1. The Gospel of Matthew: Facing Challenging Texts The Rev. Ross Kane St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

2. What Do We Mean By Challenging? Texts the trouble us Texts that disturb us Texts that make us wonder “how did that get in the Bible?” “What does a loving God have to do with that?”

3. Part I: Examples

4. Examples from Matthew Last week’s lectionary text: Matthew 22:1-14 Matthew 18:34-35 – difficult forgiveness Matthew 21:33-46 – the unfaithful (cut up) servant Matthew 24: 45-51 – “wretches in the vineyard”

5. Examples from Matthew Statements about Jews: Matthew 27:25 – “His [Jesus’] blood be on us and on our children!” Matthew 21: 43 – kingdom taken from you Matthew 23:29-36 – blood falling on Pharisees and scribes

6. Part II: Anti-Semitism or Inter-Jewish Debate?

7. Part III: Why a Wrathful God at All?

9. God as Doting Santa All mercy and no justice

10. Part IV: A Challenge

11. Jacob Wrestling the Angel by Gustave Doré