Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters

Preaching the Word

by Philip Graham Ryken (Editor), R. Kent Hughes (Series Editor)

The book of Ecclesiastes is "about life, the way it really is," writes commentator Philip Ryken. Readers throughout the ages have been drawn to the way it honestly wrestles with the tedium of work, injustices in this life, the ravages of age, and the inevitability of death. But its wisdom, according to Ryken, is in teaching people to trust God with life's questions even in the midst of struggles. Pastors, writers, speakers, and students will find this Preaching the Word commentary to be a helpful resource in their teaching and studies. Ryken explores what will happen if we choose the world's offerings instead of God's and teaches valuable lessons about what it means to have a God-centered worldview. Ecclesiastes is the twenty-sixth volume of the Preaching the Word series—noted for its clear exposition, readability, practical application, and unqualified commitment to biblical authority. Ryken's commentary will not only enrich any individual study of Ecclesiastes but will equip Christian leaders in communicating its universal application to a wide audience.

Genres: Theology, Christian

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Philip Graham Ryken is Senior Minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, where he has preached since 1995. He is Bible Teacher for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, speaking nationally on the radio program Every Last Word. Dr. Ryken was educated at Wheaton College (IL), Westminster Theological Seminary (PA) and the University of Oxford (UK), from which he received his doctorate in historical theology. He lives with his wife (Lisa) and children (Joshua, Kirsten, Jack, Kathryn, and Karoline) in Center City, Philadelphia. When he is not preaching or spending time with his family, he likes to read books, play sports, and ponder the relationship between Christian faith and American culture. He has written or edited more than twenty books, including Bible commentaries on Exodus, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Galatians.

Reviews

[Grant Chlystun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithful exposition and extremely pastoral! This was a very useful tool for studying through Ecclesiastes!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my jam. So full of wisdom. A clear and compelling and grace-filled, honest read. Very grateful for Ryken’s work to make this beautiful book so accessible!

[Aaron Battey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read of Ecclesiastes written on a popular reading level with a purpose of still explaining the text in context. Sometimes he got away from the context a bit and got a little preachy, making it application heavy but overall, he did a pretty good job. I was looking for a verse by verse commentary on the book, and I was happy with having read it. He pretty well explained each verse, and his stories and comments brought some fresh insight that opened up the Proverbs of Ecclesiastes a bit more, some places more than others. It was a nice supplement to David Gibson's "Living Life Backwards."

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This commentary, I think, didn't always get the tone of Ecclesiastes right, but it did bring great material to illustrate and flesh out messages on Ecclesiastes. It is much more useful as a homiletical commentary than a textual or theological commentary. That said, i was very glad to have had it!

[Jonathan Sussex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a fantastic book to help the reader understand the book of ecclesiastes, Very relevant applications throughout, and the Author is always pointing the reader to Jesus. Highly recommend this book

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly practical approach to a tough book in the Old Testament. The mind of a scholar (great footnotes) combined with the heart of a pastor (humor and relatable stories) come together for the full package here. Highly recommend.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very strong commentary on Ecclesiastes. Thoughtful, easy to read. Developed from expository sermons-- so lots of helps for the preacher. The only thing I wish was that Ryken would have given the preacher a few footholds in terms of how the text weaves themes through the book multiple times.

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some helpful observations at times, but on the whole too predictable. Takes it as 'life sucks, you need Jesus'. Skips verses (i.e. nothing or 4:13-16), and goes to Christ in way too simplistic manner. In the same time, it's unnecessarily defensive when it comes to preaching Christ.

[Edwin Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Positives: Super helpful for pastoral application, counseling, and illustration.
Negatives: Too long, and doesn't really capture the tone of Ecclesiastes.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply a brilliant commentary. Ryken reveals the wisdom of Ecclesiastes in such a profound way. He allows the text to remain front and centre throughout his commentary and excellently expounds and clarifies its meaning for the reader.

This commentary served well as a devotional reading, and has aided me in better understanding Ecclesiastes and its practicality in day-to-day life. Ultimately it has stirred in me a love for Ecclesiastes where there used to be a confused nervousness. Ryken taught me so much I was unaware of. His treatment of 'under the sun' was especially terrific, showing how Qoheleth is revealing a worldview apart from God when he uses this phrase. This in itself completely changed the way I read Ecclesiastes.

The final chapter of his commentary - as with the final chapter of Ecclesiastes - was eye-opening and profound. Ryken (and Qoheleth) reveal to us that - as the subtitle suggests - everything matters. All of our choices, from the most mundane to the most revolutionary, will matter on that final day. What a sober reminder and wake-up call to us all.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the blessing of sitting under Dr Ryken’s preaching at Tenth Presbyterian when he initially preached these sermons on Ecclesiastes. They had an immeasurable impact on my heart and spoke incisively into matters going on in my heart and life at the time. God used these in a powerful way that Dr Ryken will never be aware of. It was another blessing to revisit these teachings again in his book, and have God use this gentle, warm, truth filled, and wise elucidation of Ecclesiastes in my heart once again. Dr Ryken makes the confusing and sometimes dreary parts of Ecclesiastes come alive and helps us understand them in a Christ-centered way.

[Jack Darida · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful commentary on Ecclesiastes, particularly for those who wish to preach from this book of the Bible. Rather than treating Solomon's words as complaints against the unfairness of life and the purposelessness of existence, Ryken interprets Ecclesiastes as an invitation to fear God. Nothing "under the sun" makes sense. But for the one who fears and serves God, there is meaning and purpose. Ryken joyfully finds his way to the gospel and the person of Jesus Christ in each of these sermons. A good example of how to weave Christ into Old Testament preaching.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written, easy to read, explains much

Besides being well-written and easy to read the author explains passages that I otherwise would have missed the meaning completely. I also enjoyed his many examples from art, literature, other sermons that enhanced and illuminated concepts from Ecclesiastes.

[Kristopher Schaal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent devotional commentary. I did not reference it a ton because the sermons were so good, I was often tempted to steal from them rather than coming up with original content! I would definitely like to come back to this book and read the sermons for personal encouragement and refreshment, though.

[Jeff Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryken writes in the same vein as Kent Hughes, and having read several of Hughes' commentaries, I had to remind myself I was reading Ryken. Helpful, solid and relevant to applying Ecclesiastes and its importance to today.

[Brad Bevers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book and resource. Used this book as my primary guide teaching through the book of Ecclesiastes in a Sunday school class and really enjoyed it. Very applicable without losing the main thrust of the text, will return to this series again for other books of the Bible. Highly Recommended.

[Haley Dorris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great commentary series if you’re teaching a passage or book to a congregation. I have especially appreciated Ryken’s work over the wisdom literature. He explains well the seeming contradictions in Qoheleth’s words and points you to a worshipful response.

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. Very helpful.

Was expecting it to be a little more academic than it was (it seems like it was his sermons converted into chapters), but still, very helpful.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good commentary in a homiletical series. Ryken's application and exegesis were very strong throughout.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great commentary on Ecclesiastes. Very helpful with sermon prep and ideas for application.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent devotional analysis of Ecclesiastes.

Here is a clear and concise review of an important OT book. It kept my interest. A must read for anyone pursuing the meaning of life.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent insight on the book of Ecclesiastes.

[Qoheleth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me an amazing view of Ecclesiastes, and what the preacher(Qoheleth) says in it. Philip Ryken does an amazing job. I checked this book out from the library to read twice, and I ended up loving it so much that I bought my own copy so I could make my own notes and observations in the book. I encourage anyone and everyone to read this!