Matthew 03:07-08, 12:24, 33, 43-45 Bear Fruit – a Poem by Jesus and John the Baptist

In Matthew 3:7-8 John tells the Pharisees to bear fruit. John makes a pun on the term “Pharisees” and “bearing fruit.” Jesus uses the same pun in Matthew 12:24, 33 and 21:43-45. In Matthew 21:43-45 (The Olivet Discourse), the Pharisees inability to bear fruit has consequences for the entire nation similar to Matthew 24:12-32.

“Pharisees” הפרושים
“Bear Fruit” פרי עשו

3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees {“Pharisees” (הפרושים)} and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit {“Bear Fruit” (פרי עשו)} worthy of repentance. 9 And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’

12:24 But when the Pharisees {“Pharisees” (הפרושים)} heard this they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” 12:33 “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good {“Produce the Fruit” (פרי עשו)}; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

21: 43 “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits {“Bearing Fruit” (פרי עשו)} of it. 44 [And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces. But on whomever it falls, it will crush him.]” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees {“Pharisees” (פרושים)} heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. [Matthew 3:7-9, 12:24, 12:33, 21:43-45 The Passion: The Poetry of God]

J. Clontz – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament
www.CornerstonePublications.org

Matthew 24:12-34 The End of the World – A Poem by Jesus

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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 and the same theme. However, he adds an additional rhyme that involves “Wickedness,” “Saved,” “Gates,” and “Shall be done.” The words “Saved” and “Wickedness” use many of the same letters but the letters are prioritized differently. Almost as if they were symbolizing that it is how everything is prioritized that is the difference between “Saved” and “Wickedness.”

“The End” קץ
“Summer Fruit” קיץ

“Wickedness” הרשעות
“Saved” יושע
“Gates” לשערים
“Shall be done” יהיו עשוים

8:1 “Thus the Lord GOD showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit {“Summer Fruit” (קיץ)}. 2 And he said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket of summer fruit {“Summer Fruit” (קיץ)}." Then the LORD said to me, "The end {“The End” (קץ)} has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass by them.” [Amos 8:1-2 RSV]

24:12 And because wickedness {“Wickedness” (הרשעות)} will increase, the love of most will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end {“The End” (קץ)} will be saved {“Saved” (יושע)}. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end {“The End” (קץ)} will come.

24:32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer {“Summer” (קיץ) or “Summer Fruit” (קיץ)} is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door {“Gates” (לשערים)}. 34 Truly, I tell you that this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place {“Shall be done” (יהיו עשוים)}.
[The Gospel of Matthew: A Poetic Analysis]

Dr. J. Clontz, Aidan University – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament

Matthew 21:19 The Quarrel with the Fig Tree – a Living Poem by Jesus

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Have you ever wondered why Jesus went to so much effort to find “grounds for quarreling” 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 11:13, it wasn’t the season for figs - so the pretense by Jesus is obvious. Jesus uses the double entendre for “fig tree/occasion [ground of quarrel]” as the theme of a poem that includes rhymes for “found” and “come forth” and also “leaves” and “forever.”

“Fig Tree” תאנה
“Occasion [Ground of Quarrel]” תאנה

“Found” מצא
“Come Forth” יצא

“Leaves” העלים
“Forever” לעולם

“18 In the morning, returning to the city, he was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road he went to it, and found {“Found” (מצא)} nothing on it but leaves {“Leaves” (העלים)} only. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come {“Come Forth” (יצא)} from you again {“Forever” (לעולם)}!” And immediately the fig tree withered.” [Matthew 21:18-19 The Gospel of Matthew - a Poetic Analysis]

Dr. J. Clontz, Aidan University – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament

Matthew 5:9-12 The Poetry of Persecution and the Pursuit of Peace, a Poem by Jesus

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Jesus creates a Hebrew poem about persecution in the sermon of the mount using rhymes for:

“Make or Pursue” (רודפי) [the Hebrew reads “Blessed are those who pursue peace”]
“Persecuted” (הנרדפים)
“Persecute” (ירדפו)
“Persecuted” (רדפו)

“Rejoice” (שישו)
“Reward” (ששכרכם)

9 Blessed are the peacemakers {“Make or Pursue” (רודפי)},
for they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted {“Persecuted” (הנרדפים)} for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute {“Persecute” (ירדפו)} you, and say all kinds of evil against you [falsely] for my sake. 12 Rejoice {“Rejoice” (שישו)} and be glad, for great is your reward {“Reward” (ששכרכם)} in heaven, for so they persecuted {“Persecuted” (רדפו)} the prophets who were before you. [The Gospel of Matthew: A Poetic Analysis]

Dr. J. Clontz, Aidan University – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament

Matthew 05:38-48 - The Poetry of Perfection

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 said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist {“Repay” (שלם)} an evil person. But if someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to him who asks you, and do not refuse him who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love {“Love” (אהבו)} your enemies {“Enemies” (אויביכם)} and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect {“Perfect” (שלם)}, as your heavenly Father is perfect {“Perfect” (שלם)}. [The Passion: The Poetry of God]

J. Clontz – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament
www.CornerstonePublications.org

Matthew 26:26-29 The Poetry of the Last Supper

At the last supper, Jesus creates a Hebrew poem by rhyming “body” and “vine” and rhyming “atonement” and “fruit.”

Matthew 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and, giving it to the disciples, said, “Take, eat; this is my body {“Body” (גופי)}.” 27 Then he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness {“Atonement” (לכפרת)} of sins. 29 From now on, I tell you, I will never drink of this fruit {“Fruit” (פרי)} of the vine {“Vine” (הגפן)} until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” [The Passion: The Poetry of God]

Body and Vine are Hebrew puns for each other

“Body” (גופי)
“Vine” (הגפן)

Atonement and Fruit are Hebrew puns for each other

“Atonement” (לכפרת)
“Fruit” (פרי)

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament

www.CornerstonePublications.org

Matthew 03:07-09 The Poetry of John the Baptist

Did you know that John the Baptist spoke in rhymes? Below are several of the Hebrew rhymes (puns) that appear in the dialogue of John the Baptist:

John 1:26 “John answered them, "I baptize with water; there has stood {“Stood” (עמד)} One among you whom you do not know {“Know” (יודע)}.””

Matthew 3:7-8 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees {“Pharisees” (הפרושים)} and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit {“Bear Fruit” (פרי עשו)} worthy of repentance.”

Matthew 3:9 “And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God {“God” (אלקים)} is able from these stones {“Stones” (אבן)} to raise {“Raise Up” (להקים)} children {“Sons” (בן)} for Abraham.”

All of these puns will reappear in later portions of the Gospel of Matthew. [Text is from The Passion: The Poetry of God]

J. Clontz - Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament
www.CornerstonePublications.org