I’ve finished 198 episodes of Bible study on the Gospel according to Matthew (check it out here: http://bit.ly/LegasiSpotify) in the Malaysian language and these two commentaries are very instrumental in helping me to think contextually about some difficult passages in this precious book. I’m biased but I truly believe that the Gospel according to Matthew is perhaps one of the most important books of the New Testament next to the Epistles to the Romans and Hebrews. In it, we have the fullest account of the birth, life, teaching, miracles, death, resurrection, divinity, and humanity of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. It is an excellent continuation after we read and study the Old Testament because the Jewishness of Matthew can be best understood in this context. As the saying attributed to Augustine of Hippo: “The new is in the old concealed; the old is in the new revealed.” Matthew revealed the long-awaited Messiah foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament and expanded by the apostles in the New Testament. Matthew, in short, helps us to see the unity of God’s revelation from beginning to end.
As I have hinted earlier, Matthew is a very Jewish Gospel. This can be a challenging task for interpretation a.k.a. hermeneutics and many like myself - especially my earliest podcast episodes, I realized - probably have missed the mark. Perhaps errors, hopefully not heresies. Yes, getting so familiar with the Old Testament is a great advantage for Biblical backgrounds and theological truths (as another saying goes, “Scripture interprets Scripture”) but we also need to know the historical insights, textual research, and cultural understandings to bridge the gap between the world of Scripture and our world today. This is where good Bible commentaries are needed. My go-to commentary is always from The Bible Speaks Today series by Inter-Varsity Press. The Message of Matthew (323 pages), the late Dr. Michael Green is the expositor and author. I love this series because each book is characterized by a threefold ideal, namely, 1) To expound the biblical text with accuracy, 2) To relate it to contemporary life, and 3) to be readable. Dr. Green is faithful to these ideals. Plus, he has a vast knowledge of Jewish customs and manners and derives many practical applications from the texts. Larry Chouinard’s Matthew (512 pages), however, was unique in the sense that it is thorough and detailed without being too technical and academic. The Greek words are not distract-full and the footnotes are just essential. Sweet!
Let me end with a word of caution: Don’t read or depend on Bible commentaries more than the Bible itself. Don’t go to it first or second or third… go to the Bible first. Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, authors of a classic book, How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, give excellent advice: “You do not begin your Bible study with a commentary… You go to the commentary after you have done your own work; the reason you eventually consult a commentary is to find answers to the content questions that have arisen in your own study.” When I prepare for Bible study, I make sure I’ve read the entire book (e.g. Matthew) first. I read from at least 2 to 3 translations such as ESV, NIV, NLT, AVB, and TB. Then, I meditate on the passage or chapter that I’m working on and come out with rough outlines. I will refer to cross-references, if any, and check by memory for connections. Usually, I have the big picture before I go with the details. Only afterward I will consult commentaries and other tools for second opinion, expertise, verification, correction, background, insights, and wisdom. But if I don’t have the clue (which rarely happens), I will go straight to commentary on the particular verse(s). Good Bible commentaries, if used wisely and properly, will add value to your personal Bible study, teaching, preaching, and even - thinking.
Tip: You can also read (and buy) pocket-size Bible commentaries like William Barclay's The New Daily Study Bible series or Tom Wright's For Everyone series or Warren Wiersbe's BE Series or my favorite, J.C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts series as any normal books. These are easy to read. Read them at your leisure and fill the well of your knowledge. They can be handy if you needed them!
Note: D. A. Carson’s Matthew: The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, John MacArthur’s sermon series on Matthew, and David Pawson's Unlocking the Bible overview also have been valuable resources for me. Thank you, gentlemen!
#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #BibleCommentary #TheGospelOfMatthew #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain
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