Reading the Gospels Together The Storyline of Matthew’s Gospel – Part 10 At this point Matthew interrupts the storyline of Mark’s gospel for a fourth time. This time the discourse that Matthew provides his readers is on the nature of the church that Jesus has created. Matthew begins with a parable he shares with Luke, the parable of the lost sheep. The force of the parable is the determination of the shepherd to find his lost sheep. Matthew moves on to address how differences and sins are to be dealt with within the church. Matthew uses the word church for a second time. The point Matthew is attempting to make is one of restoration. The intent is that those who are estranged are restored to fellowship. Matthew repeats Jesus words regarding the keys to the kingdom again, clearly this time extending their use to all those who are a part of the church. The intent is to bring forgiveness. Matthew tells his readers that Peter wonders about how broad this forgiveness is to be and is told that it is beyond measure. Peter’s question prompts Jesus to tell a parable about an unforgiving servant. Only Matthew tells us this parable. The point of the parable is quite clear. Forgiveness is not an option but a requirement within the church. The tone of this discourse is much like that in the Sermon on the Mount with Jesus creating a new ethic for a new community. Matthew sums it up with the word, “So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew now returns to Mark’s storyline with the story of Jesus leaving Galilee and entering into Judea for the first time since the baptism. Like Mark, Matthew has located the ministry of Jesus almost exclusively within the bounds of Galilee with a couple of minor excursions to the edges and into Gentile territory. The controversy story with the religious leaders regarding divorce told by Mark is repeated with nearly the same words by Matthew. And like Mark, Matthew goes on to relate how Jesus blesses the children. And then he relates, without significant changes Mark’s story of the encounter of Jesus with a rich man who cannot let go of his riches and thus excludes himself from the kingdom of heaven. At this point Matthew inserts a parable only he will tell about the generosity of God. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard has the same tone as the material in the Sermon on the Mount in turning the world upside down and creating a new ethic and a new understanding. Matthew is still following Mark quite closely as he tells the story of Jesus for a third time predicting his suffering, death, and resurrection. And it is clear that Matthew has the same story in mind as Mark regarding James and John and their request to have the places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom. However, Mark softens the blow by blaming their mother for the selfish request. Matthew is intent on putting the best light he can on the disciples. Or, was it Mark who was intent on putting them in the worst light? At any rate we need to take note of Matthew’s change of Mark’s storyline at this point. Matthew concludes this section of his gospel by telling the story of Jesus healing two blind men as he enters Jericho. Clearly this is the same story that Mark had told about Bartimeaus. This is the second time Matthew has turned a story of Mark in which one man is healed into the story of the healing of two men. The other story was of the demoniac whose name was Legion and from who the demons were sent into the pigs. Why Matthew changes the story from one man to two has befuddled every modern interpreter.