This book is a verse-by-verse analysis of the New Testament Gospel of Matthew. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the gospel, which describes the world of Jesus and his first followers. This commentary explores the historical, social, and religious contexts of Matthew and examines the customs, beliefs, and ideas that inform the text. Unfamiliar to many readers of the New Testament, this background will help readers fully understand the text of Matthew, which focuses on what Jesus taught and why the religious authorities in Jerusalem rejected his message and gave him up to the Roman governor for execution. This book will be an important tool for clergy, scholars, and other interested readers of Matthew.
Craig A. Evans is Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Acadia Divinity College in Nova Scotia. He is the author of several books about Jesus and the New Testament, including Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies (2005) and Jesus, the Final Days (2009).
The New Cambridge Bible Commentary (NCBC) aims to elucidate the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures for a wide range of intellectually curious individuals. While building on the work and reputation of the Cambridge Bible Commentary popular in the 1960s and 1970s, the NCBC takes advantage of many of the rewards provided by scholarly research over the last four decades. Volumes utilize recent gains in rhetorical criticism, social scientific study of the Scriptures, narrative criticism, and other developing disciplines to exploit the growing advances in biblical studies. Accessible jargon-free commentary, an annotated “Suggested Readings” list, and the entire New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) text under discussion are the hallmarks of all volumes in the series.
Genesis, Bill T. Arnold
Exodus, Carol Meyers
Judges and Ruth, Victor H. Matthews
1–2 Corinthians, Craig S. Keener
The Gospel of John, Jerome H. Neyrey
James and Jude, William F. Brosend II
Revelation, Ben Witherington III
Deuteronomy, Brent Strawn
Joshua, Douglas A. Knight
1–2 Chronicles, William M. Schniedewind
Psalms 1–72, Walter Brueggemann and William H. BellingerJr.
Psalms 73–150, Walter Brueggemann and William H. Bellinger Jr.
Isaiah 1–39, David Baer
Jeremiah, Baruch Halpern
Hosea, Joel, and Amos, J. J. M. Roberts
The Gospel of Luke, Amy-Jill Levine and Ben Witherington III
The Letters of John, Duane F. Watson
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
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Cambridge University Press
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www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521011068
© Craig A. Evans 2012
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 2012
Printed in the United States of America
A catalog record for this publication is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
ISBN 978-0-521-81214-6 Hardback
ISBN 978-0-521-01106-8 Paperback
Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of urls for external or third-party Internet Web sites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Web sites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
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Supplementary Sections
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xiii |
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Preface
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xv |
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A Word about Citations
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xvii |
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Abbreviations
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xix |
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I. Introduction
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1 |
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Origins of the Gospel of Matthew
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1 |
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Matthew and the Other Gospels
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7 |
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The Structure of Matthew
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8 |
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Outline of Matthew
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10 |
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The Greek Text of Matthew
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13 |
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II. Suggested Readings on the Gospel of Matthew
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15 |
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Commentaries
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15 |
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Monographs and Collected Studies
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18 |
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Selected Shorter Studies
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26 |
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III. Commentary
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31 |
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Matthew 1:1–17 – The Genealogy of the Messiah
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31 |
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Matthew 1:18–25 – The Birth of Jesus Messiah
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39 |
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Matthew 2:1–12 – The Wise Men
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48 |
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Matthew 2:13–23 – To Egypt and Back
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56 |
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Matthew 3:1–12 – The Ministry of John the Baptist
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66 |
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Matthew 3:13–17 – The Baptism of Jesus
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75 |
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Matthew 4:1–11 – The Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness
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79 |
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Matthew 4:12–17 – Proclamation in Galilee
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88 |
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Matthew 4:18–22 – The Call of the First Disciples
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91 |
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Matthew 4:23–25 – The Beginnings of Ministry
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93 |
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Matthew 5:1–2 – The Setting of the Sermon on the Mount
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96 |
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Matthew 5:3–12 – The Beatitudes
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99 |
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Matthew 5:13–16 – Salt and Light
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110 |
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Matthew 5:17–20 – Fulfillment and Righteousness
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112 |
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Matthew 5:21–26 – Example One: Murder
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120 |
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Matthew 5:27–32 – Example Two: Adultery and Divorce
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123 |
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Matthew 5:33–37 – Example Three: Honest Speech
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126 |
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Matthew 5:38–42 – Example Four: On Retaliation
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130 |
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Matthew 5:43–48 – Example Five: Love of Enemies
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132 |
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Matthew 6:1–4 – Almsgiving
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137 |
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Matthew 6:5–15 – Prayer
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141 |
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Matthew 6:16–18 – Fasting
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149 |
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Matthew 6:19–24 – Laying up Treasure in Heaven
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152 |
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Matthew 6:25–34 – Anxiety
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157 |
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Matthew 7:1–5 – Judging
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161 |
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Matthew 7:6–12 – The Need for Discernment
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164 |
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Matthew 7:13–14 – The Two Gates
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170 |
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Matthew 7:15–20 – Known by One’s Fruit
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173 |
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Matthew 7:21–23 – False Disciples
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177 |
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Matthew 7:24–27 – Parable of the Builders
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179 |
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Matthew 7:28–29 – Astounding Authority
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182 |
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Matthew 8:1–4 – Healing a Leper
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183 |
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Matthew 8:5–13 – Healing the Centurion’s Son
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185 |
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Matthew 8:14–17 – The Healing of Peter’s Mother-in-Law
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190 |
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Matthew 8:18–22 – Following Jesus
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192 |
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Matthew 8:23–27 – Stilling the Storm
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194 |
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Matthew 8:28–34 – Healing the Gadarene Men
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196 |
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Matthew 9:1–8 – Healing the Paralyzed Man
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199 |
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Matthew 9:9–13 – The Call of Matthew and Eating with Sinners
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201 |
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Matthew 9:14–17 – New and Old
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203 |
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Matthew 9:18–26 – Restoring a Daughter and a Woman
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205 |
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Matthew 9:27–31 – Healing of Two Blind Men
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208 |
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Matthew 9:32–34 – Healing of a Mute Demoniac
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210 |
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Matthew 9:35–38 – Laborers for the Harvest
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211 |
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Matthew 10:1–4 – Authorizing the Twelve
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213 |
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Matthew 10:5–15 – Mission Instructions
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217 |
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Matthew 10:16–23 – Coming Persecution
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221 |
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Matthew 10:24–25 – Like Teacher, Like Disciple
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224 |
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Matthew 10:26–31 – Do Not Fear
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225 |
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Matthew 10:32–33 – Confessing or Denying
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227 |
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Matthew 10:34–39 – Discipleship and Division
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228 |
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Matthew 10:40–11:1 – Receiving Jesus
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230 |
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Matthew 11:2–6 – John’s Question
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232 |
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Matthew 11:7–15 – Jesus on John
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236 |
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Matthew 11:16–19 – Fickle Israel
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240 |
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Matthew 11:20–24 – Woes on Unrepentant Cities
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242 |
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Matthew 11:25–30 – All Is Revealed to the Son
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244 |
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Matthew 12:1–8 – Plucking Grain on the Sabbath
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248 |
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Matthew 12:9–14 – Healing on the Sabbath
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251 |
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Matthew 12:15–21 – The Servant of the Lord
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252 |
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Matthew 12:22–32 – Exorcism, Beelzebul, and Blasphemy
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254 |
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Matthew 12:33–37 – Watch What You Say
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258 |
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Matthew 12:38–42 – Something Greater Is Here
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260 |
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Matthew 12:43–45 – The Parable of the Evicted and Returning Demon
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262 |
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Matthew 12:46–50 – The True Family of Jesus
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264 |
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Matthew 13:1–9 – The Parable of the Sower
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266 |
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Matthew 13:10–17 – The Purpose of Parables
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267 |
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Matthew 13:18–23 – Explanation of the Parable of the Sower
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270 |
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Matthew 13:24–30 – The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
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271 |
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Matthew 13:31–32 – The Parable of the Mustard Seed
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274 |
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Matthew 13:33–35 – The Parable of the Yeast
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275 |
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Matthew 13:36–43 – Explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
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277 |
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Matthew 13:44–46 – The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl
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281 |
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Matthew 13:47–50 – The Parable of the Net
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284 |
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Matthew 13:51–53 – The Scribe Trained for the Kingdom
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286 |
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Matthew 13:54–58 – Unbelief at Nazareth
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288 |
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Matthew 14:1–12 – The Execution of John the Baptist
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290 |
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Matthew 14:13–21 – Feeding the Five Thousand
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292 |
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Matthew 14:22–33 – Walking on the Water
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294 |
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Matthew 14:34–36 – Crowds Reach out to Jesus
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297 |
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Matthew 15:1–11 – On What Defiles
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298 |
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Matthew 15:12–20 – Explanation of What Defiles
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300 |
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Matthew 15:21–28 – The Faith of the Canaanite Woman
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302 |
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Matthew 15:29–31 – Healing on the Mountain
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305 |
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Matthew 15:32–39 – Feeding the Four Thousand
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306 |
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Matthew 16:1–4 – Demand for a Sign from Heaven
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307 |
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Matthew 16:5–12 – Warning of False Teaching
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309 |
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Matthew 16:13–20 – The Identity of Jesus Confessed
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311 |
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Matthew 16:21–23 – First Prediction of Suffering and Death
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315 |
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Matthew 16:24–28 – Following Jesus
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317 |
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Matthew 17:1–8 – Transfiguration of Jesus
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319 |
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Matthew 17:9–13 – Elijah Has Already Come
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322 |
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Matthew 17:14–21 – Healing a Demonized Boy
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323 |
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Matthew 17:22–23 – Second Prediction of the Passion
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325 |
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Matthew 17:24–27 – On Paying the Temple Tax
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326 |
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Matthew 18:1–5 – On Greatness in the Kingdom
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328 |
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Matthew 18:6–9 – Warning against Causing Offense
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330 |
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Matthew 18:10–14 – None Should Be Lost
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331 |
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Matthew 18:15–20 – Community Discipline
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333 |
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Matthew 18:21–35 – On Forgiveness
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335 |
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Matthew 19:1–2 – Healing the Crowds
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338 |
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Matthew 19:3–12 – On Divorce
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339 |
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Matthew 19:13–15 – Jesus and Children
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342 |
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Matthew 19:16–22 – On Inheriting Eternal Life
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343 |
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Matthew 19:23–26 – On the Salvation of the Rich
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345 |
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Matthew 19:27–30 – Reward for Faithful Service
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346 |
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Matthew 20:1–16 – The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
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348 |
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Matthew 20:17–19 – Third Prediction of the Passion
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352 |
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Matthew 20:20–28 – A Request for Positions of Honor
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353 |
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Matthew 20:29–34 – Sight for Two Blind Men
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355 |
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Matthew 21:1–11 – Entry into Jerusalem
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357 |
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Matthew 21:12–17 – A Demonstration in the Temple
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360 |
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Matthew 21:18–22 – The Lesson of the Fig Tree
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363 |
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Matthew 21:23–27 – The Question of Authority
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365 |
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Matthew 21:28–32 – The Parable of the Two Sons
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367 |
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Matthew 21:33–46 – The Parable of the Vineyard
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368 |
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Matthew 22:1–14 – The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
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376 |
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Matthew 22:15–22 – On Taxation
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379 |
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Matthew 22:23–33 – God of the Living
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381 |
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Matthew 22:34–40 – What Is the Greatest Commandment?
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384 |
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Matthew 22:41–46 – Whose Son Is the Messiah?
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386 |
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Matthew 23:1–12 – Warning against the Scribes and Pharisees
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387 |
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Matthew 23:13–33 – Criticism of the Pharisees
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391 |
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Matthew 23:34–36 – A History of Rejected Prophets
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396 |
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Matthew 23:37–39 – A Lament for Jerusalem
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398 |
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Matthew 24:1–2 – The Prophecy of the Temple’s Destruction
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399 |
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Matthew 24:3–8 – Early Signs of Jesus’ Coming
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402 |
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Matthew 24:9–14 – Warnings of Persecution
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403 |
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Matthew 24:15–22 – Watch for the Desolating Sacrilege
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405 |
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Matthew 24:23–28 – Beware False Messiahs and False Prophets
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407 |
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Matthew 24:29–35 – The Return of the Son of Man
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409 |
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Matthew 24:36–44 – Be Ready: No One Knows the Time of His Coming
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412 |
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Matthew 24:45–51 – The Parable of the Wise and Wicked Slaves
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414 |
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Matthew 25:1–13 – The Parable of the Bridesmaids
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415 |
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Matthew 25:14–30 – The Parable of the Servants
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418 |
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Matthew 25:31–46 – Reward for the Merciful
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421 |
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Matthew 26:1–5 – The Plot to Arrest Jesus
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424 |
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Matthew 26:6–13 – The Anointing of Jesus
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424 |
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Matthew 26:14–16 – A Sinister Bargain
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426 |
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Matthew 26:17–19 – Preparation for the Passover
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427 |
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Matthew 26:20–25 – A Prophecy of Betrayal
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429 |
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Matthew 26:26–30 – Words about the Eucharist
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430 |
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Matthew 26:31–35 – Three Prophecies
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432 |
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Matthew 26:36–46 – A Place Called Gethsemane
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433 |
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Matthew 26:47–56 – The Arrest of Jesus
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437 |
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Matthew 26:57–68 – Jesus before the Jewish Council
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439 |
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Matthew 26:69–75 – Peter Denies Knowing Jesus
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443 |
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Matthew 27:1–2 – Handing Jesus over to Pilate
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445 |
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Matthew 27:3–10 – Judas and the Field of Blood
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447 |
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Matthew 27:11–14 – Jesus before Pilate
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450 |
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Matthew 27:15–23 – The Passover Pardon
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451 |
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Matthew 27:24–26 – Jesus Is Handed over for Crucifixion
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454 |
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Matthew 27:27–31 – The Romans Mock Jesus
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456 |
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Matthew 27:32–37 – The Crucifixion of Jesus
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457 |
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Matthew 27:38–44 – The Mocking of Jesus
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461 |
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Matthew 27:45–50 – The Death of Jesus
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462 |
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Matthew 27:51–54 – Signs and Confession
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464 |
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Matthew 27:55–56 – Women Witnesses of Jesus’ Death
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468 |
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Matthew 27:57–61 – The Burial of Jesus
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469 |
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Matthew 27:62–66 – Guarding the Tomb
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472 |
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Matthew 28:1–7 – Discovery of the Empty Tomb
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475 |
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Matthew 28:8–10 – Encountering the Risen Jesus
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478 |
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Matthew 28:11–15 – The Stolen Body Rumor
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479 |
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Matthew 28:16–20 – The Great Commission
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482 |
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Author Index
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489 |
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Scripture and Apocrypha Index
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500 |
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Index of Extrabiblical Jewish and Christian Sources
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523 |
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Subject Index
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537 |