Customer Reviews

Gospel of Matthew

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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I have tried to read the Gospels several times, and had always come away dissatisfied, feeling that I was missing the true meaning. This book (and part two) solved that problem for me. Barclay takes anywhere from one to several verses at a time and discusses them in the contexts of the time they were written, the prevailing religious thought, and their admittedly proseletizing purpose. He demonstrates how Matthew took ideas from the Hebrew Scriptures and showed that they predicted the coming of Christ. He also tells that many of these references were inappropriate, but because Matthew was intended for the Jews, this method was used. Beyond this, though, Barclay explains the meaning of the words and deeds of Christ, making opaque parables and homilies clear and compelling. The love of Christ and his ministry to save mankind come alive in this book. Barclay elucidates the message of Christ in a powerful, heart-gripping and understandable way. I am a Jew, and recommend this book to people of any faith if they wish to understand Matthew.

This is one of the two volumes Barclay wrote on the Gospel of Matthew - each covering roughly half of this book of the Bible. These are a part of his series on the New Testament, where Barclay clearly discusses each section of each book of this portion of the Bible. Each section of the book starts with William Barclay's personal translation of the text and then goes into a discussion of the text, the times, the culture, the people, and the beliefs surrounding the text. William Barclay talks about the Bible in the context of when it was written and how it applies today. It is not surprising that the writings of this scholar hold up now as they did 30 years ago. Funny how truth stays the same year after year - it keeps going, and going...

According to one's view of the Bible and Christian beliefs, you will typically approach a commentator who shares your approach and viewpoints. Those who believe in literal interpretation will shun Barclay in favor of literal intepreters. However, if you are seeking a well-rounded and scholarly take on scripture commentary beyond a pastor's rendition or maybe a magazine's quick insights, here is a start with a simpler commentary for an alternative view.

this book is really good...i especially enjoyed the depth of knowledge and insight. it tells you how customs and manners were relevent to that time period and why people did the things they did during that time. ive been looking for books of this nature for a long time and finally found some. it is a very good book and i will probably buy the entire series.

Barclay is one of the most insightful commentators of the New Testament. Written about 50 years ago, much of the background information and schalorship in his commentaries are outdated. Sometimes he stretched historical/cultural background too much to explain the text. Conservative readers should be aware that Barclay was a universalist (one who believes that all people will be saved ultimately). He does not believe in miracles and tries to explain them away in his commentaries on the Gospels. However, his comments on the relevance of the Bible can still be very valuable for discerning readers.

Advanced students would not need to be told where to find more updated scholarship on NT Bible. Beginning students should get Tom Wright's two-volume "Matthew For Everyone" instead of Barclay's. The volume on Matthew by Michael J. Wilkins in NIV Application Commentary series and Craig Keener's volume in IVP New Testament Commentary series are both excellent for slightly more advanced readers. If you want to dig deeper, David Garland's Reading Matthew and Frederick Dale Bruner's two-volume commentary on Matthew are both superb.

I have used other Barclay commentaries, and he never disappoints. Even if I don't agree with a particular interpretation, I find his ideas thoughtful and challenging.

If you are a reader of the Bible, I am sure there area questions that arise about what was going on in the world around Jesus and his disciples when they were conducting their ministry. Barkley lets us in on what was happening in the world at this time and how Jesus relates to it. The Sermon on the Mount is made more meaningful and we find it was probably more than one sermon, not spoken all at one time. This is just one of the things I am finding very interesting.

fabulous commentary.It gives both an historical perspective/explanation and a current relevant view.I used it for a recent sermon and felt that I really understood and was able to give meaning to that day's gospel reading. It helped me feel confident.

This was an excellent book! It was a very interesting/easy read! I purchased this book for a research paper, and of all of the resources I used, I relied on this book the most!

Just what I wanted. This book came on time. Thank you for having it so I could use it in my Bible study.
homeland