Matthew

Luz makes a contribution no other major Matthew commentary fully duplicates: he integrates conventional historical-critical exegesis with extensive Wirkungsgeschichte, tracing how Matthew has been interpreted, preached, painted, institutionalized and contested throughout Christian history. This gives the commentary extraordinary value for understanding not only what Matthew may have meant in its first context but what the Gospel has actually done in the life of the church. Luz is also sophisticated in literary, sociological and theological analysis. Conservative readers will need to exercise discernment, since he sometimes regards Matthean narratives as historical fictions and explicitly subjects Matthew himself to theological criticism. Those disagreements prevent me from using Luz as a controlling exegetical commentary, but his reception-historical material is so substantial and irreplaceable that the work still merits 5/5.

 

This is simply one of the most thorough and brilliant Matthew commentaries currently available. Luz, while still closely dealing with the Greek text, includes an incredibly learned review of Matthew's reception history throughout the Church's life. It is just a tour-de-force of exegesis, Church history, and even art history - a volume that certainly will not disappoint the exegete who feels a strong connection with past Christian interpreters.