Greetings friends,
I’m about 100 pages into my next book with another 80-100 to go. The book will be about the Gospel of Matthew where we’ll look at 29 stories (1 from each chapter, and 2 from chapter 1 … because it’s my book and I can do what I want, HA!) through the lens of Matthew’s readers.
SO.
After an important intro to set the book up, chapter 1 will be about the context of Matthew’s Gospel …
What we know of his readers.
What we know of their situation.
What we know of their time, their place, their land.
… And then chapters 2-30 will look at various stories through the lens of what we learn in chapter 1 as we wonder WHY Matthew included those stories, WHY he might have told them the way that he told them, HOW his readers would have read them, and more.
I MIGHT do one of these books for each Gospel (not sure yet), but I’m super excited about THIS Gospel and THIS book because Matthew’s Gospel has always been one of my favorites for various reasons.
OH.
I should also say that during my writing / research I have purposely only referred to books to help me tell of the background and context of the Gospel and have steered clear of commentaries and theology textbooks that might dictate how I look at each story.
Why?
Well, I did this on purpose because I’m trying to meditate on the stories before I write about them and listen to what Spirit might be whispering to ME as I write … whispers that I might not hear if I’m sticking my head in commentaries, textbooks, and theology books (lots of which I’ve already read anyways).
That said, I’ve written the first 13 chapters and hope to be done by April-ish, edited by May-ish, uploaded to Amazon in June-ish, and available for purchase sometime shortly after.
The title is ready.
The subtitle is ready.
The cover is done.
(Y’all will see that stuff later, before everyone else.)
And here’s chapter 13 (not edited, there are spelling and grammar issues - my humanity on full display, HA!).
Enjoy.
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Chapter 13: Maybe It’s Not Supposed to Be Hard
Matthew 11:25-30
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father.No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”