memorization techniques). Among other things, he explains how new Bible software relates recaptures tools such as the "gloss" used in the medieval period. This is really a fascinating conversation.

Kevin Meziere comes on in the second half of the show to discuss the internet tools in Catholic education and evangelization. Kevin is a technological wizard. Among other things, he has launched a new website, CatholicHD.com. The site is a sort of Netflix--a website that hosts HD quality, streaming Catholic video content. In addition, Kevin has brought John Paul the Great Catholic University into the 21st century by creating an incredibly compelling model for eLearning. In short, when it comes to the Catholic Church and internet technology, no one is more of an expert than Kevin Meziere.



Podcast 7: "Bible Study & Evangelization in the 21st Century) [right click to download]

Leave your thoughts or comments on the podcast in the comment box--we love getting your feedback!

Podcast: "Render to Caesar" (Thoughts on the Sunday's Readings)

This Sunday we read about how the Pharisees tried to discredit Jesus by asking him about paying taxes to Caesar.

How did Jesus avoid the trap and turn the tables on his opponents? What lessons might we learn from the exchange?

I discuss it all in this podcast.

Leave your thoughts or comments on the podcast in the comment box.


Podcast: "Render to Caesar (Thoughts on the Sunday's Readings)(29th Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle A) [right click to download]

Leave your thoughts or comments on the podcast in the comment box.

Podcast 6: Rob Corzine and Derry Connolly

On this week's episode of the The Sacred Page Podcast I speak with Rob Corzine and Derry Connolly.

Rob Corzine is the Vice President of Programs and Development at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He shares his remarkable conversion story to the Catholic Church from a Fundamentalist Baptist background. He also discusses the parish Bible study materials put together by the St. Paul Center. For more on their work, go here for more on parish Bible studies.

Dr. Derry Connolly is the President of John Paul the Great Catholic University. He discusses how he uses the book of Tobit to teach business students.



TSP Podcast 6: Rob Corzine and Derry Connolly [right click to download]

Once again, I'd love to get your comments on the podcast in the comment box!

TSP 5: Curtis Mitch and Dominic Iocco

On the latest podcast I spoke with Curtis Mitch and Dominic Iocco.

1. Curtis Mitch is the co-editor of the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. Mitch is also the co-author (with Edward Sri) of a new commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (see the picture of the two of them on the right, Curtis is on the left). Mitch talks about his reversion to Catholicism and Scripture study.

2. Dominic Iocco is the producer of a new film, Red Line. He is also Academic Provost at John Paul the Great Catholic University, a school which helps train students in film-making with the goal of impacting culture for Christ.



TSP Podcast 5: Curtis Mitch and Dominic Iocco [right click to download]

I'd love to get your comments on the podcast in the comment box!