NIVAC 25: Matthew

Most Bible commentaries take us on a one-way trip from the twentieth century
to the first century. But they leave us there, assuming that we can somehow
make the return journey on our own. In other words, they focus on the original
meaning of the passage but don't discuss its contemporary application. The
information they offer is valuable - but the job is only half done! The NIV
Application Commentary Series helps us with both halves of the interpretive
task. This new and unique series shows readers how to bring an ancient message
into modern context. It explains not only what the Bible means but also how it
can speak powerfully today.The importance of the Gospel of Matthew in
church history cannot be overstated. For Jewish readers, it affirmed the
Messiahship of Jesus, referring consistently to the Scriptures to establish his
credentials. For Gentile disciples, it provided powerful and dramatic support
of their inclusion in GodÉs kingdom. The cross of Christ had removed the
division between Jew and non-Jew, and through MatthewÉs writings, we see
IsraelÉs God drawing the entire world to himself through Jesus.
'The Gospel
according to Matthew [...] was the most widely read and frequently used of any
of the four Gospels in the formative years of the church,' writes Michael
Wilkins. Wilkins explains MatthewÉs broad appeal not only to his ancient
readers, but also to us today. Exploring the links between the Bible and our
own times, Wilkins shares perspectives on MatthewÉs Gospel that reveal its
enduring relevance for our twenty-first-century lives.Series: NIV
Application Commentary.