Matthew186 posts · book 40 of 66

Matthew 1

Matthew@matthew

Starting with the family tree, because it matters. Abraham to David to the exile to Jesus: fourteen generations each. I counted.

Joseph@josephofnazareth

Mary was pregnant before we’d come together. I was going to end the engagement quietly. I didn’t want her shamed.

Joseph@josephofnazareth

Replying to @josephofnazareth

Then an angel in a dream: don’t be afraid to take her home. The child is from the Holy Spirit. Name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. So I did.

Joseph@josephofnazareth · Bethlehem

He’s here. A son. We’ve named him Jesus.

Matthew 2

Someone in Jerusalem@jerusalem.local · Jerusalem

Some visitors from the east are going round Jerusalem asking where the newborn king of the Jews is. Said they saw his star. Herod is not happy. Neither is anyone else.

Teachers of the Law@teachersofthelaw

Replying to @jerusalem.local

The king called us in to ask where the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem in Judea. It’s in the prophet.

The Magi@themagi · Jerusalem

King Herod asked to see us. Privately. Wanted to know exactly when the star first appeared. Then he sent us on to Bethlehem and asked us to come back and tell him where the child is, so he can go and worship him too.

The Magi@themagi · Bethlehem

The star stopped right over the house. We were overjoyed. Saw the child with his mother Mary and knelt and worshipped him.

The Magi@themagi

Replying to @themagi

Gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then a dream warned us not to go back to Herod. So we didn’t. Took another road home.

Joseph@josephofnazareth

They’d only just gone when I had another dream. Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to Egypt. Herod wants him dead. We left in the night.

Joseph@josephofnazareth · Nazareth

Herod’s dead. We’re back, but not in Judea. We’ve settled up north, in Nazareth.

Matthew 3

Matthew@matthew · The wilderness of Judea

Years later. There’s a man in the Judean desert in camel hair, eating locusts and wild honey, telling everyone to turn back to God because the kingdom of heaven is close. People are going out from all over Judea.

John the Baptist@johnthebaptist · Jordan River

Pharisees and Sadducees at my baptism. You nest of snakes. Don’t tell me “Abraham is our father.” God could make children for Abraham out of these stones.

John the Baptist@johnthebaptist · Jordan River

Someone is coming after me who’s far more powerful. I’m not fit to carry his sandals.

John the Baptist@johnthebaptist · Jordan River

He asked me to baptise him. Him. I told him it should be the other way round. He said do it anyway, this is the right thing to do. So I did.

Matthew@matthew · Jordan River

As he came up out of the water, heaven opened. The Spirit came down like a dove. And a voice from heaven said this is his Son, the one he loves, and he’s delighted with him.

John the Baptist@johnthebaptist · Jordan RiverHe asked me to baptise him. Him. I told him it should be the other way round. He said do it anyway, this is the right thing to do. So I did.

Matthew 4

Matthew@matthew · The wilderness

Forty days in the desert with no food. Then the devil turns up with three offers: stones into bread, a jump off the temple, every kingdom in the world. Three times Jesus answers with Scripture. The last: “Away from me, Satan!”

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @matthew

The devil left. Angels came and looked after him.

Jesus@jesus · Galilee

Turn back to God. The kingdom of heaven is close.

Andrew@andrew · Sea of Galilee

Normal day. Throwing a net with Simon. He walks up and says “Follow me,” and he’ll make us fishers of people. We left the net where it was. Just like that.

John@johnzebedee

Replying to @andrew

Same. James and me were in the boat with Dad, mending nets. He called us. We got out and left Dad in the boat.

The crowds@thecrowds

Has anyone not heard about this teacher yet? People are turning up from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, Judea, across the Jordan. Everywhere, honestly.

Matthew 5

Matthew@matthew · The mountain

He went up the mountainside, sat down and taught. It was long. These are the lines people still quote.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

Blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn: they’ll be comforted. Blessed are the humble: the earth will be theirs. Blessed are the merciful: they’ll be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: they’ll see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: they’ll be called children of God.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

You are the light of the world. A town on a hill can’t be hidden.

Matthew@matthew · The mountain

His “You’ve heard it said… but I tell you” list: 1. Murder? Anger already counts. 2. Adultery? Looking with lust already counts. 3. Oaths? Just let your yes be yes.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @matthew

He wasn’t lowering the bar, either. Unless you’re more right with God than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, he said, you won’t get into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew@matthew

The two he started from: numbers six and seven.

Moses@mosesThe Ten Commandments, short version. 1. No other gods. 2. No idols. 3. Don’t misuse his name. 4. Keep the Sabbath. 5. Honour your parents. 6. Don’t murder. 7. Don’t commit adultery. 8. Don’t steal. 9. Don’t lie about your neighbour. 10. Don’t set your heart on anything that’s your neighbour’s.
Matthew@matthew

Before the cheek line, he brought up the old rule everyone knows: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Then he said don’t fight back against someone who does you wrong.

Moses@mosesThree chapters of everyday law. Servants, oxen, fires, loans. The one people remember: eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
Jesus@jesus · The mountain

If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other one to them too.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

If someone forces you to go one mile, go two.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 6

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

So pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we’ve forgiven the people who owe us. Don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

Your heart will always end up where your treasure is.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

You can’t serve both God and money.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest, and your Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? Can worrying add a single hour to your life?

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself.

Matthew 7

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

Why look at the speck in your brother’s eye and ignore the plank in your own?

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

Treat people the way you want them to treat you.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

The road to destruction is wide, and lots of people take it. The road to life is narrow, and only a few find it.

Jesus@jesus · The mountain

Hear my words and do them, and you’re the wise man who built his house on the rock. Hear them and don’t, and you built on sand. And it fell. With a great crash.

The crowds@thecrowds

Replying to @jesus

Nobody teaches like this. He speaks like he actually has authority. Not like our teachers of the law.

Matthew 8

I knelt and told him that if he wanted to, he could make me clean. He touched me. Touched me. “I want to. Be clean.” And I was.

A Roman centurion@centurioncapernaum · Capernaum

My servant was lying at home paralysed, in agony. Jesus said he’d come. I told him I’m not good enough to have him in my house. I’m a soldier. I tell one man go and he goes, another come and he comes. Just say the word.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @centurioncapernaum

Jesus was amazed. Said he hadn’t found faith like that in anyone in Israel.

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Simon Peter@simonpeter · Peter’s house, Capernaum

He touched my mother-in-law’s hand and the fever went. Gone. Next minute she’s up and getting him food.

Jesus@jesus

Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.

Simon Peter@simonpeter · Sea of Galilee

Storm on the lake, waves coming right over the boat, and he’s asleep. Asleep! We woke him up. Save us, we’re going to drown!

Simon Peter@simonpeter

Replying to @simonpeter

He asked why we were so afraid. Such little faith, he said. Then he got up and told the wind and the waves off. Completely calm.

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The pig herders@gadarenepigs · The region of the Gadarenes

Anyone else see the pigs? There were two men living in the tombs over there, so violent nobody would use that road. He sent the evil spirits out of them. Next thing, the whole herd charges down the bank into the lake.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @gadarenepigs

The whole town came out to see him. And begged him to leave.

Matthew 9

Matthew@matthew · Capernaum

Some men carry a paralysed man to him on a mat. Jesus sees their faith and tells the man to cheer up: his sins are forgiven.

A teacher of the law in Capernaum@teacheroflaw.capernaum

Replying to @matthew

None of us said anything. We were all thinking the same thing: this man is blaspheming. He knew regardless. Asked why we were harbouring evil thoughts. Which is easier, he said: to tell him his sins are forgiven, or to tell him to get up and walk?

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Matthew@matthew · Capernaum

Personal news: I’ve left the tax booth. Jesus was walking past, saw me sitting there, and said “Follow me.” I got up and went.

Liked by Jesus

Tax collectors@taxcollectors

Replying to @matthew

We came to the dinner after. He ate with us.

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Jairus@jairus

My daughter had just died. I knelt in front of him and asked him to come and put his hand on her, so she’d live. He got up and came.

Twelve years bleeding. I thought, if I can just touch his cloak. So I did. He turned round and looked at me. Called me daughter. Told me to be brave, my faith had healed me.

Matthew@matthew

At the house the flute players are already going. He says the girl isn’t dead, she’s asleep. They laughed at him. Then he took her hand, and she got up.

Jairus@jairusMy daughter had just died. I knelt in front of him and asked him to come and put his hand on her, so she’d live. He got up and came.
The crowds@thecrowds

A man who couldn’t talk because of an evil spirit. Jesus drove it out and the man started talking. Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.

The Pharisees@thepharisees

Replying to @thecrowds

Let us be clear. He drives out evil spirits by the power of their prince.

Matthew@matthew

He looks at the crowds and his heart goes out to them. Like sheep with no shepherd. He tells us the harvest is huge, but there aren’t many workers.

Matthew 10

Matthew@matthew

He’s picked twelve of us. Me included, a tax collector. Judas Iscariot too, the one who betrayed him.

Jesus@jesus

I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

The believers@thebelievers

Replying to @jesus

He didn’t make it sound easy. Courts, floggings, being hated. He said all of it.

Jesus@jesus

Not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Even the hairs on your head are all counted. So don’t be afraid.

Jesus@jesus

I didn’t come to bring peace. I came to bring a sword.

Jesus@jesus

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Jesus@jesus

Even a cup of cold water given to one of these little ones won’t go unrewarded.

Matthew 11

John’s disciples@johnsdisciples

John sent us from prison with one question: are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?

John’s disciples@johnsdisciples

Replying to @johnsdisciples

His answer: go and tell John what you see. The blind see, the lame walk, the dead are raised, the poor hear good news.

Jesus@jesus

John came not eating or drinking, and they say he has an evil spirit. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”

Jesus@jesus

Come to me, all of you who are tired and weighed down, and I’ll give you rest. My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 12

A Pharisee in Galilee@pharisee.galilee · The grainfields

Sabbath. The day of rest. His disciples are walking through the fields, picking grain and eating it. This is not permitted.

Simon Peter@simonpeter

Replying to @pharisee.galilee

We were hungry, mate.

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A man with a withered hand@stretchedout · A synagogue

Sabbath, synagogue, me with a shrivelled hand, and everyone watching him. He told me to stretch it out. I did. It was as good as the other one.

Genuinely asking. He just healed a man who was blind and couldn’t speak. Could this be the Son of David?

A Pharisee in Galilee@pharisee.galilee

Replying to @crowd.galilee

It is by Beelzebul, the prince of evil spirits. That is how he does it.

Jesus@jesus

Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined. If Satan drives out Satan, how can his kingdom stand?

Jesus@jesus

No sign will be given except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus@jesus

Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother and sister and mother.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @jesus

His mother and brothers were outside asking for him when he said that. He pointed at us.

Matthew 13

Matthew@matthew · Sea of Galilee

So many people on the shore he’s teaching from a boat. All stories today.

Jesus@jesus · Sea of Galilee

A farmer sowed seed. Some fell on the path, some on rocks, some among thorns. Some fell on good soil and produced a crop, a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. If you’ve got ears, listen.

The believers@thebelievers

Replying to @jesus

He explained it to us later. The thorns are worry, and money promising more than it gives. The good soil is someone who hears it and understands it.

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Jesus@jesus

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. The smallest seed, and it grows into a tree the birds nest in.

Replying to @jesus

Anyone who’s grown mustard knows. A seed you can barely see, and by summer there are birds sitting in it.

Jesus@jesus

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, and in his joy sold everything to buy that field.

Jesus@jesus

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. He found one of great value, went and sold everything he had, and bought it.

The people of Nazareth@nazareth · Nazareth

Hang on. Where’s he got all this from? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? We know his mum. We know his brothers.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @nazareth

They took offence at him. He didn’t do many miracles there, because they didn’t believe.

Matthew 14

Herod Antipas@herodantipas

It is John the Baptist. Risen from the dead. That would explain the powers.

Matthew@matthew

Why he says that. Herod had locked John up for saying he had no right to Herodias, his brother’s wife. At his birthday Herodias’ daughter danced, and he swore to give her anything. Her mother told her to ask for John’s head on a plate. He was upset. He did it anyway.

Herod Antipas@herodantipasIt is John the Baptist. Risen from the dead. That would explain the powers.
John’s disciples@johnsdisciples

Replying to @matthew

We took his body and buried him. Then we went and told Jesus.

Matthew@matthew

When Jesus heard, he went off by boat to be alone. The crowds followed on foot. He saw them and his heart went out to them.

Simon Peter@simonpeter

Thousands of people, getting late, middle of nowhere. We told him to send them off to the villages to buy food. He says, “You give them something to eat.” Right. We had five loaves and two fish.

Simon Peter@simonpeter

Replying to @simonpeter

He gave thanks, broke the bread, we handed it out. Everyone ate. Twelve baskets left over.

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Simon Peter@simonpeter · Sea of Galilee

Middle of the night, and he comes walking to us across the lake. We thought it was a ghost. “It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” So I said, if it’s you, tell me to come. He said, “Come.” I got out of the boat.

Simon Peter@simonpeter

Replying to @simonpeter

And I walked. On the water. Honestly. Then I saw the wind and started to sink. Shouted for him to save me. He grabbed me. Asked why I doubted. Such little faith.

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Matthew 15

A Pharisee from Jerusalem@pharisee.jerusalem

We have come up from Jerusalem with one simple question. Why do his disciples not wash their hands before they eat? It is the tradition of the elders.

Jesus@jesus

It isn’t what goes into your mouth that makes you unclean. It’s what comes out of it.

The believers@thebelievers

Replying to @jesus

To be fair, we did tell him the Pharisees were offended by that one.

Jesus@jesus

If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.

A Canaanite woman@crumbsfromthetable · The region of Tyre and Sidon

My daughter was suffering with an evil spirit. I kept shouting after him. He said it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs. I said fine, but even the dogs get the crumbs that fall off the table.

The believers@thebelievers

Replying to @crumbsfromthetable

In our defence, you really did keep shouting after us.

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The believers@thebelievers

Where are we supposed to get enough bread out here for a crowd this size?

Matthew@matthew

Yes, we asked that. After the five thousand. Seven loaves, four thousand men, seven baskets left over.

The believers@thebelieversWhere are we supposed to get enough bread out here for a crowd this size?

Matthew 16

Jesus@jesus

Red sky at night, fine weather. Red sky in the morning, storm. You can read the sky, but not the signs of the times.

Jesus@jesus

Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The believers@thebelievers

Replying to @jesus

We’d forgotten to bring bread, so we assumed that’s what he meant.

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Simon Peter@simonpeter · Caesarea Philippi

He asked us who we think he is. I said it: you’re the Christ. The Son of the living God.

Jesus@jesus · Caesarea Philippi

You are Peter, and on this rock I’ll build my church, and the gates of Hades won’t overpower it.

Simon Peter@simonpeter

He started saying he’d suffer in Jerusalem and be killed and raised on the third day. I took him aside. Told him no way, that’s never happening to you. He said, “Get behind me, Satan.”

Simon Peter@simonpeter

Replying to @simonpeter

Not long after he’d called me the rock.

Jesus@jesus

What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul?

Matthew 17

Simon Peter@simonpeter · A high mountain

Up a high mountain with James and John. His face shone like the sun. Moses and Elijah were there, talking with him. I offered to put up three shelters. Seemed like the thing to say.

John@johnzebedee

Replying to @simonpeter

You were still talking when a bright cloud covered us and a voice said this is his Son, the one he loves. Listen to him. We fell on our faces, terrified.

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A father@haveMercyOnMySon

My son has seizures and keeps falling into fire and water. His disciples couldn’t heal him. Jesus could. From that moment.

Jesus@jesus

If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move,” and it will move.

The believers@thebelievers

We’d asked him why we couldn’t drive it out. This was the answer. Too little faith.

Jesus@jesusIf you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move,” and it will move.
The believers@thebelievers · Galilee

He told us again. Handed over, killed, raised on the third day. We were heartbroken.

Simon Peter@simonpeter · Capernaum

Tax collectors asked me if our teacher pays the temple tax. I said yes. Then, I kid you not, he sends me fishing: take the first fish I catch, open its mouth, and there’ll be a coin in there. Enough for his tax and mine.

Matthew 18

The believers@thebelievers

Genuine question: who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @thebelievers

He called a little child over and stood him in the middle of us. Unless you change and become like little children, you won’t get in at all.

Jesus@jesus

If a man has a hundred sheep and one wanders off, won’t he leave the ninety-nine and go looking for the one?

Jesus@jesus

Where two or three gather in my name, I am there with them.

Simon Peter@simonpeter

Asked him how many times I have to forgive someone who keeps wronging me. Up to seven times?

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @simonpeter

Not seven times, he told you. Seventy-seven.

Jesus@jesus

A servant was let off a debt he could never pay, then went and throttled a man who owed him a few months’ wages. Shouldn’t you have had mercy, as I had mercy on you?

Matthew 19

A Pharisee beyond the Jordan@pharisee.judea · Judea, beyond the Jordan

We put it to him: can a man divorce his wife for any reason at all? His answer: what God has joined together, nobody should separate. Divorce your wife for anything other than sexual immorality and marry someone else, and that’s adultery.

The believers@thebelievers

Replying to @pharisee.judea

Honestly, if that’s how it is, maybe it’s better not to marry.

Matthew@matthew

He answered them from the first page of Moses. Hadn’t they read that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female?

Moses@mosesDay six is the one that matters for us. God makes people in his own image. Male and female. Then he looks at everything he’s made, and it isn’t just good this time. It’s very good.
Matthew@matthew

People brought their children for him to bless. We told them off. Wrong call. He said to let the little children come to him. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them.

A rich young man@whatdoistilllack

Asked him what I was still missing. He said sell everything, give it to the poor, and follow him. I went away sad. I have a lot.

Jesus@jesus

It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

The believers@thebelievers

Replying to @jesus

Wait, what? Then who can possibly be saved?

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Simon Peter@simonpeter

Not being funny, but we’ve left everything to follow him. So what do we get?

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @simonpeter

A hundred times as much, he said, and eternal life. But many who are first will be last.

Matthew 20

Jesus@jesus

Workers hired at dawn and workers hired at five in the afternoon all got a day’s wage. The landowner said: are you jealous because I’m generous? So the last will be first, and the first last.

Simon Peter@simonpeter

Replying to @jesus

He told this one straight after I asked what we’d get for leaving everything.

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Jesus@jesus · The road to Jerusalem

We’re going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over, condemned, mocked, flogged and crucified. And on the third day he will be raised.

I only asked that my two boys sit at his right and left in his kingdom. He said those seats aren’t his to give.

James@jameszebedee

Replying to @zebedeeswife

He said we didn’t know what we were asking. Asked if we could drink the cup he’s about to drink. We said we could. He said we will.

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Jesus@jesus

The Son of Man didn’t come to be served. He came to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Two blind men near Jericho@roadsidejericho · The road out of Jericho

Told to pipe down. So we shouted louder. Son of David, have mercy on us! He stopped. He asked what we wanted. He touched our eyes. We can see. For real.

Matthew 21

Matthew@matthew · The road into Jerusalem

He’s riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Zechariah wrote this: your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey. Cloaks and branches all over the road.

The crowds@thecrowds · The road into Jerusalem

Hosanna to the Son of David! God bless the one who comes in the Lord’s name!

The crowds@thecrowds

Replying to @jerusalem.local

Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.

Someone in Jerusalem@jerusalem.local · The temple courts

Did you hear what happened at the temple? He’s overturned the money changers’ tables. Drove the sellers out. Tables. Over.

Jesus@jesus · The temple courts

My house will be called a house of prayer. But you’re making it a den of robbers.

The chief priests and elders@chiefpriests · The temple courts

Kindly note: children are running round the temple courts shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David.” We asked him whether he could hear them. He quoted a psalm at us.

The believers@thebelievers

He told a fig tree with nothing but leaves on it that it would never bear fruit again. It withered on the spot. How?

Matthew@matthew · Temple courts

He’s teaching in the temple courts and the chief priests and elders come up: by what authority are you doing all this? He says he’ll tell them if they answer one question first. John’s baptism: from heaven, or just human? They huddle. Say heaven, and he’ll ask why they didn’t believe John. Say human, and the crowd turns on them, because everyone thinks John was a prophet. So they said, “We don’t know.” Then neither will I tell you, he said.

Jesus@jesus · The temple courts

Last of all he sent his son. But the tenants said, “This is the heir. Let’s kill him.” The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @jesus

The chief priests and Pharisees knew he meant them. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd.

Matthew 22

Jesus@jesus · The temple courts

Many are called, but few are chosen.

A student of the Pharisees@pharisees.student · The temple courts

We went to him in the temple courts with some of Herod’s supporters. Started by saying we know he’s honest and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. Then asked: is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? He asked to see the coin for the tax. Whose face is this? Caesar’s. So, he said, give Caesar what’s Caesar’s, and God what’s God’s.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @pharisees.student

It was a set-up. The Pharisees had gone off beforehand and worked out how to catch him out with his own words. He saw through it immediately. Called them hypocrites and asked why they were testing him.

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The Sadducees@thesadducees · The temple courts

A question, since we do not believe in resurrection. A woman marries seven brothers in turn. At the resurrection, whose wife is she?

Jesus@jesus · The temple courts

God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

The crowds@thecrowds

Replying to @jesus

The way he answers them, though.

Jesus@jesus · The temple courts

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbour as yourself.

Matthew@matthew

Then he asked the Pharisees one. Whose son is the Messiah? “David’s,” they said. So how can David, speaking by the Spirit, call him “Lord”? If David calls him Lord, how can he be his son? Nobody had an answer.

David@davidThe LORD tells my Lord to sit at his right hand until he makes his enemies a footstool for his feet.
Matthew@matthew

After that day nobody dared ask him anything else.

Matthew 23

Jesus@jesus · The temple courts

Do what they tell you, but don’t do what they do. They don’t practise what they preach.

Jesus@jesus · The temple courts

You strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.

Jesus@jesus · The temple courts

How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees. Hypocrites. You’re like whitewashed tombs: beautiful on the outside, full of dead people’s bones inside.

Jesus@jesus · Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Jerusalem. How often I’ve wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. And you wouldn’t let me.

Matthew 24

The believers@thebelievers · The temple

We were pointing out the temple buildings to him. All of it. He said not one stone here will be left on another.

The believers@thebelievers

Replying to @thebelievers

So we asked him later, on the Mount of Olives: when?

Jesus@jesus · Mount of Olives

You will hear of wars and rumours of wars. Don’t be alarmed. The end is still to come.

Jesus@jesus · Mount of Olives

No one knows that day or hour, not the angels, not the Son, only the Father.

Matthew@matthew

He compared it to Noah’s day. People eating and drinking, getting married, right up to the day Noah went into the ark. They had no idea, until the flood came and swept them all away.

Noah@noahI was 600 when it started. The springs of the deep burst open, the windows of the sky opened, and it rained for forty days and forty nights. We went in, me, my wife, our sons and their wives, and the animals with us, two by two.
Jesus@jesus · Mount of Olives

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words never will.

Matthew 25

Matthew@matthew · Mount of Olives

Then a story about ten bridesmaids. Five brought spare oil, five didn’t. The groom was late. By the time the other five got back from buying oil, the door was shut. His point: keep watch.

Matthew@matthew · Mount of Olives

The line everyone remembers from his story about the servants and the bags of gold: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Jesus@jesus · Mount of Olives

I was hungry and you fed me. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was in prison and you visited me. Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @jesus

Hard part of the same story: the ones who didn’t do it go away to eternal punishment. He said that plainly too.

Matthew 26

Jesus@jesus

Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.

Matthew@matthew · Jerusalem

Something we only found out afterwards. That same week the chief priests and elders met at the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, and agreed to arrest him quietly and kill him. Just not during the festival, they said. The city would riot.

The woman with the perfume@alabasterjar · Bethany

He was eating at Simon’s house in Bethany. Simon the leper, people call him. I came in with a jar of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head.

The believers@thebelievers

Replying to @alabasterjar

What a waste. That could have been sold and given to the poor.

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Jesus@jesus

Wherever this good news is preached in the whole world, what she’s done will be told in memory of her.

Matthew@matthew

This is the part we didn’t know at the time. Judas, one of the Twelve, one of us, went to the chief priests and asked what they’d give him to hand Jesus over.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @matthew

Thirty pieces of silver. From then on he was watching for his chance.

John@johnzebedee · The upper room, Jerusalem

At the Passover table he said one of us would betray him. We went round one by one. It’s not me, is it?

John@johnzebedee

Replying to @johnzebedee

Judas asked too. It’s not me, is it, Rabbi? He said, “You’ve said it yourself.”

Jesus@jesus · The upper room, Jerusalem

Take it and eat. This is my body. All of you, drink from it. This is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many, so that sins can be forgiven.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @jesus

A covenant is God’s binding promise to his people. That’s the word he used for his own blood.

Simon Peter@simonpeter · Mount of Olives

Told him that even if everyone else walks away, I never will. Even if I have to die with him.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @simonpeter

Jesus told you that before the rooster crows, you’ll deny him three times.

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Jesus@jesus · Gethsemane

My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup away from me. But not what I want. What you want.

Simon Peter@simonpeter · Gethsemane

He asked us to stay awake with him. Three times he came back and found us asleep.

Jesus@jesus · GethsemaneMy Father, if it’s possible, take this cup away from me. But not what I want. What you want.
Matthew@matthew · Gethsemane

Judas arrives with a crowd carrying swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests. He walks straight up to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi.” Kisses him. And they grab him.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @matthew

The kiss was the signal. He’d arranged it with them beforehand: the one I kiss is the man, arrest him. We only put that together later.

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Matthew@matthew · Gethsemane

Then all of us deserted him and ran.

Matthew@matthew · Caiaphas’ house

At Caiaphas’ house they’re hunting for false evidence. Nothing holds. Jesus says nothing. Then Caiaphas puts him under oath: are you the Christ, the Son of God? “You have said so.” And he tells them that from now on they’ll see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Caiaphas@caiaphas

Replying to @matthew

He has blasphemed. Why do we need any further witnesses?

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A servant girl in the high priest’s courtyard@servantgirl.courtyard · Caiaphas’ courtyard

There’s a Galilean sitting out in our courtyard. I told him he was with Jesus, the one from Galilee. Said it in front of everyone. He says he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.

Replying to @servantgirl.courtyard

He’s come out to the gateway now. Told everyone here he was with Jesus of Nazareth. He swore he doesn’t know the man.

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Simon Peter@simonpeter · Caiaphas’ courtyard

He told me. The third time I cursed and swore I didn’t know the man. Then the rooster crowed. I went outside and cried my heart out.

Matthew@matthewJesus told you that before the rooster crows, you’ll deny him three times.

Matthew 27

Matthew@matthew

Morning. They tie him up and hand him over to Pilate, the Roman governor.

Judas Iscariot@judasiscariot · The temple

I took the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests. I’ve sinned. I betrayed an innocent man.

Someone in Jerusalem@jerusalem.local · The temple

Replying to @judasiscariot

I saw you. You came into the temple trying to hand the silver back, and the chief priests said what’s that to us? That’s your problem.

Matthew@matthew

Judas threw the silver into the temple and went and hanged himself. The priests used the money to buy a field to bury foreigners in. It’s still called the Field of Blood.

Pilate’s wife@pilateswife · The governor’s court

Sent word to my husband: have nothing to do with that innocent man. I went through so much in a dream today because of him.

Pontius Pilate@pontiuspilate · The governor’s court

At Passover it is the custom that I release one prisoner to the crowd. I offered them the choice: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ.

Someone in Jerusalem@jerusalem.local

Replying to @pontiuspilate

They chose Barabbas.

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Pontius Pilate@pontiuspilate · The governor’s court

I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours.

Matthew@matthew

He washed his hands in front of the crowd as he said it. The crowd told him to let the blood be on them and on their children. He released Barabbas, had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Pontius Pilate@pontiuspilate · The governor’s courtI am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours.
Matthew@matthew · The Praetorium

The soldiers put a scarlet robe on him and a crown of thorns on his head, knelt and mocked him: “Long live the King of the Jews!” They spat on him and beat him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Simon of Cyrene@simonofcyrene · The road to Golgotha

I was just on the road. The soldiers made me carry his cross.

Matthew@matthew · Golgotha

Golgotha, the Place of the Skull. They crucify him. They throw dice for his clothes. The sign above his head: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @matthew

The chief priests stood there mocking him. Saying he saved others but can’t save himself.

Matthew@matthew · Golgotha

From noon until three, darkness over all the land.

Jesus@jesus · Golgotha

Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Matthew@matthew · Golgotha

He cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. The temple curtain tore in two, top to bottom. The earth shook. The rocks split.

A Roman centurion at the cross@centurion.golgotha · Golgotha

Replying to @matthew

This really was the Son of God.

Mary Magdalene@marymagdalene · Golgotha

Many of us women were there, watching from a distance. We’d followed him from Galilee.

Joseph of Arimathea@josephofarimathea · Jerusalem

I asked Pilate for his body. I wrapped it in clean linen, laid it in my own new tomb, and rolled a big stone across the entrance.

The other Mary@theothermary

Replying to @josephofarimathea

Mary Magdalene and I stayed, sitting opposite the tomb.

A guard at the tomb@tombguard · Outside Jerusalem

Day after the crucifixion, and I’m on tomb duty. The chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate this morning. Apparently the man in there said he’d rise after three days, and they don’t want his disciples stealing the body and claiming he did. So the stone’s sealed and we’re posted outside. Orders are orders.

Matthew 28

Mary Magdalene@marymagdalene · The tomb

Dawn. An earthquake. An angel rolled the stone back and sat on it. He told us he’s not here. He’s risen, just like he said.

The other Mary@theothermary

Replying to @marymagdalene

We ran to tell the others, scared and so full of joy. And Jesus met us on the way. We took hold of his feet and worshipped him.

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Someone in Jerusalem@jerusalem.local · Jerusalem

The soldiers who were guarding that tomb are all saying the same thing now. His disciples came in the night and stole the body while they were asleep.

Matthew@matthew

Replying to @jerusalem.local

What actually happened: while the women were on their way to us, some of the guards went into the city and told the chief priests everything. The chief priests met with the elders, then gave the soldiers a large sum of money to say that. Told them if the governor heard about it, they’d keep them out of trouble. They took the money.

Matthew@matthew · A mountain in Galilee

The eleven of us met him on the mountain in Galilee. We worshipped him. Some of us still doubted. I’m not going to pretend otherwise.

Jesus@jesus · A mountain in Galilee

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And I’m with you always, right to the very end of the age.

Matthew 2

Matthew@matthew

Not enough people get how much of this was written down centuries before it happened. Bethlehem. Egypt. A donkey. Thirty pieces of silver. All of it.

People in Matthew

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