Following a thorough examination of the structure, language, and argument of Matthew’s discourse on parables, Anthony O. Ewherido underscores its primary relevance to the ongoing discussion on the social context of Matthew’s Gospel. The convincing analysis of the textual evidence and study of some social and historical trends in Christianity and Judaism in the post-70 C.E. era inform Ewherido’s conclusion that at the time the Gospel was written to its predominantly Jewish-Christian community, that community had parted ways with Judaism and stood at an ideologically irreconcilable distance from the «synagogue across the street.»

The Author: Anthony O. Ewherido is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Warri, Nigeria, who currently works as a chaplain at the University Hospital and Medical Center of the State University of New York, Stony Brook. He studied philosophy and theology at the Seminary of SS. Peter and Paul, Bodija-Ibadan, Nigeria. Ewherido has a diploma in religious studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a Bachelor of Divinity in theology from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome, a Master of Arts in theology from St. Johns University, Jamaica, New York, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in theology, with specialization in biblical studies, from Fordham University, Bronx, New York.