Reading the Gospels Together The Storyline of Matthew’s Gospel – Part 11 Following Mark, Matthew leads his readers up the mountain to the summit of the Mount of Olives. Matthew mentions only the town of Bethphage. Why he drops out reference to Bethany is unknown. And while at the top of the mountain, Matthew tells the same story as Mark of Jesus sending out two of his disciples to find a colt for Jesus to ride upon as they enter the city. We have not heard Matthew use a proof text for a while. Here he adds one to Mark from the book of Zechariah. The proof text makes clear that Jesus enters Jerusalem as the king. Strangely Matthew tells the story as if Jesus is riding on both the donkey and the colt. When Mark told the story he told it in such a way that likely hardly anyone noticed. Matthew modifies that slightly by saying that the event caused turmoil and people began to ask who this was. Jesus’ disciples respond that this is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee. Mark had told his readers that upon entering Jerusalem Jesus had went into the Temple and looked around and then left returning the next day to cleanse the Temple. Matthew has Jesus enter directly into the Temple and cleanse it as the conclusion of his entry into the city. Like Mark, Matthew tells his readers that Jesus then retreats for the night to Bethany. The way in which Matthew has told the story leaves one to wonder if he understands Bethany to be at the summit of the Mount of Olives since he did not mention Bethany earlier. Mark had said that Jesus cursed the fig tree as he went down to cleanse the Temple and found it withered the next morning. Matthew condenses the cleansing and withering to one act. Jesus curses the tree and it withers. The disciples notice and are amazed and are told by Jesus that if they have faith they can cast mountains into the sea. Mark had told the same story. Mark is following Matthew as he tells of the Temple Controversy that unfolds where Jesus is in debate with the religious leaders; however, Matthew expands the story by telling three parables not found in Mark. The first episode is the same as Mark’s – the question about what authority Jesus has to cleanse the Temple and Jesus return question about the source of John the baptist’s ministry. Matthew now inserts a parable only he tells. The parable is about two sons. The first son refuses at first to do the will of his father but later does what his father has asked. The second son says that he will do his father’s will but does not. The meaning of the parable is clear. The tax collectors and sinners and outcast who have followed Jesus are like the first son. They begin as outsiders but end up as insiders. The religious leaders are like the second son. They claim to be on the inside but they real are not. The parable provokes the religious leaders. Matthew now picks up Mark’s parable about the vineyard. Then, Matthew inserts another parable he has found in the material her shares with Luke. This parable is about refusing to attend the banquet that God has prepared. The parable is clearly against the religious leaders. Matthew returns to Mark to tell about the question regarding the paying of taxes to Caesar and the question of the Sadducees regarding the woman married to seven brothers followed by the discussion regarding what is the greatest commandment and ending with Jesus own question about how the Messiah can be both David’s son and David’s Lord.