Matthew For You

This is an excellent entry level commentary of the book for Matthew. As a disclaimer, I have a lot of these books from both the Old and New Testament series as I find them really helpful when preparing preaching and life group discussions, as they have both deeper biblical and theological concepts and some really practical application points and discussion questions too. This particular volume by Tim Chester is easy to follow, warm to read, and covers a lot of passages in just the right level of detail. Would definitely recommend!

This commentary begins with an introduction which helps sets the stage a bit for context.

In regards to the format of the book:
There are then 14 chapters which walk through the entirety of the gospel of Matthew. Each chapter has 2 parts with questions for reflection at the end of each section. Words in gray are defined in a glossary in the back of the book which can be especially helpful. While the Scripture is included throughout the chapter ...and is marked with bold verse numbers, I do wish the entirety of the chapter’s verses were at the beginning of the chapter to read all together before jumping into the chapter.

The premise of this series is to help its readers to read, feed, and lead (the Word) and I think it greatly accomplishes that. It includes thoughtful points, Biblical wisdom, and practical application. As the back cover states, it’s written for people of every age and stage. There’s a study guide that is sold separately that can be used along with this if desired.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book is the ease in which it’s read and the level of focus on Jesus and Biblical truth. It’s not a book that I have to reread the sentences multiple times to fully digest, but flows almost effortlessly to make reading and feeding on God’s Word a true delight. I enjoy the way Chester highlights the structure of Matthew’s gospel in the introduction and then continually touches on those throughout the book.

I’m quite enjoying the “God’s Word for You” commentary series and look forward to reading more of them.

I received a complimentary copy as a reviewer and all opinions shared are my own.

“Matthew for You” by Tim Chester presents the reader with a thorough and yet highly accessible walkthrough of Matthew’s Gospel.

Some highlights for me were the historical background to King Ahaz in Isaiah 7 as the background to the fulfilment of the sign of Immanuel in the birth narrative of Christ (p18). The profound insights into the meaning and context of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount - in particular, the cultural significance of salt (p45), and a ...helpful modern day application of building up treasure on earth (p64).

There is also a very helpful explanation of the purpose of parables in Matthew 13, as Chester comments; “it is not intellectual understanding that counts, but your attitude to Jesus.” (p113). I also really appreciated Chester’s comment on Peter’s revelation of who Jesus is in Matthew 16; “Faith is always a gift from God, given through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit” (p133). Lastly, I thought that Tim Chester did a really excellent job of handling the difficult question of where the narrative in Matthew 24 shifts from the prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70 and Christ’s final return.

So who is this book for? It is for anyone who is looking to gain a deeper understanding of Matthew’s Gospel, from church ministers, to theology students and laypersons.

In closing, “Matthew for You” is a seamless, fluid commentary and explanation of Matthew’s Gospel, striking an impressive balance between the detail and the big picture.

*Disclaimer: TGBC very kindly provided me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.