[Propertalk] Sermon tidbits for Mt. 17:1-9, Part 7

[Joe Parrish]

To what are they to listen? Certainly to what Jesus has just said (16:24-28) and to the next words from his mouth (17:11-12) about suffering as the narrow way of sonship and the path of glory. ...in the larger Matthean context disciples are called to listen to all that Jesus has commanded (28:19), to bend their necks to his yoke (11:24), to understand that the way of the cross and of servanthood is the way of sonship and discipleship.

Robert H. Smith, Matthew: Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament (Minneapolis: Augsburg Press, 1989), pp. 210.

http://www.sermonsuite.com/content.php?i=788021403&key=48dtqqEHybhqkbfj
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In Mark, Peter addresses Jesus as "rabbi."  Matthew changes this to "Lord."  Mark never has anything good to say about the disciples, and especially Peter.  They never get anything right.  Even Mark's Easter story is marked by yet another failure of the disciples.  His women disciples were told to go and tell the others, but they didn't do it.  Even the women disciples--his most devoted followers--fail. 
In Mark, per usual, Peter gives Jesus an incorrect title, another example of the disciples getting it "wrong."  Werner Kelber says that a major objective of Mark, which was written during or just after the Roman-Jewish War (AD 66-70), was to encourage the followers of Jesus to look to Galilee, to the beginnings of the movement, rather than to Jerusalem--the "head office," led by Peter--whose leadership Mark appears to discredit.

http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2011/02/lectionary-blogging-matthew-17-1-9.html

John Petty, 2011
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I don't know quite how to do this. Perhaps for some it will be easier to have pads of paper in the pew with which folks can journal. Or maybe you'd be willing to risk having them turn to each other and talk about where they have felt called, maybe where they feel God is calling them even now. You'll know best how to make room for this with your own people. (And you're certainly welcome to share your ideas in the comments.) But however you do it, I think it's an important first step in helping people recognize that God still speaks, that we still are called to listen (and indeed have listened!), and that when we fall in fear or failure Jesus is there to reach out and pick us up again.

http://www.workingpreacher.org/dear_wp.aspx?article_id=459

David Lose, 2011
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The verbal thread of Moses and Elijah links the parts of the second episode together; first
"there appeared Moses and Elijah" and then Peter says "one for Moses and one for
Elijah." Another interpretive matter in the telling of this episode is the performance of
Peter's words. Mark explains after Peter's words that "he said this because he was
afraid," which explains to the audience why Peter's words were spoken in a bumbling
and fearful manner. Matthew has no such explanation. This may imply that Matthew told
this episode with a little more dignity for Peter since Jesus stated just before this episode
"on this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16.18).

http://gotell.org/pdf/commentary/Matthew/Mt17_01-09_commentary.pdf

Thomas E. Boomershine
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We UMC clergy in Maryland & Dc have just been
reminded of some startling and scary information.
When UM Laity were asked if they expected to
encounter the Living God in worship, 72% said
"No"; 11% said "yes". Only 5%
of UM clergy said they expected their congregation
to experience the presence of the Living God in
worship.

http://www.desperatepreacher.com/bodyii.htm

Joye in Md
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