Narrative Context: A Lectionary Preaching Commentary

Matthew 1:18-25 (4th Sunday of Advent) – December 21, 2025

Matthew's birth narrative emphasizes Joseph's quiet obedience amidst uncertainty rather than celebration. Rather than acting from moral superiority, Joseph's righteous response embodies compassion despite limited understanding. His actions facilitate God's work, highlighting that obedience involves relinquishing power and creating space for new life, challenging traditional expectations during Advent. * [Scripture quotations are taken from] the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. https://micahkrey.com/2025/12/15/matthew-118-25-4th-sunday-of-advent-december-21-2025/

Matthew 11:2-11 (3rd Sunday of Advent) – December 14, 2025

The post explores John the Baptist's crisis of faith as he questions whether Jesus is the expected Messiah. Initially heralding a figure of judgment, John finds Jesus embodying mercy and restoration instead. This tension encourages reflection on human expectations versus divine reality, inviting acceptance of a Messiah who heals rather than conquers. https://micahkrey.com/2025/12/08/matthew-112-11-3rd-sunday-of-advent-december-14-2025/ * [Scripture quotations are taken from] the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Matthew 3:1-12 (2nd Sunday of Advent) – December 7, 2025

In Advent, John the Baptist’s portrayal in Matthew is pivotal for understanding the transition from John's prophetic authority to Jesus. Matthew aims to address both insiders seeking control and outsiders needing hope. The prophetic message invites communal reorientation, emphasizing openness and transformation within the kingdom of heaven as it expands, challenging readers to avoid exclusivity. https://micahkrey.com/2025/12/01/matthew-31-12-2nd-sunday-of-advent-december-7-2025/ [https://micahkrey.com/2025/12/01/matthew-31-12-2nd-sunday-of-advent-december-7-2025/] * [Scripture quotations are taken from] the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Matthew 24:36-44 (1st Sunday of Advent) – November 30, 2025

Matthew's Gospel contrasts with others by using a prophetic tone that emphasizes judgment as a call for change rather than fear. The apocalyptic sections urge communities to actively engage in justice and compassion, preparing for Christ's return by embodying God's care for others. Advent is a time for spiritual attentiveness and immediate action towards love and justice. https://micahkrey.com/2025/11/24/matthew-2436-44-1st-sunday-of-advent-november-30-2025/ [https://micahkrey.com/2025/11/24/matthew-2436-44-1st-sunday-of-advent-november-30-2025/] * [Scripture quotations are taken from] the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Turning Our Eyes Toward Matthew and Grounding in Year A

As we step into a new lectionary year, we’re invited to see the world through Matthew’s eyes. Each Gospel writer has a theological “lens,” and Matthew’s is one we need to wrap our heads around before Advent begins. Otherwise, we risk hearing his texts through Mark’s urgency, Luke’s expansiveness, or John’s mysticism. Matthew has his own heartbeat, his own anxieties, his own hopes, his own vision of what it looks like for God to break into the world. This helps to ready us to preach and hear Matthew's word. https://micahkrey.com/2025/11/23/turning-our-eyes-toward-matthew-and-grounding-in-year-a/ [https://micahkrey.com/2025/11/23/turning-our-eyes-toward-matthew-and-grounding-in-year-a/]