Read the series.
Here are my personal picks for the most profitable commentaries on Matthew. I favor a modified ‘Dispensational’ approach to the book which takes seriously the way Matthew provides lines of continuity and discontinuity with the Old Testament. But I have little problem with including studies which do not handle eschatological issues as satisfactorily as I would like. There is, after all, more to Matthew than eschatology:
Read the series.
1. Harold Hoehner – A massive work, both in size and erudition. It is very well written and quite user-friendly. Every issue is chased down thoroughly, and the Pauline authorship of the book is convincingly upheld. A real standard!
2. Peter T. O’Brien (Pillar) – O’Brien is an expert on the Prison Epistles. This, I think, surpasses his work on Colossians in the WBC series. Attractive style and what might be called a thoughtfully sensible approach make this a valuable commentary.
“Though Sprinkle doesn’t provide new arguments for egalitarianism, his book will probably be referred to often because he changed his mind on the issue and states his views clearly. Nevertheless, I’m not persuaded by his argument.” - TGC
“Saucy is in a difficult position. He has two audiences—he wants to address critique from non-dispensationalists and fly the (modified) dispensationalist flag at the same time…. he pleases nobody and frustrates everybody.” - London Lyceum
“Jordan B. Cooper, in his new book, Makers of the Modern Mind: A Guide to the Thinkers Who Formed the Modern Left…. traces the metastasizing of Marxism into an ideology that reduces pretty much everything—truth, reason, culture, language, science, all human interactions—to the oppressive imposition of power.” - Acton
“Elites continue to rule because movements are not spontaneous: like parties, they need organization and discipline. Organization largely explains why elites rule: minorities are organized, whereas majorities are not.” - Law & Liberty
“How are pastors, especially those who work with children and teenagers, supposed to minister in such a pivotal moment in American history? We must first accept a hard truth: We cannot continue to do children’s and youth ministry as we’ve done them and expect different results from today.” - TGC
“In his excellent and comprehensive Broken Altars: Secularist Violence in Modern History, Thomas Albert Howard…. makes a very strong case that violence and cruelty are in fact more typical of secular states and movements than religious ones.” - Providence
Read the series.
The Best Commentaries on Romans: Remember, this list has preachers primarily in mind.
1. Douglas Moo (NICNT) — Somewhat dense, which may hinder readers somewhat, but interaction with the text and the literature is very impressive. Deals well with the ‘new perspective’, and even manages some applications (but see Moo’s contribution to the NIVAC series). His Introduction is on the short side, but there are numerous excurses. Not all will like his treatment of Chapter 7.
Read the series.
Commentaries on the Book of Genesis are ten-a-penny. But some of them are too concerned with ANE parallels that they forget to teach the Book itself. Some are over speculative, while others too critical and unbelieving. The pastor who wants to get at the meat without spitting out too many bones might do worse than study the following:
