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This section of Matthew also employs the wordplay “Appeared” (נראה), “Fear” (תירא), “Saw” (ראו) which is used in several other passages in Matthew including the Transfiguration and The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen and the Vineyard. Some of the more interesting wordplays are listed below...

In Matthew 23:27-28 Jesus creates a poem out of two wordplays. “Hypocrites” החנפים “Filthy” מטונפים “Sepulcher” קבר “Within” קרב Matthew 23:27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites {“Hypocrites” (החנפים)}! For you are like whitewashed tombs {“Sepulcher” (קבר)} which outwardly appear...

In Matthew 11:07-12, Jesus creates a poem with two wordplays. The first wordplay involves the terms “Cast About,” “King,” “Messenger,” and “Kingdom.” This wordplay symbolizes the contrast between kings and John the Baptist – the messenger. The terms “King” and “Messenger” are spelled similarly...

In Matthew 06:05-08, Jesus makes a poem that uses four different wordplays that contrast the right way and the wrong way to pray. Jesus contrasts praying in the synagogue versus praying in secret. He contrasts the results for the way that hypocrites pray versus the result for praying correctly...

The Lord’s prayer is a poem that contains wordplay between the words “Kingdom” (מלכותך), “Bread” (לחם), “Forgive” (מחול), “Sinners” (לחוטאים). “Kingdom” מלכותך “Bread” לחם “Forgive” מחול “Sinners” לחוטאים “From” מכל “Them” להם “You” לכם Our Father in heaven...

Matthew was called Levi. This could indicate that he was a Levite. In any case, several of the early church fathers indicate that at some point Matthew wrote a text concerning Jesus in Hebrew letters. If Matthew was a Levite he may have been trained in writing using Hebrew letters. Several...

In Matthew 06:03-04, Jesus makes a Hebrew pun with the words “doing” and “your gift.” “Doing” ימינן “Your Gift” מתנן Matthew 6:3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing {“Doing” (ימינן)}, 4 so that your charitable deed {“Your Gift” (מתנן)}...

Jesus spoke both aramaic and hebrew. The two languages are very similar and normally could be understood when heard by each other. Jesus taught in the temple and synagogues where hebrew was often spoken. He had dialogues with the pharisees, saduccees, and scribes all of which may have occurred...

In Matthew 17:20 Jesus made a poem in Hebrew using the words “faith,” “truly,” “believe,” and “boast.” The poem keys on two wordplays that both involve the word “believe.” “Faith” אמונתכם “Truly” אמן “Believe” תאמינו “Believe” תאמינו “Boast” תאםרו Matthew 17:20 So he said to them, “Because of...

In Matthew 15:32-37, Jesus creates a Hebrew poem using the following words: 15:33 “Satisfy” לשביע 15:34 “Seven” שבעה 15:35 “Grass” העשבים 15:36 “Seven” השבעה 15:36 “Broke them” וישברם 15:37 “Satisfied” וישבעו 15:37 “Seven” שבעה Matthew 15:32 Now Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I...

Matthew 24:12-34 The End of the World – A Poem by Jesus In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus creates a poem about the end of the world. The poem is based on a rhyme between the Hebrew words “The End” and “Summer or Summer Fruit.” Jesus is expounding on a poem in Amos 8:1-2 that uses the same rhyme...

Have you ever wondered why Jesus went to so much effort to find “grounds for quarrelling” with the fig tree in Matthew 21:19? It just so happens that the Hebrew word for fig tree is spelled the same as the Hebrew word used in Judges 14:4 for “occasion [ground of quarrel].” According to Mark...

Matthew 5:9-12 The Poetry of Persecution and the Pursuit of Peace, a Poem by Jesus Jesus creates a Hebrew poem about persecution in the sermon of the mount using wordplay for: “Make or Pursue” (רודפי) [the Hebrew reads “Blessed are those who pursue peace”] “Persecuted” (הנרדפים) “Persecute”...

When Jesus spoke he created poems. The Poetry of Perfection, a Poem by Jesus - Matthew 05:38-48 Jesus creates a Hebrew poem about perfection in the sermon of the mount using rhymes for: “Repay” (שלם) “Perfect” (שלם) “Love” (אהבו) “Enemies” (אויביכם) Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was...

He was a poet. Throughout the gospel of Matthew Jesus speaks in rhymes and creates very beautiful poems which is one of the reasons that it was said that he did not speak like the scribes. For instance, At the last supper, Jesus creates a Hebrew poem by rhyming “body” and “vine” and rhyming...