In Matthew [NIVAC] Michael. J. Wilkins illuminates lessons from three distinct groups of people surrounding Jesus within the broader theological aims of the first Gospel, namely, to inform his readers what the Kingdom of God is, and to identify Christ as the one who brings that Kingdom.
First are his disciples, those to whom Jesus expresses his most important teachings with the expectation that someday they will pass them on. Next are his enemies, a “lost cause” for they consistently reject his teachings and twist them so that they can eventually destroy him. The large, uncommitted group in the middle, however, will eventually have to make a decision, for when all is said and done, no one can remain neutral to Jesus. Throughout this commentary Wilkins challenges readers to examine their own discipleship, and in doing so echoes Matthew’s voice by calling readers to unequivocally identify themselves with Jesus’ disciples.
The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today’s context. To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today’s world, each passage is treated in three sections:
- Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context.
- Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible.
- Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved.
This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today’s preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God’s Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.
