Matthew (Preaching the Word) [eBook]

All Authority in Heaven and on Earth

Jesus is King. Standing as a central theme of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus’ kingly authority has profound implications for our lives today—changing the way we view the world, interact with others, and respond to blessings and hardships.

In this reader-friendly commentary, seasoned pastor Doug O’Donnell leads us through the first book of the New Testament, highlighting key themes and offering contemporary illustrations for preaching. Drawing on years of pastoral experience, O’Donnell helps us to see how Matthew’s various emphases—including Jesus’ messianic titles, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, teaching on the kingdom of heaven, and present and future role as judge—all relate to Christ’s kingship over all of creation.

Full of biblical insights aimed at both pastors and laypeople, this volume ultimately highlights Matthew’s call to all people to worship and obey Jesus, our humble King and gracious Savior. 

Douglas Sean O‘Donnell (MAs, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Wheaton College) is senior pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois, and the author of three books. In addition to serving as an instructor for the Charles Simeon Trust, O’Donnell is a member of the North American Patristics Society, the U.S. Board of the Irish Bible Institute, Fellowship for Theological Training, and the Evangelical Theological Society.

“Even for the most seasoned of preachers, the thought of expositing the Gospel of Matthew could be overwhelming. Thanks to Doug O’Donnell’s newest commentary, chock-full of impressive insights and engaging wit, the first and perhaps greatest Gospel has suddenly become much less daunting. When Kent Hughes called on O’Donnell to write this volume, he knew exactly what he was doing.”
—Nicholas Perrin, Dean, Wheaton College Graduate School

“This commentary grows out of wide reading and solid learning—the footnotes alone are a gold mine. O’Donnell writes with a zest for real life, wit, and (controlled) whimsy. The outcome: sermons that both revel in Christ and reveal Christ in fresh and striking ways. The author proves to be a hard-working and natural expositor of Scripture. This book goes to the top of my list of sterling homiletical commentaries on the first Gospel.”
—Robert W. Yarbrough, Professor of New Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary

“The market is full of critical commentaries, but not many actually deal with what is ‘critical’—the centrality of the gospel, the mission of the Church, and the life of the Christian. Doug O’Donnell’s commentary on Matthew is a clear exception. With sensitivity to all the important narrative and exegetical details, O’Donnell offers an interpretation of the first Gospel that is pastoral throughout, and in some instances, truly profound. Relevant illustrations are used in almost every passage, and numerous issues are addressed with theological vigor and often from the pastoral heritage of the Church. There are times when the critical commentaries are useful, even necessary, but I cannot imagine a pastor preaching through Matthew that would not want to use this commentary as a significant resource.”
—Edward W. Klink III, Associate Professor of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University