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Tyndale New Testament Commentaries #1
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW an introduction and commentary
R.T. France's study of Matthew's Gospel is a contribution to the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, a popular commentary designed to help the general Bible reader understand clearly what the text actually says and what it means, without undue recourse to scholarly technicalities.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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About the author
R.T. France
36 books17 followersRichard Thomas France was a New Testament scholar and Anglican cleric, and Research Fellow in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Bangor.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 17, 2025
very good commentary
June 22, 2013
I think there is little doubt that R.T. France has written some of the best commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew available. His work is highly insightful, and extremely helpful in understanding the historical and cultural background of the text. I consider his commentaries on Matthew indispensable to any study of Matthew.
The weakest part of this commentary is France's treatment of the Sermon on the Mount and the Olivet Discourse. In the Sermon on the Mount, he follows the erroneous tradition which says that Jesus is teaching about discipleship and that no one can be a disciple unless they follow Jesus' commands laid down on the Mount. This is to miss the point that Jesus is expounding the law of Moses in order to show men what true righteousness is, and that no one will be righteous by the law. For the Olivet Discourse, France's Preterist eschatology requires him to miss the futurist point of Jesus' teaching. He misses many important details, and has to do some fancy footwork to make the Discourse fit with his notion of fulfillment in 70 AD. France actually admits at one point that he doesn't know what the abomination of desolation is, since all attempts to locate it in 70 AD fail, yet nevertheless it had to have happened in 70 AD!
Apart from these major errors, the commentary is excellent and I highly commend it.
The weakest part of this commentary is France's treatment of the Sermon on the Mount and the Olivet Discourse. In the Sermon on the Mount, he follows the erroneous tradition which says that Jesus is teaching about discipleship and that no one can be a disciple unless they follow Jesus' commands laid down on the Mount. This is to miss the point that Jesus is expounding the law of Moses in order to show men what true righteousness is, and that no one will be righteous by the law. For the Olivet Discourse, France's Preterist eschatology requires him to miss the futurist point of Jesus' teaching. He misses many important details, and has to do some fancy footwork to make the Discourse fit with his notion of fulfillment in 70 AD. France actually admits at one point that he doesn't know what the abomination of desolation is, since all attempts to locate it in 70 AD fail, yet nevertheless it had to have happened in 70 AD!
Apart from these major errors, the commentary is excellent and I highly commend it.
January 2, 2019
There are two published commentaries written by R.T. France written on the Gospel of Matthew. One is part of the New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) series the other is part of the Tyndale New Testament Commentary (TNTC) series. This review is for France's commentary written for the Tyndale New Testament Commentary, if you would like see a review for the other volume please check blog.
This commentary is significantly smaller than the volume in the NICNT yet it is not meant to be a massive all inclusive commentary. The TNTC is a introductory commentary focused on uneducated pastors and laymen. Some of these commentaries do have a scholastic flair to them as the volume by France does. Larger than the typical TNTC, weighing in at just over 400 pages, it not only has a full introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, the commentary section will truly aid the busy pastor searching for aid in his exegesis of the text.
With regard to the usefulness of the commentary proper, the comments are laid out in traditional TNTC commentary fashion, short paragraphs that get strait to the point. Sometimes individual verses are examined, but more often than not a section of verses is handled in a paragraph. This is not to besmirch the quality of the comments, rather to elevate the compact nature of the commentary.
I was recently preaching in the Gospel of Matthew and I found this commentary helpful and useful, and to the frugal pastor definitely worth the price. Yet I would not use this commentary on its own, a more heavy weight exegetical commentary should be paired with it to truly understand certain aspects of the text.
This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
This commentary is significantly smaller than the volume in the NICNT yet it is not meant to be a massive all inclusive commentary. The TNTC is a introductory commentary focused on uneducated pastors and laymen. Some of these commentaries do have a scholastic flair to them as the volume by France does. Larger than the typical TNTC, weighing in at just over 400 pages, it not only has a full introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, the commentary section will truly aid the busy pastor searching for aid in his exegesis of the text.
With regard to the usefulness of the commentary proper, the comments are laid out in traditional TNTC commentary fashion, short paragraphs that get strait to the point. Sometimes individual verses are examined, but more often than not a section of verses is handled in a paragraph. This is not to besmirch the quality of the comments, rather to elevate the compact nature of the commentary.
I was recently preaching in the Gospel of Matthew and I found this commentary helpful and useful, and to the frugal pastor definitely worth the price. Yet I would not use this commentary on its own, a more heavy weight exegetical commentary should be paired with it to truly understand certain aspects of the text.
This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
April 20, 2019
RT France is an outstanding writer who is clear, insightful and discusses what the text says rather than what others say about the text. This is an excellent shorter commentary on Matthew. His longer one in the New International Commentary on the New Testament series makes references to this one. I recommend both.
February 18, 2020
France carefully interacts with the many scholarly disputes surrounding the book of Matthew. I appreciate his treatment of "typologies" and recognizing the way Matthew saw Jesus not only as fulfilling explicit prophecies, but also fulfilling everything Israel was meant to be, and drawing connections between Jesus and Israel in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Good resource.
April 2, 2018
Standard for the TNTC series, this commentary was compact, but very helpful. These are the commentaries I point lay people to in search of Bible study help.
October 19, 2021
Helpful in reading through Matthew.
I found his interpretation of the "Coming of the Son of Man" interesting and solves many problems.
I found his interpretation of the "Coming of the Son of Man" interesting and solves many problems.
April 11, 2023
Devia ser mais simples a opção para leitura
October 3, 2024
Really enjoyed the insights and journey France takes you on, as you journey with the Messiah Jesus, from start to finish. It is a wonderful commentary and I highly recommend it recommend it.
January 8, 2024
So much of a review of a commentary comes from your perspective. As a sometime Sunday School teacher and interested layman, this commentary was about as long as I could handle at 400 pages. There was much to learn from an excellent instructor but I was ready for some refreshing non-thinking by the end. How the fine preachers among us regularly read books like the more advanced 1200 page work I don't know.
As with most of the commentaries in this set, the introduction was well done. The things you want to know about Matthew such as structure, the high regard with which this Gospel was held by the early church, the frequent use of Old Testament referances, and much more are covered briefly but in some depth.
It is the commentary itself where this book really shines. Dr. France manages to be academic, instructional, and devotional at the same time. While not everyone will agree with him, his belief that Christ's words are intended to create discipleship in believers rather than simply as ethical statements both instructed and convicted me. When you need to understand a word or a concept, he can dig in, but he also has a pastor's flair for applying Jesus' words to where we live.
As with most of the commentaries in this set, the introduction was well done. The things you want to know about Matthew such as structure, the high regard with which this Gospel was held by the early church, the frequent use of Old Testament referances, and much more are covered briefly but in some depth.
It is the commentary itself where this book really shines. Dr. France manages to be academic, instructional, and devotional at the same time. While not everyone will agree with him, his belief that Christ's words are intended to create discipleship in believers rather than simply as ethical statements both instructed and convicted me. When you need to understand a word or a concept, he can dig in, but he also has a pastor's flair for applying Jesus' words to where we live.
June 30, 2013
Excellent commentary. Not too technical, not too shallow, clear and elucidating. I feel like I understand Matthew's Gospel a lot better now.
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May 21, 2013reading on line
September 29, 2014
France is always sensible and readable. Every pastor preaching Matthew should have this short volume nearby. France also has a lengthier Matthew commentary in the NICNT series.
July 15, 2015
Read and keep as resource. Good commentary that strikes a nice balance of addressing issues, bringing in background and context, and explaining authorial purpose without being inaccessibly scholarly.
June 4, 2016
Solid, but more brevity.
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August 8, 2017Sections on Introduction, Sermon on the Mount and Parables
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews