The man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

This Generation: 11,16-24

Comparison: 11,16-19

Who are "this generation" in verse 16? See how this echoes Dt 1,35.
To his generation, Jesus tells a short parable about children in the marketplace with verse 17. What are the two choices in the parable?

What is the contrast between John and Jesus, the Son of Man? See 3,2 and 4,17.

What is Jesus' conclusion at the end of verse 19. What is wisdom?

Woe to you: 11,20-24

There is a weak link to verse 19 so we can see these verses as following on from the preceeding section, 11,16-19. (For example, the opening in 11,25 and 12,1 I would regard as a much stronger beginning.) However, different words are used for Jesus' activities in verses 19 and 20, though this is not always reflected in the translations.

Repentance is fundamental to Jesus' mission, see 4,17.

"Woe" in verse 22 is a classic prophetic oracle. Too often, it is translated as "alas" which I regard as a weaker word. They usually comes in series - from Isaiah 5,8 or Amos 5,7.18 & 6,1, for example. Their origin is in funeral laments. Look at Amos and try to see the purpose of the woes.

Neither Chorazin or Bethsaida are mentioned elsewhere in Matthew. Tyre and Sidon by contrast were well known cities (and still are today). They are taditionally linked together, for example in Is 23,1-12 or Ezk 28.

Note that the call to repent is now repeated with "sackcloth and ashes" added. See the repentance of Nineveh in Jonah 3. See also Daniel 9,3.

Verse 22 then looks forward to the day of judgement. What is the implication for the audience?

Verse 23 then moves on to Capernaum with Jesus' own city (9,1) now linked with Sodom (Gen 19). The quotation is from Isaiah 14,13; read Is 14,11-15. What is the background there?

Verse 24 is a repeat of 10,15. What is being demanded by these verses?

Go to my response.

We continue our reading with 11,25-30: three exclamations by Jesus.