A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew

About this book

In this volume Craig Keener focuses on two aspects of the interpretation of Matthew. First he analyzes the social-historical-rhetorical contexts of both Matthew and his traditions. Second he examines the nature of Matthews exhortations to his Christian audience pericope by pericope. Since it is impossible to reconstruct the precise social situation of Matthew Keener casts a wider net and considers the general eastern Mediterranean perhaps Syrian Jewish context of Matthew. A close comparison of the issues raised in the Gospel with what we know elsewhere of late first-century Jewish-Christian relations provides the basic picture of the issues faced by the Matthean community.