The Gospel of Matthew
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From ancient times the book of Matthew has been regarded as the preeminent "church Gospel," its aims being primarily catechetical, pastoral, and missionary. This highly original commentary by Rudolf Schnackenburg, one of today's leading New Testament interpreters, follows Matthew section by section and verse by verse, carefully explaining the text against both its primitive and current horizons. Schnackenburg's superb introduction clearly and concisely covers essential background matters: structure; sources; spiritual milieu; authorship; Israel, Judaism, and the church; Christology; old law and new "righteousness"; and other special Matthean concerns. The commentary itself is a veritable mine of exegetical insights and theological reflections, and Schnackenburg expertly allows Matthew's message to emerge in relation to the wider record of Jesus' life and significance. Indeed, this work could almost be called a "Synoptic commentary" in that it draws so heavily from Mark and to a lesser extent from Luke and Q. It is also enriched by many references to the Old Testament and to Qumran. As always, Schnackenburg is the master exegete, getting at the sense or meaning of each passage and finding its place in the pattern of the whole. He sees Matthew's purpose as essentially "the proclamation of Christian salvation." His commentary gives a thorough treatment of the great discourses of Jesus found in Matthew (such as the Sermon on the Mount) and shows how Jesus' words have special currency for the self-understanding of the church and for the task of Christian living. Even more, Schnackenburg's commentary is sensitive to God's work in salvation history climaxing in Jesus' death and resurrection and continuing in the history of the church. Well reasoned and thorough, accessible and highly readable, this commentary will soon become a classic study of Matthew's Gospel.
IntroductionThe Pre-Gospel (chaps. 1-2)15Beginnings: John the Baptizer, Jesus' Baptism and Temptation, and Emergence in Galilee (3:1-4:16)28Jesus' Proclamation and Works of Healing (4:17-9:34)40The Disciples as Jesus' Messengers: The Discourse at the Sending of the Disciples (9:35-11:1)92Conversations and Confrontations (11:2-12:50)103The Parabolic Discourse (13:1-53)121Jesus' Further Activity, Amid Mounting Opposition (13:54-14:36)136Confrontation with Jewish Governing Circles on the Occasion of Further Activity Among the People (15:1-16:12)146The Confession of Peter: The Critical Point for the Faith-Understanding of the Community (16:13-20)156The Way to Jerusalem (16:21-20:34)161The Days in Jerusalem (chaps. 21-25)198Jesus' Passion and Resurrection (26:1-28:20)259Index of Subjects301Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Literature308
