SMYTH & HELWYS BIBLE COMMENTARY

MATTHEW

BEN WITHERINGTON III

Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc.

6316 Peake Road

Macon, Georgia 31210-3960

1-800-747-3016

© 2006 by Smyth & Helwys Publishing

All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-57312-774-5

Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary: Matthew

Publication Staff

President & CEO

Cecil P. Staton

Publisher & Executive Vice President

David Cassady

Vice President, Editorial

Lex Horton

Senior Editor

Mark K. McElroy

Book Editor

P. Keith Gammons

Graphic Designer

Barclay Burns

Assistant Editors

Kelley F. Land

Leslie Andres

Project Editor

R. Scott Nash

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia

Old Testament

General Editor

Samuel E. Balentine

Union Theological Seminary and

Presbyterian School of Christian

Education

Richmond, Virginia

Area

Old Testament Editors

Mark E. Biddle

Baptist Theological Seminary

at Richmond, Virginia

Kandy Queen-Sutherland

Stetson University

Deland, Florida

Kenneth G. Hoglund

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

New Testament

General Editor

R. Alan Culpepper

McAfee School of Theology

Mercer University

Atlanta, Georgia

Area

New Testament Editors

R. Scott Nash

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia

Richard B. Vinson

Baptist Theological Seminary

at Richmond, Virginia

Art Editor

Fred Whitehurst

Georgia State University

Atlanta, Georgia

DEDICATION

To all my friends and mentors who have labored long in the Matthean vineyard. I hope you will find some fruit in this commentary which is so indebted to all of you.

To W. D. Davies, Krister Stendahl, Raymond Brown in memoriam, Jack Kingsbury, Ulrich Luz, Don Hagner, Bob Gundry, David Bauer, Dale Allison, Craig Keener, and Bob Guelich in memoriam.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

1 The Origins of Jesus

Matt 1:1–25

2 The Wise King and the Wicked King Sought by Wise Men

Matt 2:1–23

3 Precursors to Ministry

Matt 3:1–4:16

4 The First Discourse—The Sermon on the Mount

Matt 5:1–7:29

5 Copius Miracles and Costly Discipleship

Matt 8:1–9:38

6 The Second Discourse—The Mission of the Twelve

Matt 10:1–11:1

7 Jesus and His Inquisitors

Matt 11:2–12:50

8 The Third Discourse—The Paradox of the Parables

Matt 13:1–52

9 Narratives of Rejection and Acclamation

Matt 13:53–17:27

10 The Fourth Discourse—On Discord and Status

Matt 18:1–19:1

11 Lifestyles of the Workers in the Vineyard

Matt 19:2–20:34

12 The Triumphal Entry and and the Teachings of Jesus the Sage

Matt 21:1–23:39

13 The Final Discourse—Apocalypse Then

Matt 24:1–25:46

14 The Demise and Rise of the Davidic King

Matt 26:1–28:20

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX OF MODERN AUTHORS

INDEX OF SCRIPTURES

INDEX OF SIDEBARS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

INDEX OF TOPICS

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS COMMENTARY

Books of the Old Testament, Apocrypha, and New Testament are generally abbreviated in the Sidebars, parenthetical references, and notes according to the following system.

The Old Testament

Genesis Gen

Exodus Exod

Leviticus Lev

Numbers Num

Deuteronomy Deut

Joshua Josh

Judges Judg

Ruth Ruth

1-2 Samuel 1-2 Sam

1-2 Kings 1-2 Kgs

1-2 Chronicles 1-2 Chr

Ezra Ezra...