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Matthew 16:21-28
With thanks to page sponsor 2014:
Rev. Sandra Hedrick
Stated Clerk, Presbytery of St. Augustine .

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary (Matthew Henry, Wesley's Notes, Geneva Notes, etc) & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • "Before the Angels," "Saving One's Life," "Carrying One's Cross," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • Chapter VI, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 50 - 115). (Some MSS omit the quotation.)
  • Chapter XV, The First Apology of Justin Martyr. (c 150)
  • Chapter C, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)
  • III.XVIII.4, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • IV.6, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200) (scroll down for chapter 6)
  • Chapter LV, On The Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter XII, On Idolatry, Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XV, Scorpiace,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew, St. Chrysostom (c. 380):
    • Homily LV - Matthew 16:24
    • Homily LVI - Matthew 16:28
  • From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "No men do more harm to themselves, than they that love themselves more than God."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "A true disciple of Christ is one that does follow him in duty, and shall follow him to glory."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Should we not consider all crosses, all things grievous to flesh and blood, as what they really are, as opportunities of embracing God's will at the expense of our own?"
  • The Important Question (Matt 16:26). Sermon by John Wesley.
    • "Religion is the love of God and our neighbour; that is, every man under heaven. This love ruling the whole life, animating all our tempers and passions, directing all our thoughts, words, and actions, is 'pure religion and undefiled.'"
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "If a man makes the present world--in its various forms of riches, honors, pleasures, and such like--the object of supreme pursuit, be it that he gains the world; yet along with it he forfeits his own soul."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Christ saw in the words of Peter a suggestion not so much of his as of Satan's. It was a temptation to shrink from the work for which he came. It was the same temptation that called out from him the same rebuke once before."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Matthew 16:21-28, Mitzi J. Smith, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2017.
  • "Can You Imagine?" David Lose, ...in the Meantime, 2017.
  • "The Cross at a Crossroads," Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2017.
  • A Provocation of the Gospel, Richard Swanson, 2017.
  • "Matthew 16:21-28 and Work,Theology of Work Project, 2017 (scroll down).
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2017.
  • "Taking Up My Cross...Hearing This Invitation Like It Is the First Time," Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2017.
  • Commentary, Matthew 16:21-28 | Ryan Quanstrom | A Plain Account, 2017
  • "Throwing Away Your Life," Glenn Monson, Law & Gospel Everywhere.
  • "Through Christ, God Dances," Amy Ziettlow, The Christian Century, 2017.
  • Commentary, Matthew 16:21-28, Eric Barreto, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
  • David Lose, ...in the Meantime, 2014.
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2017.
  • Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2014.
  • "Facing Toward Jerusalem," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2014.
  • Andrew Prior, First Impressions, 2014.
  • "Taking Up My Cross and the ALS Bucket Challenge," Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2014.
    • "I have used this example as a way to consider why it is that sometimes we don't 'pick up our crosses' to follow after Jesus. Can you think of other excuses we might use?"
  • The Moonshine Jesus Show Lectionarycast, Mark Sandlin and David Henson, 2014.
  • "Peter," Frederick Buechner, Buechner Blog.
    • "From fisher of fish to fisher of people to keeper of the keys to shepherd. It was the Rock's final promotion, and from that day forward he never let the head office down again."
  • Commentary, Matthew 16:21-28, James Boyce, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "The kingdom is becoming present in that resurrected life of the Messiah in each of our communities where this confession and life are bound together in the responsible exercise of love and mercy for the world."
  • The cross that Jesus said his followers must bear is picked up Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the TV film King, when, against the advice of everyone, Dr. King decides to denounce the Vietnam War, and thus loses the support of thousands of white liberals, most of the other Civil Rights leaders, and the President of the US. Ed McNulty, Visual Parables.
  • "Jesus Has No Part Time Disciples," Greg Carey, Matthew 16:21-28, ON Scripture, 2011. Commentary and association with current news events, links and videos.
    • "It does no good for preachers to rehearse Jesus’ extreme demands while congregations sit in well-cushioned and air-conditioned sanctuaries.  Preachers must level with our congregations.  Precious few of us lay everything on the line for the gospel, but neither can we ignore its call."
  • "The Good News about Being Lost," Fr. Rick Morley, a garden path, 2011.
  • "We should steep ourselves in this passage, and mindset, until we get to the point when we’re able to turn the old evangelical question on it’s head, and ask ourselves: Are we lost?"
  • Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2011.
  • "How long to sing this song?" Unvirtuous Abbey, The Hardest Question, 2011.
  • "When everything seems so wrong, how do you speak up for what is right?"
  • "Jesus' Passion and Ours," Alyce McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, Patheos, 2011.
  • "This is the first inkling we get of Peter's complex character and of troubled waters ahead,"
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Matthew 16:21-28, David Ewart, 2011.
  • "Peter rebukes Jesus. Jesus rebukes Peter. Calls Peter - or at least Peter's rebuke - Satan. That is, Tempter, Snake in the Garden, Introducer of Hesitation, Mixer of Motivations, Flaunter of Red Herrings, Side-Tracker of Mission, Setter of One's Mind on Human Things. Well, fear of pain and death will do that to most people, and Peter was no exception."
  • Comentario del Evangelio por Alvin Padilla, San Mateo 16:21-28, Working Preacher, 2011.
  • Commentary, Matthew 16:21-28, Clayton Schmit, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Dylan's Lectionary Blog, Proper 17. Biblical Scholar Sarah Dylan Breuer looks at readings for the coming Sunday in the lectionary of the Episcopal Church.
    • "As we follow Jesus, things will change -- us, our relationships, our world. Change means losing things as they were, but if we've caught Jesus' vision for how God is redeeming the world, we know that what we gain is of far greater value than the chains we lose."
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 12, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Sometimes these texts have been expounded in a way that has led people to expect that they should not value themselves and that has led to a kind of inverse hypocrisy, where one parades before oneself that one is of no value - usually a lie and certainly a denial of the gospel. The true nurture of the self is to love ourselves as God loves us."
  • "The Tension of Discipleship," Mary Hinkle, Pilgrim Preaching.
    • "Our hope for the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ is not that Peter or the rest of us who are fishing for people will get better, clearer, louder, quieter, more trusting, or less cowardly but that God will keep revealing himself and his merciful and just rule through his Son to human beings quite apart from their goodness, clarity, trust and courage."
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "Our text is about the difficult task of following Jesus. Why do we do it? Why do we encourage others to do it?"
  • "Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Matthew 16:21-26," Transformed for Disciple Community: Matthew in Pentecost, James L. Boyce, Word & World: Theology for Christian Ministry, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1993.
  • "Following the Crucified Lord," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Live for Tomorrow," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "Why is it easier for us to focus on today than the future? Why do we make decisions for the future based upon today's needs?"
  • Sermon Preparation Thoughts and Questions by Wesley White, 2005.
    • "Our tendency is to do what we have been good at in the past -- to do it over and over again, even past its effectiveness...The call here is to recognize our tendency to back off from engaging larger thoughts that push us into what appears to be risks on behalf of a yet unfocused future."
  • Matthew in the Margins, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • Wellspring of the Gospel, Ordinary 22A, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • Matthew 16:21-28, at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary's An Exegetical Study of the Common Lectionary, coordinated by Prof. John E. Alsup, features rough translation, disposition, immediate context, broader context, hermeneutical bridge, and contemporary address.
    • "People today live in a dream world. We have it entirely too easy and too good to be bothered with death, ours and/or others. We need this text’s Reality Check, regarding death and resurrection."
  • "Second Coming," wikipedia.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Boyce, James L., "Transformed for Disciple Community: Matthew in Pentecost," Word & World, 1993. (Section on this text begins on page 311.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Carter, Warren, "Matthew's Gospel: An Anti-Imperial/Imperial Reading," Currents in Theology and Mission, 2007. See entire issue of Currents in Theology and Mission 34, image focus on Matthew's gospel.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Clark, John C., "Martin Luther's View of Cross-Bearing," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Dahlberg, Bruce T., "The Typological Use of Jeremiah 1:4-19 in Matthew 13-23," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1975.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Efird, James M., "Matthew 16:21-27, Expository Article," Interpretation, 1981.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • "Homiletical Helps on LSB Series A," Concordia Journal, 2005. (Section on this text begins on page 233)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • Krentz, Edgar, "Living Faithfully - Nevertheless," The Christian Century, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Langle, Deanna, "Defining Moment," The Christian Century, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Samra, James G., "A Biblical View of Discipleship," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Stoutenburg, Dennis C., "'Out of My Sight!', 'Get Behind Me!', or 'Follow after Me!': There Is No Choice in God's Kingdom," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "The Way to Life Goes through Death," Sigurd Grindheim, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
  • "The Good Life," the Rev. Dr. Gary Charles, Day 1, 2005.
  • "Finding Life," 15 Pentecost - 28 August 2005, Walter W. Harms, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "A Sermon on Matthew 16:24-25," Geerhardus Vos, in Kerux: The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed)
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily
    • Ordinary 22, 2011
    • Ordinary 22, 2005
    • Ordinary 22, 2002
    • Ordinary 22, 1999
    • Ordinary 22, 1996
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Proper 17, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2011.
  • Take up your cross, Leah Thompson, CSSPlus.
  • "The Whistle," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "Jesus Tells the Disciples that He Must Suffer," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
  • "A Costly Business," David Winfield, dramatix.
  • "Building for the Present," Tom Woodley, dramatix.
  • "Looking Out for Number One," Erina Caradus, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Matthew 16:24, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Clip Art Images: Matthew 16:21-27, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • Matthew 16:21-27, Matthew 16:24-28, Matthew 16:24-28, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Matthew 16:21-28, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • Matthew 16:13-20, Scripture Pics - graphics relating to RCL texts, Matt Baker, Germantown UMC, Ohio.
• Hymns and Music:
  • "Jesus Asked One Day," Carolyn Winfrey Gillette's new hymn (2014) on Peter's declaration about Jesus, Jesus foretelling his death and resurrection, the cross and self-denial. Tune: SHOWALTER 10.9.10.9 with Refrain ("Leaning On The Everlasting Arms").
  • "O God, You Love the Needy," Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, ties in this week's lectionary texts with the issue of famine in Africa. LLANGLOFFAN 7.6.7.6.D (Lead On, O King Eternal; Rejoice, Rejoice Believers).
  • "Tell Me, Dear Tree," Hymn based on John 3:14-18, Matthew 16:24-26, Mark 8:34-37, and Luke 9:23-25, Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, 2012.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Matthew 16:24, 26, 27. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymn Selections, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • "Take up Your Cross," "The Way," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, a new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Crucifixion - Carrying the Cross
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Sacrifice
  • Redemption
  • Crucifixion
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Matthew

• INDEX BY SCRIPTURE
• PODCASTS
• NARRATIVE LECTIONARY RESOURCES
• DAILY LECTIONARY RESOURCES
• FESTIVALS/SPECIAL DAYS (includes Creation)
• FOR USE IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE
• PEACE RESOURCES
• FOR USE IN TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTER

• Year C
• Maundy Thurs Apr 14
• Good Friday Apr 15
• Easter Day Apr 17
• Easter 2 Apr 24
• Easter 3 May 1
• Easter 4 May 8
• Easter 5 May 15
• Easter 6 May 22
• Ascension May 26
• Easter 7 May 29
• Pentecost June 5
  

• Calendars
• YEAR A
• YEAR B
• YEAR C

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