The rise of Scripture against the classical and Hellenistic world pit the voice of the Shepherd—spoken in his idiosyncratic language—against the language of human institution: be dominated by civilization, its gods, its rulers, and their institutions, or follow me and obey my voice in the wilderness. Obey the staff of the Lord, your Elohim, and live, or suffer the bondage of a temple and palace made of stone. Having destroyed Jerusalem in our mind’s eye and shamed her rulers and teachers, Matthew now turns his wrath toward Rome. Which son of the Father, Pilate? What is your judgment? How do you judge? Dare you speak? It would be better for you to close your lips, study Hebrew, forsake Rome, flee the palace and seek out the God of Abraham to hear his distinctive voice in the Syrian Wilderness. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 27:15-18. Episode 411 Matthew 27:15-18; Music: Tempting Secrets by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5005-tempting-secrets License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license