7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, September 20, 2008
This review is from: Matthew (Westminster Bible Companion) (Paperback)
I own a lot of biblical commentaries. I have shelves and shelves full of commentaries. As a pastor, I have a responsibility to make sure that the message I am proclaiming is a responsible, well-informed, theologically grounded interpretation of the biblical passage at hand that says something to us about who God is and what that means for how we are called to go about living our lives. Some biblical passages are, quite simply, difficult to understand. I routinely take comfort in the fact that there have been countless generations of Christians before me who have wrestled with similar questions about how to interpret scripture faithfully in a particular context. There are many people who have devoted much time and energy to reading scripture and telling others what it all means. Frankly, I find some much more helpful than others. Sometimes I read commentaries and find myself thinking, "I didn't learn a thing from that." Other times, I think, "Well, that was interesting historical background, but I'm still left with the question of what this means for me and for the community of faith for which I have a responsibility to provide spiritual leadership." And at other times, I find myself thinking, "I could have done better than that myself."
In all my travels through the scriptures, and in all the time and energy I have spent poring over commentaries and other theological tomes, I have found only two commentaries on Matthew's gospel that I consistently find to be helpful, clear, informative, grounded, articulate, and thought-provoking. I have found only two that, when I read them, I have "Aha!" moments, and I find myself energized and amazed by what I am reading, and can't wait to share it with others. I have found only two that have a solid understanding of the historical context combined with a tremendous depth of theological insight. One of them is W. D. Davies and Dale C. Allison Jr.'s three-volume commentary in the International Critical Commentary series. The other is this one-volume commentary by Thomas G. Long in the Westminster Bible Companion Series.
This volume can easily be read by an average lay person. There is no extended reference to the Greek text; there are no long critical notes that only but the heavy-duty scholar or preacher would find interesting or informative (though Long has enough training and knowledge that he could have provided both). The translation of the New Revised Standard Version is provided, with a commentary following each passage. And what commentary! This is a commentary that dares to wonder what Matthew was trying to tell his audience about God, and what, in turn, that means for what we might tell our audiences about God today. I continually find myself amazed by the richness of this relatively slim little volume. Here is a book that I turn to again and again when I am getting ready to stare into the faces of a community of faith and try to tell them something about God. How nice it is -- just to give one example out of hundreds I could give -- to be puzzling over the proper way to interpret the parable of the laborers in the vineyard in Matthew 20 and then open this book up to find words like this: "Suddenly we see plainly the true poverty of the first-hour workers. Everybody in the parable is tendered with the wealth of the kingdom; the deep river of providence flows through everybody's life. God gives everyone a daily wage so extravagant that no one could ever spend it all. A deluge of grace descends on all; torrents of joy and blessing fall everywhere. And there these first-hour workers stand, drenched in God's mercy, an ocean of peace running down their faces, clutching their little contracts and whining that they deserve more rain." This is a very accessible volume that helps us all to feel drenched in God's mercy. Thank you, Tom Long, for the work that you have done laboring in the vineyard.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent resource, November 13, 2002
This review is from: Matthew (Westminster Bible Companion) (Paperback)
This is my favorite resource when preaching or teaching Matthew, as it was also for my preaching buddies who recommended it to me. Dr. Long is succinct, to the point, historically and exegetically informed, and his turn of phrase is frequently poetic and beautiful. It's nice to know there's a dependable, familiar friend in my library to pull off the shelf when Matthew comes up in the Lectionary. Grace and peace to you all.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most helpful commenary on Matthew that I own, April 18, 2005
This review is from: Matthew (Westminster Bible Companion) (Paperback)
Quite simply, this is the freshest, most helpful, most thoughtful, most poetically written commentary on Matthew I have seen. This is not an exhaustive commentary, by any means, but it will certainly guide you to a deeper understanding of Matthew's telling of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I highly recommend it for preachers and teachers alike.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
