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The Four: A Survey of the Gospels
Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom
From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John
Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
To head off the possibility that the disciples will steal Jesus’ body, the priests and Pharisees ask Pilate for a guard at the tomb (Matthew 27:62-65). If the disciples are successful, “the last deception will be worse than the first” (v. 64).
It’s a familiar phrase: Jesus Himself uses it to describe the state of the man who is delivered from demons and then reinfested (12:45). The two uses of the phrase stand in ironic contrast: In order to avoid the last being worse than the first, the Pharisees and chief priests make plans that will ensure that the end will be worse from the beginning.
It’s also worth noting that the Pharisees are banding together with the priests (mainly Sadducees) to prevent a report of resurrection from getting out. In the last analysis, the Pharisees are selected in their affirmation of resurrection. In the abstract, sure, resurrections can happen; but when we’re talking about the resurrection of Jesus, Pharisees turn Sadducee.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 6:29 am
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