Matthew 9-17 reveals the power of Jesus Christ himself. In many of the sub headings throughout 9-17, it shows how they state how Jesus uses his power to help many for example, in genesis 9 it states “Jesus heals a palsied man” then following after it states “two blind men receive sight.” Jesus and his disciples go around healing the sick in every city. One thing that stood out to me was in Genesis 11, verse 36-38. Jesus stated that if we love our father and mother more than him then we are not worthy of him. This made me feel a little angry towards the statement because it is quite hard to not have immense love your parents. I felt as if it were a requirement that was not necessary in believing in God due to the fact that you can equally love Jesus as much as you do to your parents so therefore I found that it was a bit to extra. Following that statement, Jesus stated “and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” In my Philosophy class we were told,” A parent will always love their child more than a child will love their parent” applying that to what Jesus demanded, it contradicts what is required. It reflects a sense of selfishness for the acceptance of God. Even though Abraham was willing to sacrifice his first and only son in the Old Testament, I do feel as if that it should not be a requirement in order to be a firm believer in God. Another thing that I noticed is a recurrent theme of doubt. Significantly, I noticed the doubt of Peter who tried to walk on water to head to Jesus and felt himself sinking because he did not have enough faith. There are many that follow Jesus but reveal that they question their belief in the end, even when Jesus foretells his death he reveals how he will be betrayed.

Reading Matthew 1-8, I’ve realized that it consists of Jesus’s journey. It begins with his birth and ends with many people following him in the end. I also realized how Jesus is trying to emulate God referring back to the Old Testament. In Genesis 6, verse 38 and Genesis 5, verse 21 and 27, there is a recurrent theme stating “Ye have heard that it was said by them of the old time” where Jesus uses the Old Testament as a foundation furthering each of the commandments that God once placed.  For example when it was mentioned that thou shall not kill, Jesus further explained that thou shall not also be angry at brethren. Also in Genesis 5, where it was mentioned that one shall not commit adultery, Jesus further mentions that if one looks at a women with lust then thou has committed adultery. Comparing to the work as a whole, Matthew 1-8 serves as an introduction to a prophecy. In favor of Matthew 1-8 serving as an introduction to a prophecy is because it replicates the story of a hero. Hero’s usually tend to face tragedies or is against a society where in the beginning in Genesis 2, King Herod wanted Jesus to be killed and then from there it progress as Jesus begins to escalate in fame as he defies what is the quota and is capable of gaining followers. Tying it back to the claim made in the beginning, Matthew 1-8 reflects Jesus’s journey

Reading Genesis 12-24, it went against what we believe to be normal now but it also made me question those who believe in the book of Genesis. I myself am a catholic and I have been baptized, I have done my communion and I also have been confirmed. After reading this, my faith has been weakened because I find morally wrong. Such as in Genesis 19 verse 33 and 34 where the daughters of Lot slept with him while he was somewhat drunk. To me or to anyone now, I consider that Incest which is very weird. The daughters of Lot considered it as them trying to preserve Lots lineage through them but there are other ways that the daughters of Lot could have preserved him in which they themselves could have gone to find a man to have a baby with. That struck me as very unusual and kind of question my belief even though I already am a very loose believer. Another thing that struck me but not in the unusual way as the daughters of Lot but in a  moral way was in Genesis 21 where Sarah wanted Hagar to be sent away which I felt was wrong because Hagar was brought to Abraham by Sarah and she just cast her away with her son, bread, and some water. I also noticed how Genesis 18, there was lack of faith in Sarah as she laughed when God said that she would bare Abraham a child. To me that reflected doubt in God which I myself do sometimes. Not only Sarah had doubt in the power of God, God himself questioned the faith of Abraham in Genesis 22, in verse 12 it was stated “for now I know that thou fearest God.” God did not fully believe that Abraham had complete faith in him so therefore he tested Abraham. Reading this made me realize how times have changed and also that there will always be doubt no matter how much certainty we have.