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The Story of God Bible Commentary
Matthew (1)
A new commentary for today's world , The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible's grand story. The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike. Each volume employs three main, easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's —Matthew— Matthew's ability to draw his readers into the narrative world, helping us not only to see the kingdom of heaven coming to earth in the ministry of Jesus but also to experience it, moves us from being visitors to the gospel story to becoming participants in it. Who Jesus is was the driving force behind Matthew's Gospel. Edited by Scot McKnight and Tremper Longman III, and written by a number of top-notch theologians, The Story of God Bible Commentary series will bring relevant, balanced, and clear-minded theological insight to any biblical education or ministry.
624 pages, Hardcover
Published November 7, 2017
24 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Rodney Reeves
12 books7 followersRodney Reeves (PhD, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is dean of The Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry and professor of biblical studies at Southwest Baptist University, both in Bolivar, Missouri. Previously a pastor with churches in Arkansas and Texas, Reeves is author or coauthor of A Genuine Faith, Spirituality According to Paul, Rediscovering Paul, and Rediscovering Jesus. His articles have appeared in journals such as Perspectives in Religious Studies, Biblical Illustrator, Southwestern Journal of Theology, and Preaching.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 8, 2025
This was incredible. Less of a commentary than a series of sermons in the best way, this was like getting preached to. I wouldn't use it as a primary commentary, but I would use it and I'd enjoy it.
January 9, 2018
The Story of God Bible Commentary is an exciting and practical series that seeks to explain the Bible in light of the grand story of the biblical narrative. The editors and contributors for this series are top-tier scholars and pastors with seasoned insight and experience into the world of biblical interpretation and proclamation—making this series an attractive addition to the pastor’s library.
Matthew by Rodney Reeves is a welcomed and (for many a) highly anticipated addition to the series. Reeves is a brilliant scholar and dedicated to helping others understand the riches of the Scriptures. He is College Dean and Courts Redford Professor of Biblical Studies at Southwest Baptist University. Reeves has done doctoral work in Pauline Studies at Oxford University and a received a Ph.D. in New Testament from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books and is positioned well for the focus on this series.
Matthew opens with a brief introduction to the First Gospel. In general, this series has not offered much in the arena of introductory material. It’s simply not the focal point of the series. That said, Reeves does much to orient the reader towards Matthew’s Gospel, and, in my opinion, offers one of the best introductions seen thus far in the SGBC series. Reeves is transparent about the lack of known information concerning authorship, but still affirms a traditional position. He also argues for a post AD 70 date of composition, comments at some length about Matthew’s use and adoration of the Old Testament, as well as other important introductory items.
As the commentary proper opens the reader is guided passage-by-passage through three major sections: (1) LISTEN to the Story—includes the NIV translation with additional references to encourage the reader to hear the story within its broader biblical context, (2) EXPLAIN the Story—explores and illuminates each passage within its canonical and historical setting, and (3) LIVE the Story—reflects how each passage can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid teachers, preachers, and beyond.
Reeves does an excellent service to the reader in his engagement with the First Gospel. Not only is the commentary informative and rich, but Reeves is keen to provide practical application that almost always seems to mirror the meaning of the passage. Reeves is sensitive to the partialities of Matthew (i.e. comparing Jesus and Moses) and does much to uncover the original context of the book. Still, I think it is the bridging of the cultural gap where Reeves shines most—both the Old Testament to the New, and the New Testament to today. I was especially appreciative of Reeves comments on the Sermon on the Mount (though McKnight’s volume on the Sermon in the SGBC series is among the best, in my opinion) and his ability to maneuver controversial passages with a close eye to the emphasis of the series (i.e. Matthew 24).
The Story of God Bible Commentary: Matthew by Rodney Reeves is an exceptional contribution that offers a contextually informed presentation of the First Gospel for contemporary readers. I found Reeves to be well-informed and easy to read, and any lack of distinctive contribution to a mountain of literature on Matthew is made up for in his keen ability to keep sight of the whole amid the details. This is definitely a worthwhile read if you are teaching or preaching through Matthew, and comes highly recommended!
Matthew by Rodney Reeves is a welcomed and (for many a) highly anticipated addition to the series. Reeves is a brilliant scholar and dedicated to helping others understand the riches of the Scriptures. He is College Dean and Courts Redford Professor of Biblical Studies at Southwest Baptist University. Reeves has done doctoral work in Pauline Studies at Oxford University and a received a Ph.D. in New Testament from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books and is positioned well for the focus on this series.
Matthew opens with a brief introduction to the First Gospel. In general, this series has not offered much in the arena of introductory material. It’s simply not the focal point of the series. That said, Reeves does much to orient the reader towards Matthew’s Gospel, and, in my opinion, offers one of the best introductions seen thus far in the SGBC series. Reeves is transparent about the lack of known information concerning authorship, but still affirms a traditional position. He also argues for a post AD 70 date of composition, comments at some length about Matthew’s use and adoration of the Old Testament, as well as other important introductory items.
As the commentary proper opens the reader is guided passage-by-passage through three major sections: (1) LISTEN to the Story—includes the NIV translation with additional references to encourage the reader to hear the story within its broader biblical context, (2) EXPLAIN the Story—explores and illuminates each passage within its canonical and historical setting, and (3) LIVE the Story—reflects how each passage can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid teachers, preachers, and beyond.
Reeves does an excellent service to the reader in his engagement with the First Gospel. Not only is the commentary informative and rich, but Reeves is keen to provide practical application that almost always seems to mirror the meaning of the passage. Reeves is sensitive to the partialities of Matthew (i.e. comparing Jesus and Moses) and does much to uncover the original context of the book. Still, I think it is the bridging of the cultural gap where Reeves shines most—both the Old Testament to the New, and the New Testament to today. I was especially appreciative of Reeves comments on the Sermon on the Mount (though McKnight’s volume on the Sermon in the SGBC series is among the best, in my opinion) and his ability to maneuver controversial passages with a close eye to the emphasis of the series (i.e. Matthew 24).
The Story of God Bible Commentary: Matthew by Rodney Reeves is an exceptional contribution that offers a contextually informed presentation of the First Gospel for contemporary readers. I found Reeves to be well-informed and easy to read, and any lack of distinctive contribution to a mountain of literature on Matthew is made up for in his keen ability to keep sight of the whole amid the details. This is definitely a worthwhile read if you are teaching or preaching through Matthew, and comes highly recommended!
February 11, 2018
This was my first commentary. I really enjoyed working through this book...it was set up as more of a devotional than I expected. Reeves included a lot of personal opinion with his interpretation of the scriptures. I am not sure if this is how each commentary in the series is set up or if it was just this particular author, but I enjoyed it. I did a chapter a day as a morning devotional. It is not too dense or scholarly but it is educational and that was just fine with me. I really dislike open ended devotionals that just "inspire" you to feel good and pontificate on what scripture means to you...without giving you concrete ideas or better ways of interpreting Scripture on your own. So this was satisfactory as a devotional for me. As a commentary it could have been more in depth but I don't count that against Reeves as I don't believe that was the intent of this work.**Oh, almost forgot. My favorite part was that they included in the commentary the passage of scripture Reeves was commenting on in each section so you could read it straight from the book rather than look it up in your Bible (which may have been a different translation). That made it all the better for study.
April 1, 2022
A wonderful, refreshing commentary! Offers deep insights and reflections to ponder. Really enjoyed going through it and will use it as a continual resource.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews