I have been using the RCL lectionary recently as part of my sermon preparation and so my study floor is filled with commentaries on the book of Matthew. I swiftly count eight at the moment, and I know there is at least one more on my bookshelf. I honestly didn’t think I needed another because all that can be said seems to be said in those 8 commentaries sitting on my floor.
But along came another. A former pastor and now managing editor at PreachingToday.com, Matt Woodley has provided a fresh new commentary on the book of Matthew from IVP’s Resonate Series entitled The Gospel of Matthew: God with Us.
What makes Woodley’s commentary so unique is its objective. Woodley does not write a verse by verse commentary. It is also not an academic commentary. In fact, its main focus man not even be for pastors, but the average person, the small group leader, the Sunday School teacher, or a devotional reader.
This commentary is more thematic than verse by verse. For instance, I was asked by IVP to comment on Woodley’s thoughts from Matthew 14. Only the last 11 verses of Matthew 14 have their own section. Matthew 14:1-11 is found in section on John the Baptist and the Prosperity Gospel which uses verses from chapter 11, 13, and 14. This is refreshing in some ways. It helps the reader see how the themes in Matthew fit together and so it helps paint a broader stroke, facilitating a better understanding of the book as a whole. It can also be confusing however, especially if you want to teach just from Matthew 14:1-11. This would be my one criticism, that his comments on this section were hard to locate.
Woodley does not dive into the depths of word construction or questions about translation. He focuses on the meaning and application. This is why I believe it is a great read as a devotional commentary on Matthew.
For instance, in Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus walks on water and urges Peter to join him. Woodley takes the opportunity to discuss how all of us who follow Jesus fail. All of our pictures would be found in a Museum of Failed Discipleship. And yet Jesus does not leave us at the point of failure. As Peter began to sink, Jesus reaches out his arm to catch Peter and restore him. We all will fail, but that failure is how we learn and experience the presence of Jesus. As we do that, our relationship with Him grows and we become more and more like him. Jesus gives us the freedom to live boldly, not in fear of doing the wrong thing, but doing what we believe he is asking us to do. When we are free to fail, we are free to follow Jesus boldly and into any situation.
I also used this resource in my sermon preparations yesterday from Matthew 25. It was wonderful, applicable material.
Sometimes we need to put the commentaries down and just listen to what the Spirit is telling us from the text. This commentary will allow you to do that as you read the book of Matthew.
Will I put down my more critical commentaries for this one? No, but I will use it, particularly as I seek to help our church apply the meaning of the text. Both serve a purpose. So I believe whether you are a pastor or teacher or someone who just wants to learn about the message of Matthew, you will enjoy this commentary.
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