My Favorite Commentaries on The Gospel of Matthew

I had the privilege of hearing the late, great homiletician Dr. Fred Craddock speak on several occasions.  He once told the crowd of those who wished to inherit a double portion of his spirit that every preacher needed two good commentaries for every book of the Bible.  He cautioned us that the Word of God was too important “to be left to just your opinion.”

I have followed his advice over the last two decades.  However, choosing which commentaries to buy can leave one’s head spinning like Beetlejuice!  

Moreover, commentaries can be expensive!  A minister can throw down enough money on one work to take the family out to the movies…and I’m talking an IMAX with popcorn and soda for all!

I used to send young pastors and seminary students to bestcommentaries.com but the reviews are dominated by one particular strand of evangelicalism.  So, I decided to dig in and share the commentaries that have been most helpful to me over the last twenty-one years. 

One of the first things a minister faces is what kind of commentary? After all a person can choose between a technical commentary (i.e., one that usually requires at least an intermediate level of proficiency with Greek and Hebrew), a semi-technical commentary (i.e., academic but usually translates the Biblical languages for the reader) and popular commentaries where an understanding of ancient dialects is usually unnecessary. Dr. Craddock called these Monday commentaries, Wednesday commentaries and Saturday night commentaries! Those who prepare sermons on a regular basis know what I’m talking about. 

Let’s start with the New Testament and the Gospel of Matthew.  The tax collector’s biography of/sermon about Jesus is well served with quality academic works from every theological stripe of the Christian faith.  The two that I have learned the most from, however, are from scholars Craig Keener and John Nolland.  The former is “semi-technical” (i.e., a Wednesday commentary) and the latter is a technical commentary (i.e., a Monday commentary).  

No commentary is perfect.  For example, Nolland dismisses Matthean authorship but with little discussion as to why.  But his treatment of the Greek is superb.  While Keener seems to have forgotten more about the historical and cultural background to the Gospel than most scholars have ever learned.  The two compliment each other wonderfully.

Looking for Keener’s commentary can be a bit confusing.  He produced an edition in 1999 and then another in 2009 with a different cover and subtitle.  I have seen reviewers who argue that the 1999 version is superior but having consulted both, I can’t see any difference!  

While I love these commentaries, I should note a few honorable mentions: The three volume work by W.D. Davies and Dale Allison is rightfully regarded as a modern classic.  However, they are to the left of me theologically and it is so long and in-depth that I occasionally lose the flow of the book itself.  R.T. France’s entry in the New International Commentary series is excellent as is D.A. Carson’s popular work from the EBC library is also very helpful. 

I should note that I have not had the opportunity to peruse Craig Evans’ or Jeannine Brown’s or the late Grant Osborne’s contributions but all three scholars are always insightful.  Rumor has it that Jonathan Pennington is working on a commentary on Matthew and when it drops, it should not be overlooked. 

Finally, if your language skills a bit rusty, be sure to snag Wesley Olmstead’s two-volume A Handbook on the Greek Text from Baylor.  

Tune back in for more tomorrow…Lord willing.