The Gospel Of Matthew: A Commentary On The Greek Text

by Nolland, John

• ISBN13: 9780802823892
• ISBN10: 0802823890
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-11-01
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

The New International Greek Commentary Series is established on the presupposition that the theological character of the New Testament documents calls for exegesis that is sensitive to theological themes as well as to the details of the historical, linguistic, and textual context. Such thorough exegetical work lies at the heart of these volumes, which contain detailed verse-by-verse commentary preceded by general comments on each section and subsection of the text.An important aim of the NIGTC authors is to interact with the wealth of significant New Testament research published in recent articles and monographs. In this connection the authors make their own scholarly contributions to the ongoing study of the biblical text.The text on which these commentaries are based is the UBS "Greek New Testament," edited by Kurt Aland and others. While engaging the major questions of text and interpretation at a scholarly level, the authors keep in mind the needs of the beginning student of Greek as well as the pastor or layperson who may have studied the language at some time but does not now use it on a regular basis.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xvi
Preface	xvii
Abbreviations	xxii
General Bibliography	il
INTRODUCTION
A. The Authorship of the Gospel	2	(2)
B. The Gospel's Sources	4	(6)
1. Mark and 'Q'	4	(1)
2. Other Sources	5	(4)
a. Oral Tradition	6	(1)
b. Larger Sets of Linked Units Related to Material in Mark or Q	6	(1)
c. Smaller Sets of Linked Units without Parallel in the Canonical Gospels	7	(2)
3. Summary	9	(1)
4. Sources as a Constraint	9	(1)
5. Matthew and John	9	(1)
C. How the Author Handled His Sources	10	(1)
D. From Eyewitnesses to Matthew's Sources	11	(3)
1. Matthew and His Sources as Early Church Documents	11	(1)
2. The Early Development and Role of Gospel Tradition	11	(1)
3. The Gospels and the Historical Jesus	12	(2)
E. The Date of the Gospel of Matthew	14	(3)
1. The Use of the Fall of Jerusalem as a Watershed for Dating	14	(1)
2. Other Claimed Dating Markers	15	(1)
3. A Date before A.D. 70	16	(1)
F. The Provenance of the Gospel of Matthew	17	(2)
G. What Kind of Document Did Matthew Think He Was Writing?	19	(3)
1. Matthew and the Ancient Biographical Writings	19	(1)
2. Matthew and OT Accounts of the Lives of Key Figures	19	(1)
3. Matthew and Christian Proclamation	20	(1)
4. Matthew as a Manual for Discipleship	20	(1)
5. Matthew and Jewish Midrash	21	(1)
6. Matthew and Christian Self-Definition	21	(1)
7. Matthew and the Jewish Festal Calendar	21	(1)
8. How Matthew Intended His Gospel to Be Related to	22	(1)
H. The State of the Gospel Text	22	(1)
I. Elements of Matthew's Narrative Technique	23	(6)
1. Repetition of Formulas	23	(1)
2. Use of the Same Source Information on More than One Occasion	24	(1)
3. Framing	25	(1)
4. Chiasm	25	(1)
5. Parallelism	26	(1)
6. Imperfect Parallelism	26	(1)
7. Internal Cross-Referencing by Means of Language Echoes	27	(1)
8. Theme-Setting Episodes	27	(1)
9. Sectional Overlaps	28	(1)
10. Dramatisation	28	(1)
J. Matthew's Use of the OT	29	(7)
1. Text Forms Available to Matthew	29	(4)
a. Mt. 1-2	29	(1)
b. Mt. 3-9	30	(1)
c. Mt. 10-18	30	(1)
d. Mt. 19-25	31	(1)
e. Mt. 26-28	32	(1)
f. Conclusion	33	(1)
2. How Matthew Interprets the OT	33	(3)
K. Matthew's Use of Other Jewish Tradition	36	(2)
L. The Theology of the Gospel of Matthew	38	(6)
M. An Annotated Structural Outline of Matthew	44	(21)
COMMENTARY
I. The Stock from Which Jesus Comes and Its History (1:1-17)	65	(23)
II. Infancy (1:18-2:23)	88	(44)
A. The Circumstances of Jesus' Birth (1:18-25)	88	(15)
B. The Visit of the Magi (2:1-12)	103	(15)
C. To Egypt and Back (2:13-23)	118	(14)
III. John Proclaiming in the Wilderness (3:1-12)	132	(18)
IV. Preparation (3:13-4:12)	150	(20)
A. Jesus Comes for Baptism by John (3:13-17)	150	(8)
B. Led by the Spirit to Be Tested by the Devil (4:1-12)	158	(12)
V. Establishing His Ministry (4:13-25)	170	(16)
A. Preaching the Kingdom Back in Galilee (4:13-17)	170	(7)
B. Calling Co-workers (4:18-22)	177	(4)
C. Itinerant Ministry in Galilee, with Influence Far Beyond (4:23-25)	181	(5)
VI. Sermon on the Mount (5:1-8:1)	186	(161)
A. Preparing to Teach Disciples and Potential Disciples from All Israel (5:1-2)	186	(7)
B. Good News to the Poor in Spirit (5:3-10)	193	(14)
C. The Difficulties of God's People Continued and Climaxed in Persecution for Jesus (5:11-12)	207	(3)
D. Called to Be Salt and Light (5:13-16)	210	(5)
E. Introduction to Jesus' Vision of Abundant Righteousness (5:17-20)	215	(11)
F. Six Antitheses (5:21-48)	226	(45)
1. On Murder (5:21-26)	226	(9)
2. On Adultery (5:27-30)	235	(5)
3. On Divorce (5:31-32)	240	(7)
4. On Oaths (5:33-37)	247	(6)
5. On 'An Eye for an Eye' (5:38-42)	253	(9)
6. On Love (5:43-48)	262	(9)
G. Practising Piety before Others (6:1-18)	271	(25)
1. Almsgiving (6:1-4)	271	(6)
2. Prayer (6:5-6)	277	(2)
Excursus on Prayer (6:7-15)	279	(15)
3. Fasting (6:16-18)	294	(2)
H. Seeking the Kingdom (6:19-34)	296	(20)
1. Storing Up Treasures in Heaven (6:19-21)	296	(4)
2. Having a Healthy Eye (6:22-23)	300	(2)
3. Serving God and Not Mammon (6:24)	302	(3)
4. Do Not Be Anxious; Seek the Kingdom (6:25-34)	305	(11)
I. Making Our Relationship with God the Measure of All Things (7:1-11)	316	(12)
1. Do Not Judge; Beware of the Beam in Your Own Eye (7:1-5)	316	(5)
2. Do Not Give Dogs What Is Holy (7:6)	321	(3)
3. Ask; Your Father Gives Good Things (7:7-11)	324	(4)
J. The Golden Rule as the Summary of the Sermon, but Also of the Law and the Prophets (7:12)	328	(3)
K. Challenges to Implement the Sermon (7:13-27)	331	(13)
1. Enter through the Narrow Gate (7:13-14)	331	(3)
2. Beware of False Prophets (7:15-20)	334	(4)
3. Do the Will of My Father (7:21-23)	338	(4)
4. Build Your House on the Rock (7:24-27)	342	(2)
L. He Was Teaching as One Who Had Authority (7:28-8:1)	344	(3)
VII. Jesus on the Move in Ministry (8:[1]2-9:34)	347	(58)
A. The First Day of Healings (811]2-17)	347	(15)
1. Jesus Cleanses a Leper (8:2-4)	347	(4)
2. Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant (8:5-13)	351	(7)
3. Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law (8:14-15)	358	(2)
4. General Healing: He Took Our Infirmities (8:16-17)	360	(2)
B. Miracles in a Disciple Framework (8:18-9:13)	362	(26)
1. Jesus and His Would-Be Followers (8:18-22)	362	(7)
2. Jesus Stills the Storm (8:23-27)	369	(3)
3. Jesus Sends the Demons into the Pigs (8:28-34)	372	(6)
4. Jesus Forgives and Heals a Lame Man (9:1-8)	378	(5)
5. Jesus Heals Tax Collectors and Sinners (9:9-13)	383	(5)
C. Healings in Connection with Fresh Wineskins for New Wine (9:14-32)	388	(17)
1. New Wine Is for Fresh Wineskins (9:14-17)	388	(4)
2. Jesus Raises a Girl from Death and Rescues a Woman from Perpetual Uncleanness (9:18-26)	392	(6)
3. Jesus Gives Sight to Two Blind People (9:27-31)	398	(4)
4. Contrasting Reactions to Jesus' Exorcism of a Mute Man (9:32-34)	402	(3)
VIII. Workers for the Harvest (9:35-11:1)	405	(43)
A. 'Ask the Lord of the Harvest to Send Out Workers' (9:35-38)	405	(3)
B. Jesus Bestows Authority on the Twelve (10:1)	408	(2)
C. The Names of the Twelve Apostles (10:2-4)	410	(3)
D. Jesus Instructs the Twelve for Their Mission (10:5-42)	413	(33)
1. Instructions, Part 1 (10:5-15)	413	(8)
2. Instructions, Part 2 (10:16-23)	421	(8)
3. Instructions, Part 3 (10:24-42)	429	(17)
E. Jesus' Pattern of Ministry Is Renewed (11:1)	446	(2)
IX. Seeing Clearly and Relating Rightly to God's Present Agenda (11:2-30)	448	(31)
A. John the Baptist and Jesus (11:2-19)	448	(17)
1. 'The Blind Are Seeing, and the Lame Are Walking...' (11:2-6)	448	(4)
2. 'My Messenger...Who Will Prepare Your Way' (11:7-15)	452	(7)
3. 'He Has a Demon...a Glutton and a Drunkard' (11:16-19)	459	(6)
B. Rejected and Accepted by; Hidden from and Revealed to (11:20-30)	465	(14)
1. Reproaching Privileged Towns (11:20-24)	465	(3)
2. The Good Pleasure of the Father and the Choice of the Son (11:25-27)	468	(5)
3. 'Come to Me, All Who Are Weary...' (11:28-30)	473	(6)
X. Conflict with the Pharisees (12:1-50)	479	(41)
A. 'The Son of Man Is Lord of the Sabbath' (12:1-8)	479	(6)
B. 'It Is Permitted to Do Good on the Sabbath' (12:9-14)	485	(4)
C. The Triumph of the Gentle and the Other-Centred Servant of God (12:15-21)	489	(6)
D. By Beelzebul or by the Spirit of God? (12:22-29)	495	(8)
E. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit Will Not Be Forgiven (12:30-37)	503	(5)
F. Those to Be Condemned Seek a Sign (12:38-42)	508	(5)
G. 'The Last State...Becomes Worse than the First' (12:43-45)	513	(2)
H. 'Who Is My Mother, and Who Are My Brothers and Sisters?' (12:46-50)	515	(5)
XI. Parables of the Kingdom (13:1-53)	520	(53)
A. Speaking to the Crowds in Parables (13:1-3a)	520	(4)
B. Set 1 (13:3b-23)	524	(18)
1. The Parable of the One Who Sowed (13:3b-9)	524	(7)
2. Why Parables for the Crowds? (13:10-17)	531	(7)
3. Explanation of the Parable of the One Who Sowed (13:18-23)	538	(4)
C. Set 2 (13:24-43)	542	(20)
1. The Parable of the Zizania among the Wheat (13:24-30)	542	(7)
2. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (13:31-32)	549	(3)
3. The Parable of the Leaven (13:33)	552	(3)
4. Jesus' Parables Speak What Has Long Been Hidden (13:34-35)	555	(2)
5. Explanation of the Parable of the Zizania in the Field (13:36-43)	557	(5)
D. Set 3 (13:44-52)	562	(10)
1. The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in the Field (13:44)	562	(3)
2. The Parable of the Very Valuable Pearl (13:45-46)	565	(2)
3. The Parable of the Fishing Net, with Interpretation (13:47-50)	567	(2)
4. Conclusion: The Parable of the Landowner with a Treasure (13:51-52)	569	(3)
E. Parables Completed, Jesus Moves On (13:53)	572	(1)
XII. Jesus Interpreted, but Also Rejected (13:53[54]-16:20)	573	(111)
A. Jesus Meets Unbelief in His Hometown (13:54-58)	573	(5)
B. Part 1 (14:1-36)	578	(28)
1. Herod's Opinion of Jesus (14:1-2)	578	(2)
[Appendage] The Death of John the Baptist (14:3-12)	580	(5)
2. Jesus Heals and Feeds the Five Thousand (14:13-21)	585	(10)
3. Jesus Came Walking on the Sea (14:22-33)	595	(8)
4. General Healing in Gennesaret (14:34-36)	603	(3)
C. Part 2 (15:1-20)	606	(22)
1. What Is It That Really Defiles? (15:1-11)	606	(15)
2. The Pharisees Who Are Blind Guides Took Offence (15:12-14)	621	(2)
3. Explanation of the 'Parable' of What Goes In and What Comes Out (15:15-20)	623	(5)
D. Part 3 (15:21-16:20)	628	(56)
1. Jesus Heals a Canaanite Woman's Daughter (15:21-28)	628	(9)
2. Jesus Heals Many and Impresses the Crowds (15:29-31)	637	(4)
3. Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand (15:32-39)	641	(5)
4. Sign Seekers, Unable to Interpret 'the Signs of the Times' (16:1-4)	646	(3)
5. 'Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees' (16:5-12)	649	(5)
6. 'Simon Peter Said, "You Are the Christ, the Son of the Living God"' (16:13-20)	654	(30)
XIII. Anticipating a Future through Suffering and Beyond (16:1-17:20)	684	(34)
A. Unveiling a Future in Which Suffering Precedes Vindication (16:21-23)	684	(5)
B. Following Jesus Involves Giving Away Your Life to Gain It (16:24-28)	689	(7)
C. A Vision of Jesus' Glory (17:1-9)	696	(10)
D. The Suffering of John the Baptist and of Jesus (17:10-13)	706	(3)
E. Jesus Heals Where the Faithless Disciples Had Failed (17:14-18)	709	(5)
F. With Faith Nothing Will Be Impossible (17:19-20)	714	(4)
XIV. Status and Behaviour in the 'Royal Family' (17:22-18:35)	718	(45)
A. Preparing for the Fateful Journey to Jerusalem (17:22-23)	718	(3)
B. God Does Not Tax, but Provides for His Children (17:24-27)	721	(8)
C. Becoming as Children to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven (18:1-5)	729	(5)
D. Avoiding Sin (18:6-9)	734	(5)
1. Woe to Those Who Cause Little Ones to Stumble (18:6-7)	734	(1)
2. 'If Your Hand...Causes You to Stumble...(18:8-9)	734	(5)
E. Dealing with the Sinner (18:10-35)	739	(24)
1. 'Goes in Search...Finds...Rejoices' (18:10-14)	739	(4)
2. Challenging Sin with a Concern for Restoration (18:15-20)	743	(8)
3. Forgive Your Brother or Sister from Your Heart (18:21-35)	751	(12)
XV. Family and Possessions in View of the Kingdom (19:1-20:16)	763	(51)
A. From Galilee to Judea (19:1-2)	763	(1)
B. Marriages and States of Celibacy Fit for the Kingdom (19:3-12)	764	(18)
C. 'Let the Children Come to Me' (19:13-15)	782	(4)
D. Giving Up All (19:16-29)	786	(16)
1. 'Sell Your Possessions...Follow Me' (19:16-22)	786	(7)
2. How Difficult — but with God Possible — for the Rich to Enter the Kingdom (19:23-26)	793	(3)
3. What Is There for Those Who Follow and Those Who Sacrifice? (19:27-29)	796	(6)
E. Making All the Workers Equal (19:30-20:16)	802	(12)
XVI. Redefining Greatness, Jesus Goes to Jerusalem to Die: Jericho, Bethphage, Entry into Jerusalem (20:17-21:11)	814	(27)
A. To Jerusalem to Die (20:17-28)	814	(12)
1. Jesus Heads for His Fate in Jerusalem (20:17-19)	814	(2)
2. To Be at the Right and Left Hand of the One Who Gives His Life as a Ransom (20:20-28)	816	(10)
B. Jericho, Bethphage, Jerusalem (20:29-21:11)	826	(15)
1. Insight and Then Sight for Two Blind People near Jericho (20:29-34)	826	(4)
2. From Bethphage to Jerusalem: The Son of David on a Donkey (21:1-9)	830	(9)
3. Arrival in Jerusalem (21:10-11)	839	(2)
XVII. Provocative Ministry in Jerusalem (21:12-46)	841	(41)
A. Activity in the Temple, Part 1 (21:12-17)	841	(8)
1. Disrupting Business at the Temple (21:12-13)	841	(4)
2. Leaders Angered by Healing and Acclamation (21:14-17)	845	(4)
B. A Withered Fig Tree and Faith That Will Remove the Mount of Olives (21:18-22)	849	(6)
C. Activity in the Temple, Part 2 (21:23-44)	855	(25)
1. Discussion with Leaders: Jesus' Authority and That of John the Baptist (21:23-27)	855	(4)
2. Starting Late Is Better than Lip Service (21:28-32)	859	(5)
3. The Fate of the Son-Killing Tenants (21:33-43)	864	(16)
D. Criticised Leaders Seek Jesus' Arrest (21:45-46)	880	(2)
XVIII. Jesus Silences the Leaders Who Are His Opponents (22:1-46)	882	(36)
A. Guests at a Royal Wedding Banquet (22:1-14)	882	(10)
B. Four Questions (22:15-46)	892	(26)
1. 'To Caesar...and to God... (22:15-22)	892	(7)
2. 'Not God of the Dead but of the Living' (22:23-33)	899	(8)
3. Love of God and Love of Neighbour (22:34-40)	907	(6)
4. 'David Calls Him Lord' (22:41-46)	913	(5)
XIX. Jesus Criticises the Scribes and Pharisees (23:1-39)	918	(36)
A. The Scribes and Pharisees: Custodians of the Law but Bad Examples (23:1-12)	918	(11)
B. Seven Woes against the Scribes and Pharisees (23:13-33)	929	(14)
C. Culmination: Emissaries to Be Rejected; Judgment to Fall (23:34-36)	943	(5)
D. Lament over Jerusalem (23:37-39)	948	(6)
XX. The Shape of the Future (24:1-25:46)	954	(84)
A. The Temple Will Be Destroyed (24:1-2)	954	(5)
B. The Question and the Main Body of the Answer (24:3-35)	959	(31)
1. The Beginning of the 'Labour Pains' (24:3-8)	959	(5)
2. Persecution and Preaching Prepare for the End (24:9-14)	964	(3)
3. Flee When the Desolating Sacrilege Stands in the Temple (24:15-22)	967	(10)
4. Beware of False Christs, Even Then (24:23-28)	977	(4)
5. The Coming of the Son of Man (24:29-31)	981	(5)
6. 'This Generation Shall Not Pass Away Until All These Things Happen' (24:32-35)	986	(4)
C. Being Ready (24:36-25:30)	990	(31)
1. 'About That Day and Hour No One Knows' (24:36)	990	(1)
2. Three Kinds of Image of Being Caught Out by 'That Day' (24:37-44)	991	(5)
3. Three Parables about Being Ready to Meet the Master (24:45-25:30)	996	(1)
a. On the Job as the Slave Left in Charge	996	(5)
b. Bridesmaids Waiting for the Bridegroom	1001	(9)
c. Slaves Entrusted with Their Master's Business Affairs	1010	(11)
D. Universal Judgment by the Son of Man (25:31-46)	1021	(17)
XXI. The Passion Account (26:1-27:66)	1038	(202)
A. Section 1 (26:1-19)	1038	(25)
1. Passover Identified as the Time for the Passion (26:1-2)	1038	(8)
2. Conspiracy in the High Priest's Palace (26:3-5)	1046	(3)
3. Jesus Anointed by a Woman in Bethany (26:6-13)	1049	(8)
2'. Judas Arranges to Betray Jesus (26:14-16)	1057	(4)
1'. Arrangements for the Passover Meal (26:17-19)	1061	(2)
B. Section 2 (26:20-35)	1063	(29)
1. Jesus Says, 'One of You Will Hand Me Over' (26:20-25)	1063	(6)
2. Jesus Directs the Eating of Bread as His Body, and Wine as His Blood of the Covenant (26:26-29)	1069	(17)
1'. Jesus Says, 'You Will Deny Me Three Times' (26:30-35)	1086	(6)
C. Section 3: Praying to Be Spared Trial (26:36-46)	1092	(14)
D. Section 4 (26:47-27:2)	1106	(41)
1. Identified by Judas, Judas Is Arrested (26:47-56)	1106	(10)
2a. Jesus before the Sanhedrin, I (26:57-68)	1116	(20)
1'. Peter's Denial of Jesus (26:69-75)	1136	(8)
2b. Jesus before the Sanhedrin, II	1144	(3)
E. Section 5 (27:3-31)	1147	(38)
1. Judas's Remorse and Suicide, and the 'Field of Blood' (27:3-10)	1147	(11)
2a. Jesus before Pilate, I (27:11-14)	1158	(6)
2b. Jesus before Pilate, II (27:15-26)	1164	(16)
1'. Pilate's Soldiers Mock Jesus' Claim to Royal Status (27:27-31)	1180	(5)
F. Section 6 (27:32-66)	1185	(55)
1. The Soldiers Crucify Jesus (27:32-38)	1185	(10)
2. Three Lots of Mockers (27:39-44)	1195	(5)
3. The Death of Jesus (27:45-53)	1200	(17)
2a'. Three Kinds of Affirmation, I (27:54)	1217	(4)
2b'. Three Kinds of Affirmation, II (27:56-56)	1221	(4)
2c'. Three Kinds of Affirmation, III (27:57-61)	1225	(9)
1'. A Guard of Soldiers Is Set at the Tomb (27:62-66)	1234	(6)
XXII. Resurrection and Commissioning (28:1-20)	1240	(229)
A. Events on Easter Morning at and around the Tomb (28:1-10)	1240	(14)
B. The Official Jewish Line on the Empty Tomb (28:11-15)	1254	(4)
C. 'Marching Orders' from the Risen Jesus in Galilee (28:16-20)	1258	(15)
Bibliographical Appendix: Works prior to 1980	1273	(196)
Indexes
Subjects	1469	(3)
Modern Authors	1472	(4)
Biblical and Other Ancient Sources	1476	(5)
Key Greek Words and Phrases	1481