Behold the Christ: Proclaiming the Gospel of Matthew, by Leroy A. Huizenga, reveals the significance of St. Matthew’s Jesus: He is Emmanuel, God with us always, who saves his people from their sins by dying for them. In showing how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament, gave us a way to live, and taught us how to follow the narrow way to the kingdom of heaven, St. Matthew modeled the fourfold way of reading Scripture according to letter and spirit. Above all, St. Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus Christ founding the Catholic Church as a robust, rigorous religion with rich rituals, chiefly the sacrificial Eucharist as sustenance on the narrow way to heaven. Jesus demands much of his Church, but the same Jesus who commands his Church also promises and delivers much—above all, himself. Keyed to the lectionary and featuring a section on the relevance of St. Matthew’s Gospel for our contemporary age, Behold the Christ will make the Gospel and indeed the Faith real to today’s readers.

"The significance of Matthew's Jesus is that he is Emmanuel, God with us always, who saves his people from their sins by dying for them. Matthew presents a portrait of Jesus as a new Moses, a new Isaac, a new David, as Israel embodied, even as the God of Israel incarnate. Matthew's Gospel presents Jesus Christ founding the Catholic Church as a robust, rigorous religion with rich rituals, chiefly the sacrificial Eucharist as sustenance on the narrow way to heaven. Keyed to the lectionary and featuring a section on the relevance of Matthew's Gospel for our contemporary age"--

Today with so many changes in society, stress in our daily lives, and mistrusts among nations it is important to look to the Bible for guidance and inspiration. God still speaks to men through His Word. Matthew focuses on Jesus as the Messiah and the King. He demonstrates that Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the promise God had made to Israel. Although Matthew does not have the universal appeal of Luke, he does show how Gentiles were a part of Jesus’ ministry in spite of His desire to focus on the people of Israel. They are represented in the genealogy, in the visit of the Magi, in the healing of the centurion’s servant, the deliverance of the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman, the centralization of His ministry in “Galilee of the Gentiles,” and in the Great Commission. The commentary is an exposition of the Gospel of Matthew, which considers the context, historical background, parallel passages of Scripture, in addition to theological principles. It includes a bibliography, charts, maps, and other helps. Its contents are designed to help pastors, teachers, and Bible students to read the Gospel of Matthew with greater clarity and understanding, and helps them proclaim God’s Word with power and conviction. This new commentary on the Gospel of Matthew provides the scholar, student, and ministry practitioner with access to the Gospel. It opens Matthew’s message of Jesus as the Messiah and King with clarity and emphasis. One comes away from the commentary encouraged to proclaim that same message—Jesus is the Messiah and King! James Railey, Jr., PhD, Former Academic Dean A/G Theological Seminary Dr. Charles Estridge has given students and preachers of Scripture a great gift in this new Gospel commentary. His study of Matthew is wide-ranging in its sources, faithful to the plain meaning of Scripture, concise in structure, warmly pastoral in application, and irenic in its discussion of varying viewpoints. Best of all, the serious student of God’s Word will find spiritual bread here which he or she can feed to others who hunger for the Word of God. Enjoy this exposition of Matthew’s five discourses on the teachings and life of the Messiah—the One who inherited the Kingdom of David and fulfilled the world-changing promises made to Abraham! Paul York, PhD, Chi Alpha Missions Training and Mobilization Dr. Charles Estridge is a capable scholar and a ministry practitioner with years of experience in pastoral ministry and theological training in bible schools in America and Africa. Moreover, he is a man who loves Jesus Christ and who has spent his life in service for the Church. Pastors, teachers, and students of the Bible will find his commentary full of insight into the message of the Gospel of Matthew. It demonstrates careful exegesis and practical reflection on the meaning of the text. It is a valuable tool that will help those called by God to preach and teach His word. I highly recommend it. Mark Turney, President West Africa School of Theology

This commentary for preaching Matthew, a companion to WJK's successful Preaching the Gospel of Luke, Preaching the Gospel of John, and Preaching the Gospel of Mark, works through every passage of Matthew's Gospel with exegetical insight and a keen sensitivity to the demands of preaching. Stanley P. Saunders' commentary follows the biblical text, divided into passages. After each passage, a number of possibilities are presented for how to preach that text. He includes a wealth of creative and pertinent tips to help preachers apply Matthew's narrative to the lives of today's churchgoers.

Jesus is King. Standing as a central theme of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus's kingly authority has profound implications for how we live in the world and interact with those around us. In this reader-friendly commentary, seasoned pastor Doug O'Donnell leads us through the first book of the New Testament, highlighting key themes and offering helpful illustrations for preaching. Drawing on years of pastoral experience, O'Donnell shows how Matthew's various emphases—including Jesus's messianic titles, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, teaching on the kingdom of heaven, and present and future role as judge—all relate to Christ's kingship. Designed to help pastors faithfully preach God's Word, this commentary ultimately highlights Matthew's call to all people to worship and obey Jesus, our humble King and gracious Savior. Part of the Preaching the Word series.

The publication of the King James version of the Bible, translated between 1603 and 1611, coincided with an extraordinary flowering of English literature and is universally acknowledged as the greatest influence on English-language literature in history. Now, world-class literary writers introduce the book of the King James Bible in a series of beautifully designed, small-format volumes. The introducers' passionate, provocative, and personal engagements with the spirituality and the language of the text make the Bible come alive as a stunning work of literature and remind us of its overwhelming contemporary relevance.