The reception of the Gospel of Matthew over two millennia: commentary and interpretation
Matthew Through the Centuries offers an overview of the reception history of one of the most prominent gospels in Christian worship. Examining the reception of Matthew from the perspectives of a wide range of interpreters, from Origen and Hilary of Poitiers to Mary Cornwallis and Bob Marley, this insightful commentary explains the major trends in various ecclesial, historical, and cultural contexts. Focusing on characteristically Matthean features, detailed chapter-by-chapter commentary highlights diverse receptions and interpretations of the gospel. Broad exploration of areas such as liturgy, literature, drama, film, hymnody, political discourse, and visual art illustrates the enormous impact Matthew continues to have on Judeo–Christian civilization.
Known as “the Church’s Gospel” Matthew’s text has been the subject of apologetic and theological controversy for hundreds of years. It has been seen as justification for political and ecclesial status quo and as a path to radical discipleship. Matthew has influenced divergent political, spiritual, and cultural figures such as Saint Francis of Assisi, John Ruskin, Leo Tolstoy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Mahatma Gandhi. Matthew’s interest in ecclesiology provides early structures of ecclesial life, such as the resolution of community disputes, communal prayer, and liturgical prescriptions for the Eucharist and baptism.
A significant addition to the acclaimed Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries series, Matthew Through the Centuries is an indispensable resource for both students and experts in areas including religious and biblical studies, literature, history, politics, and those interested in the influence of the Bible on Western culture.
Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations xiii
Series Editors' Preface xvi
Preface xviii
Abbreviations xxi
Introduction 1
Matthew among the Gospels: A 'Harmonious and Gentle Fullness' 1
The Approach of This Commentary 4
The First Gospel as the Church's Gospel 9
The Gospel with the Human Face 12
Key Interpreters across the Centuries 14
Matthew's Gospel in the Arts and Literature 27
The Afterlife of Matthew the Evangelist 31
Note on References in the Commentary 37
Note on Biographies and Glossary 37
Matthew 1 38
Ancient Literary Context 38
The Interpretations 39
The Title (1:1) 40
The Genealogy (1:2–17) 41
The Annunciation to Joseph (1:18–25) 46
Matthew 2 53
Ancient Literary Context 53
The Interpretations 54
The Magi (2:1–12) 54
The Flight into Egypt (2:13–15) 64
The Slaughter of the Innocents (2:16–18) 67
From Egypt to Nazareth (2:19–23) 71
Matthew 3 74
Ancient Literary Context 74
The Interpretations 75
John the Baptist's Ministry (3:1–6) 75
The Preaching of John (3:7–12) 79
The Baptism of Jesus (3:13–17) 81
Matthew 4 88
Ancient Literary Context 88
The Interpretations 89
The Temptation (4:1–11) 89
To 'Galilee of the Gentiles' (4:12–17) 95
Four Disciples Called (4:18–22) 96
The Sermon on the Mount: An Overview 99
Contested Meaning 101
A Sermon for All Christians 102
Apologetic and Polemical Use 103
The Sermon's Radical Demands 105
Matthew 5 107
Ancient Literary Context 107
The Interpretations 108
Jesus Ascends the Mountain (5:1–2) 108
The Beatitudes (5:3–12) 110
Salt and Light (5:13–16) 119
Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets (5:17–48) 121
Matthew 6–7 130
Ancient Literary Context 130
The Interpretations 131
Practicing Piety (6:1–8, 16–18) 131
Our Father (6:9–15) 133
Other Teachings (6:19–7:12) 140
Conclusion to the Sermon (7:13–27) 145
Matthew 8–9 150
Ancient Literary Context 150
The Interpretations 152
A Triad of Healings (8:1–17) 152
Crossing the Sea and Calming the Storm (8:18–27) 159
Two Gadarene Demoniacs (8:28–34) 162Controversy in Christ's Own City (9:1–17) 164
Another Cluster of Miracles (9:18–34) 167
Matthew 10 170
Ancient Literary Context 170
The Interpretations 171
Introducing the Twelve (10:1–4) 171
Commissioning the Twelve (10:5–15) 173
Warning of Persecution (10:16–33) 177
Not Peace but a Sword (10:34–36) 179
Demands and Rewards (10:37–42) 180
Matthew 11–12 181
Ancient Literary Context 181
The Interpretations 182
John and Jesus (11:2–19) 182
Rejection in Local Cities (11:20–24) 186
The 'Johannine Thunderbolt' (11:25–30) 188
Growing Opposition (12:1–14) 191
Jesus the Gentle Servant (12:15–21) 192
Jesus and Beelzebul (12:22–37) 193
The Sign of Jonah (12:38–45) 198
Mothers, Sisters, and Brothers (12:46–50) 200
Matthew 13 203
Ancient Literary Context 203
The Interpretations 205
Teaching from a Boat (13:1–2) 206
The Sower and Its Interpretation (13:3–9, 18–23) 207
The Purpose of Parables (13:10–17, 34–35) 210
The Wheat and Tares and Its Interpretation (13:24–30, 36–43) 212
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven (13:31–33) 215
Three More Kingdom Parables (13:44–50) 217
The Wise Householder (13:51–52) 222
Rejection in Christ's Own Country (13:53–58) 223
Matthew 14–15 225
Ancient Literary Context 225
The Interpretations 227
The Death of the Baptist (14:1–12) 227
Two Miraculous Feedings (14:13–21; 15:32–39) 232
Walking on the Water (14:22–33) 236
Dispute Over Handwashing (15:1–20) 239
The Canaanite Woman and Her Daughter (15:21–28) 242
Matthew 16 246
Ancient Literary Context 246
The Interpretations 247
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (16:1–12) 247
Peter's Confession (16:13–20) 248
Taking Up the Cross (16:21–28) 259
Matthew 17 262
Ancient Literary Context 262
The Interpretations 263
The Transfiguration (17:1–13) 263
The Exorcism of the Son (17:14–20) 272
The Coin in the Fish's Mouth (17:24–27) 276
Matthew 18 279
Ancient Literary Context 279
The Interpretations 280
Children and the Kingdom (18:1–9) 280
The Lost Sheep (18:10–14) 283
Forgiveness and Community Discipline (18:15–20) 286
The Unmerciful Servant (18:21–35) 290
Matthew 19–20 293
Ancient Literary Context 293
The Interpretations 294
Marriage, Divorce, and Eunuchs (19:1–12) 294
The Rich Youth (19:16–30) 298
The Workers in the Vineyard (20:1–16) 301
The Mother of the Sons of Zebedee (20:20–28) 305
Two Blind Men at Jericho (20:29–34) 307
Matthew 21–22 309
Ancient Literary Context 309
The Interpretations 310
The King's Humble Entry (21:1–11) 310
The Temple Incident (21:12–17) 316
Jesus and the Fig Tree (21:18–22) 318
The Two Sons (21:28–32) 319
The Vineyard Tenants (21:33–46) 320
The Marriage Feast (22:1–14) 322
A Series of Debates (22:15–46) 325
Matthew 23 332
Ancient Literary Context 332
The Interpretations 334
Woes against the Scribes and Pharisees (23:1–36) 334
A Lament for Jerusalem (23:37–39) 345
Matthew 24–25 348
Ancient Literary Context 348
The Interpretations 350
Jesus Leaves the Temple (24:1–2) 350
From the Birthpangs to the Parousia (24:3–31) 350
A Call to Watchfulness (24:32–51) 359
The Wise and Foolish Virgins (25:1–13) 363
The Talents (25:14–30) 368
The Judgment of the Nations (25:31–46) 370
Matthew 26–27 376
Ancient Literary Context 376
The Interpretations 377
From Plot to Arrest (26:1–56) 380
The Two Trials (26:57–27:31) 386
The Crucifixion of the Messiah (27:32–56) 403
The Burial (27:57–66) 410
Matthew 28 413
Ancient Literary Context 413
The Interpretations 414
The Discovery of the Tomb (28:1–8) 414
Grasping Christ's Feet (28:9–10) 419
Bribing the Guards (28:11–15) 419
The Encounter on the Mountain (28:16–20) 420
Biographies and Glossary 426
Bibliography 446
Index of Biblical References 490
Index 510
About the Author :
Ian Boxall is Associate Professor of New Testament, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. His previous works include Discovering Matthew (2014) and Patmos in the Reception History of the Apocalypse (2013).
Review :
"Overall, the commentary represents an impressive collection of select aspects of reception, relating to individual motifs as well as to various intertextual lines of connection that have been drawn, or even to broader interpretive traditions. Boxall's commentary is recommended to those who desire a first access to the reception history of Matthew's Gospel or to those who seek a supplement to other works on the subject."
—Biblische Notizen 194 (2022)
