PREACHING MATTHEW'S GOSPEL
With the text appointed for this week we come to the climax of Part Two of Matthew's Gospel. We arrive at this particular point in the lectionary having omitted 15:29-31 (the crowds glorify the God of Israel for Jesus' healing ministry); 15:32-39 (the feeding of the 4,000); and 16:1-12 (the Pharisees seek a sign and the disciples demonstrate their "little faith"). This entire section begins in 4:17 with the words, "From that time Jesus began to preach...." The first section of this material, 4:17--11:1, describes the words and deeds of Jesus' ministry to Israel.