Jensen's research and insights provide a stimulating resource on Matthew's Gospel. Jensen provides "Homiletical Directions" at the end of each chapter that will help the preacher find a focus and locate themes for preaching the text.
Jensen points to the ways in which the biblical writers lock their stories together with other stories in order to give fuller meaning to their narratives. He covers material that is not included in the assigned lectionary texts and discusses the inter-relatedness of Matthew's stories. These "narrative analogies" imply that preaching on Matthew's Gospel may at times be a retelling of two or more Matthean stories.
This is the third installment in Jensen's series, which also includes
Preaching Mark's Gospel and
Preaching Luke's Gospel.
Richard A. Jensen is the Axel Jacob and Gerda Maria (Swanson) Carlson Professor of Homiletics at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He is also Dean of the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools. He is well-known throughout the country as the preacher for eleven years on the radio program Lutheran Vespers, sponsored by the ELCA. Jensen has served as professor at Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dana College in Blair, Nebraska; Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa; and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of nine books and numerous published articles.
