Matthew

Davies and Allison remain, in my judgment, the finest overall scholarly commentary on Matthew. The work is extraordinarily comprehensive, but its value lies not merely in collecting interpretations: the authors regularly assess competing proposals and offer their own perceptive judgments on Matthew’s structure, Jewish setting, use of Scripture, Christology, Torah, discipleship and theology. Their treatment of Matthew 8–9, for example, weighs alternative structures before showing how the miracle triads fit the wider movement from Jesus’ authoritative words to deeds and mission. The concluding theological reflections are also unusually valuable. Some source-critical and community reconstructions remain debatable, but for serious research this is still the commentary I would most want as my primary scholarly control.

A comprehensive three-volume work. These non-evangelical commentaries are technical and bring together the relevant aids to exegesis: linguistic, textual, archaeological, historical, literary, and theological. Mathison says that for those doing “exhaustive study . . . the work of Davies and Allison is indispensable.” [Full Review]

 

The best non-evangelical, critical commentary. Both Davies and Allison are renowned scholars on Matthew. [Full Review]

The best, most complete commentary ever written on Matthew is by Dale Allison and W.D. Davies. It's 3 volumes; it's very complete; and it's very, very good. Davies-Allison [Full Review]

For those doing an exhaustive study of the Gospel of Matthew, the work of Davies and Allison is indispensable. Readers should be aware that it is written from a moderately critical perspective, but in terms of comprehensiveness, there is nothing quite like this commentary. It is a highly technical commentary on the Greek text and thus not suitable for lay readers, but discerning pastors who are looking for information on every conceivable issue related to the text need look no further. [Full Review]

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