Matthew (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)
Overview
In this addition to the acclaimed BECNT series, New Testament scholar David Turner offers a substantive yet highly accessible commentary on Matthew. With extensive research and thoughtful chapter-by-chapter exegesis, Turner leads readers through all aspects of the Gospel of Matthew—sociological, historical, and theological—to help them better understand and explain this key New Testament book.
As the first Gospel in the canon, Matthew has received a great deal of attention through the centuries from both scholars and preachers. Turner attempts to stand between the two groups and offer a commentary that is fresh, accessible, and insightful. He emphasizes Matthew as a literary work in its own right (rather than in relation to Mark and Luke) and includes important insights into the Jewish background of this Gospel, explaining Matthew in the context of Second Temple Judaism as a book for Christian Jews living among non-believing Jews.
- Blends academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity, and accessibility
- Includes abbreviations and Hebrew and Greek transliteration
- Provides indexes of subjects, authors, Greek words, Scripture, and other ancient writings
Top Highlights
“To be ‘poor in spirit’ is to acknowledge one’s total dependence on God for everything, for righteousness (contra Keener 1999: 168; cf. Matt. 5:6) as well as sustenance.” (Page 149)
“This beatitude is not about being a passively peaceful person but about being an active reconciler of people” (Page 152)
“What is forbidden is a rigid, censorious judgmentalism that scrutinizes others without even a glance at oneself” (Page 205)
“the purpose of the parable of the sower is not to exhort believers but to explain unbelief” (Pages 341–342)
“In a word, they are concerned about when he will renew his presence with them, and he is concerned about how they will live in his absence.” (Page 570)
A fine commentary that will be of significant value especially to pastors, teachers, and students as one of the first commentaries they reach for when they attempt to unpack this Gospel.
—Michael J. Wilkins, dean of faculty and professor of New Testament language and literature, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
This is a solid, streamlined treatment of Matthew that gets to the heart of the key issues in each passage and avoids turning itself into a multivolume commentary, like so many recent offerings on the Greek text of one of the Gospels. . . . Turner, moreover, shows just how close a progressive dispensationalist can come to mainstream evangelical perspectives; only rarely will nondispensationalists find themselves disagreeing with him. Warmly recommended.
—Craig L. Blomberg, distinguished professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary
- Title: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew
- Author: David L. Turner
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 2008
- Pages: 848
Reviews
3 ratings
David Ashworth
8/4/2020
Niklasaas
10/29/2014
