Description
This academic and pastoral commentary on Matthew’s Gospel offers a clear, text-driven exposition that highlights the Gospel’s literary structure, theology, and deep rootedness in the Jewish world of Jesus. William Varner and David W. Hegg combine decades of scholarship, teaching, and pastoral experience to illuminate Matthew’s portrait of Jesus as Israel’s Messiah and the Savior of the world.
Building on a careful analysis of Matthew’s three-part narrative—Preparation, Proclamation, and Passion—the authors trace the Gospel’s development with attention to discourse structure, Old Testament fulfillment, and Matthean priority. The commentary bridges rigorous academic study and accessible explanation, serving both scholars and serious students of Scripture.
More than sixty full-color photographs and maps illustrate the geography of Israel and the material culture of the first century, helping readers visualize the historical and theological world in which the Messiah lived, taught, and fulfilled his divine mission.
About the Authors
William Varner teaches Bible exposition and Greek exegesis at The Master’s University. He has led more than fifty study trips to Israel and has written more than twenty books, some for laymen and some for scholars, including a trilogy on the Messiah and James: A Commentary on the Greek Text (Fontes, 2017).
David W. Hegg serves as pastor/teacher of Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita, California. He holds degrees from The Master’s University, Western Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary, and teaches preaching and theology at The Master’s University. A published author of many books such as
The Obedience Option, he has been married to Cherylyn for 48 years and enjoys life with their three married children and five grandchildren.
Table of Contents
Preface – William Varner
Preface – David W. Hegg
A Word to the Reader
Introduction
I. The Preparation Of Jesus Messiah (1:1–4:17)
Matthew One
Matthew Two
Matthew Three
Matthew Four
II. The Proclamation Of Jesus Messiah (4:18–16:20)
Matthew Five
Matthew Six
Matthew Seven
Matthew Eight
Matthew Nine
Matthew Ten
Matthew Eleven
Matthew Twelve
Phases Of The Galilean Ministry
Matthew Thirteen
Matthew Fourteen
Matthew Fifteen
Matthew Sixteen
III. The Passion Of Jesus Messiah (16:21–28:20)
Matthew Seventeen
Matthew Eighteen
Matthew Nineteen
Matthew Twenty
Matthew Twenty-One
Matthew Twenty-Two
Matthew Twenty-Three
Matthew Twenty-Four
Matthew Twenty–Five
Matthew Twenty–Six
Matthew Twenty-Seven
Matthew Twenty-Eight
Conclusion
Appendix One: Laws of Trials from Tractate Sanhedrin
Appendix Two: The Day of Jesus’ Crucifixion
Works Cited
Endorsements
Endorsements
“This book is a must read, and not just because of its outstanding color photos of the Holy Land. Understanding the Jewish background of Matthew will completely change how you read and understand this Gospel. If you are looking for a book that “puts the cookies on the lower shelf” without sacrificing accuracy, you’ve found it! It is with great joy and enthusiasm that I endorse and recommend this book.”
—David Black, Southeastern Baptist Seminary
“Rarely do you find a commentary on Matthew that strikes the balance between scholarly and popular and is informed by decades of classroom instruction as well as on-the-ground experience in Israel. I am thrilled that Matthew’s Messiah is that very commentary. With careful exegesis and application of modern linguistics, on top of leading more than a fifty study trips to Israel and publishing multiple volumes on the life of the Messiah, I can say with confidence that no one I know surpasses Will Varner’s wisdom, experience, and skill in handling the text of Matthew. Both academics and lay people will find this work insightful, bolstered by David Hegg’s perceptive exposition of Mathew’s five discourses and Todd Bolen’s illuminating photos for relevant portions of the text. Most refreshing is the careful attention paid to Matthew’s uniquely Jewish context and chronological priority over the other Gospels when so many commentators capitulate to critical source theories or reconstructions of the text that stifle Matthew’s clear Jewishness. I cannot recommend this commentary more highly!”
—Cory M. Marsh, PhD., Southern California Seminary
“The title of this volume, Matthew’s Messiah: His Jewish Life and Ministry, captures a significant part of its value and potential impact on its readers. It provides a solid exposition of the book of Matthew, and it does so with consistent attention given to Messianic and Jewish background issues. That adds great cultural background to a helpful exposition of the text of Matthew. Many clear and colorful photos and relevant maps add to one’s understanding of the flow of Matthew’s Gospel. This volume offers great value along with other treatments of the message of this Gospel.”
—Michael A. Grisanti, The Master’s Seminary
