A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew

Rating:
Summary: One of the best written NT commentaries, erudite & engaging
Review: Having been a very active user of the nearly encyclopedic 3 volume Davies and Allison work on Matthew, I wasn't sure how much more Keener could offer. I found myself immediately engaged by Keener's stylistic clarity, his directness, and his astonishing ability to both summarize current scholarship and argue for his own insightful and often original views with a conciseness and precision that should be a model for commentary authors. Unlike Davies and Allison, this is a not a commentary on the Greek text and Keener leaves discussion of text critical issues to others (which to many students, pastors, and lay readers may be a blessing.) The gracefulness with which he pulls in both Greco-Roman parallels and--very impressively--Jewish extraconical, Qumran, and rabbinic parallels, is equally impressive. But none of this gets in the way of Keener's determination to illuminate the theological, rhetorical, and historical thrusts within Matthew. Just turn to Keener's vivid discussion of the "yoke" saying in Matt 11:28-30 (pp. 348-349) for an example of an instant picture of the what it meant to carry a yoke, the useful citation of parallels in apocraphyl literature, a quick reference to Diogenes Laertes, and a clear explanation of the theological innovations of Jesus' own teachings in both theological and historical terms. Keener's is one of the very few commentaries written in the past half century that makes enjoyable reading both for students and pastors and for at least some interested lay readers. Though his stance is in some sense evangelical, his enlightening engagement with Jewish sources and thinking is more compelling and convincing than any other current commentary. Rarely has such erudition been worn so comfortably and unabtrusively. Very highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Not a commentary
Review: Many will disagree; but this is more of a History book than a commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. Keener could have done a better job. His two volume commentary is just the same.

Rating:
Summary: Huge work.
Review: Says professor Ben Witherington III of this work, "I can think of no commentary I would rather recommend to pastors, teachers, students, and laypersons if they are looking for fresh light on the first gospel."-(As found on the backcover). Witherington is correct.

Professor of New Testament at Eastern Seminary-Craig Keener shows us his magnificent fruit of his work in this massive work on the gospel of Matthew. Written from a conservative stance and completely up to date this work is invaluable. I highly recommend it.

The one small drawback is that Keener hardly deals with the text-critical questions. Focusing more on narrative and theology. Thus, if you can overlook this glitch purchase this work.

Rick. E Aguirre. Southern California USA ([e-mail])0Æ


Rating:
Summary: Fascinating but Limited
Review: This is a fine scholarly commentary from a socio-cultural standpoint. In fact, it sets the standard in that genre. However, as an overall commentary on the text of Matthew, it is just too narrow to be helpful at many points. Why so? First, Keener does not interact with the Greek text at all. Thus, it totally lacks text-critical comments, and lacks insights that may have come from the Greek text which are not apparent in the English versions. Secondly, Keener tells us an awful lot about cultural matters in Matthew's day, but very little about Matthew's literary art and intentions. As such, the commentary loses all the vast insights available via literary criticism. Lastly, Keener's own theological reflections in the commentary itself (not counting the introduction) are rather obvious and simplistic (i.e., the only point he derives from Jesus' telling his disciples to get the donkey for him to ride into Jerusalem at the "Triumphal Entry" is that believers' possessions belong to Jesus. True, but that is hardly profound or Matthew's point in the text). I checked this work against his smaller IVP commentary, and found that they are almost identical in their conclusions. This tells us that Keener apparently learned nothing in the years between writing the shorter commentary and the longer one. In fact, if you read the shorter commentary, all you will really miss is the ubiquitous and obtrusive in-text notes and the extensive bibliography. If you are a scholar or seminary student, you will appreciate Keener's insights in cultural history. If you are a pastor preaching through Matthew, you will also gain some insights from Keener, but not enough to justify the hefty price of this commentary. If you are looking for commentaries that do it all for the same or less money, see especially Hagner (WBC), Carson (EBC)and Morris (PNTC).

Rating:
Summary: Excellent.
Review: This work must stand alongside that of the three volume work of W. D. Davies and Dale Allison in the International Critical Commentary as one of the best works on the first Gospel around. Keener's work is similiar in size and scope to that of another Evangelical scholar Robert Gundry, who published a commentary on Matthew a number of years back. However, Keener is more conservative than Gundry in many respects, especially on the historicity of Matthew. And, unlike Gundry, he brings an amazing amount of knowledge about the milieu and literature of the first century to bear upon this work in helping his readers to understand and appreciate this gospel - especially its literary and theological dimensions, and the social worlds that are presupposed and reflected in its story. Added to this are numerous excursions and notes on many themes interspersed throughout, providing more detail of a point made or defense of a position adopted. At times Keener has a penchant for being idiosyncratic and unusual in his views (although he argues them all very well). Holding views, in other words, that are neither characteristic of liberal or conservative commentators (of course, without people challenging the commonly held views on either side of the divide, scholarship would never progress!) So, if you want a detailed commentary that does not merely repeat what others have said, but makes an original and (often) compelling contribution to Matthean studies, this commentary is definitely a work that you will want to consult in my view. In terms of its relation to other works: it is not a popular level exposition (like his small volume in the IVP New Testament Commentary series), nor is it a work leaving no stone unturned, of use only to the trained student or scholar (like the ICC volumes mentioned above ), but it is a work that will serve the needs of readers and students alike, looking for detail but not looking to be overwhelmed by it. In this respect alone, it makes up for a glaring need on Matthew in a flooded commeantary market. As a primary commentary, it constitutes an ideal investment for the person looking for balanced, detailed, thought-provoking exegesis.