Anybody who has looked over an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form knows what tax col- lectors like: neat, orderly rows of figures, with all expenses and income classified by type and source. Fittingly, the Gospel attributed to former tax collector Matthew reflects system- atic, ledger-sheet thinking. He doesn't tell Jesus'story chronologically; he groups facts topically. Matthew collects Jesus' sayings in five main places. First comes the famous Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7. Chapter 10 records Jesus' instructions to his disciples about their mission; chapter 13, a series of parables on the kingdom; chapter 18, Christ's words on the church as a community; and chapters 23-25, Jesus' thoughts on religious hypocrisy and his predictions of the future. Sandwiched in among these five great discourses you'll findconnected scenes of Jesus in action. The skillful blending of Jesus' action and teaching has helped earn this Gospel an esteemed place in liter...
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