Michael Pakaluk, a Harvard-trained philosopher and professor of political economy at the Catholic University’s Busch School of Business, has written a new book, Be Good Bankers: The Economic Interpretation of Matthew’s Gospel with a Fresh Translation. In it he argues that we should emulate bankers, a profession often viewed with malicious disdain, so that we can understand and fulfill God’s desires. While Pakaluk’s perspective is Catholic, Be Good Bankers nevertheless offers a fresh and vital ecumenical and exegetical understanding of Scripture, with practical applications for daily living and wise stewardship.
Professor Pakaluk asks us to suppose that Matthew’s Gospel was “written according to express instructions given by Jesus” and that Jesus’s choice of Matthew, the tax collector, was intentional. This background, he suggests, enabled Matthew to explore and reveal the teachings of Jesus in a unique manner, one that can inform our approach to both our commercial work and personal relationships.
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