"After reading Spong's newest book, it will be difficult to read Matthew or any of the Gospels in quite the same way. He's done an amazing job of explaining how the book of Matthew was written as weekly liturgies for the Jewish Synagogue year. A wonderful book." -- Fred C. Plumer, President of ProgressiveChristianity.org

"This exciting book recovers the original meaning behind Matthew's Gospel with profound implications for the way we look at Jesus and follow him today. Spong is a truth-teller who stands up to the ignorance spawned by a 'Gentile Heresy' that has hijacked the story of Jesus for too long." -- Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing

"Jack Spong confounds biblical literalists by being profoundly biblical. This exciting book is liberating for those looking for a rational and authentic Christian faith that honors its biblical roots and an essential building block in the search for a new Christianity for a new world." -- Peter Francis, warden and director of Gladstone's Library, Wales

"A brilliant challenge to biblical literalism, Bishop Spong reveals the tragic consequences of idolatry of the written word and why it matters today. A timely, important book." -- Michael Dowd, author of Thank God for Evolution

"Delightedly publishing another book as he nears 85, Spong returns to a main theme of his career, the Jewishness of Christianity, denial of which, he holds, amounts to a heresy so malign that it will destroy Christianity in the twenty-first century...vibrantly accessible." -- Booklist

"Skewers historical readings of Matthew and turns the passages toward issues of dignity, social justice, and transformation . . . worthwhile read for the progressive layperson concerned with living out one's faith and applying the Bible as a touchstone." -- Library Journal

"Spong offers a radical new way to lo