Opening notice: Please note the Donation amount options on this screen. Choose the size of gift with which you feel most comfortable. These buttons do NOT provide you with a tax deduction. By giving in this way through my commerical website, you can order products at the same time. However, if you want a tax deduction, click the large yellow DONATE button. Using this method you have to make a different order to purchase products. Foreign donors will not receive an IRS tax deduction, of course.
I am now working on a commentary on Matthew 21–25, a discrete unit in Matthew’s Gospel. This is the narrative setting of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus’ climactic discourse of the five around which Matthew’s Gospel is constructed..
This literary unit is clearly marked off by Christ’s important movements (along with other editorial markers which I will present in my study): It opens with his coming (Gk.: erchomai, Matt. 21:1, 9) into Jerusalem (recorded for the only time in Matthew) to declare the judgment of the nation of Israel (Matt. 23:37–24:34). It closes with his coming (Gk.: erchomai, Matt. 25:31) to the world (in his Second Advent) to execute the judgment of all the nations (Matt. 25:31–46).
Thus, this distinct section in Matthew opens with prophecies about the conclusion of Israel’s special role in the history of the world (as the old covenant typological work ends). And it closes with the conclusion of world history itself (as the new covenant redemptive work is completed). All that is in between in Matthew 21–25 is designed to affirm his authority to do so — both over the nation of Israel and the nations of the world.
Thus, as Matthew presents these crucial scenes: Jesus comes into Jerusalem in the presence of the Jewish crowds (Matt. 21:9) as the Messiah who will be rejected. Then at the end of this section, he comes to the world and gathers all nations before him, as the Lord who will judge all men, saving the elect and judging the non-elect. In this section, the transition from the AD 70 judgment of Israel to that which it pictures, the Second Advent at history’s end, occurs in Matt. 24:34-36.
As one important feature of my commentary on Matthew 21–25, I will more fully draw out the transition occurring in Matthew 24:34–36 than in my The Olivet Discourse Made Easy. This is crucial for showing that Jesus is not simply a Jewish sage, interested only in the destiny of Israel and functioning as another John the Baptist, as it were. Rather, he is the universal Lord with all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18–19), determining the destiny of all men while functioning as the Lord of lords and king of kings.
The commentary will not be as large as the Revelation commentary. Nor will it be as small as The Olivet Discourse Made Easy. It will be “just right” — you might say, if you are a Goldilocks fan (as I am sure all of you are). I am aiming at somewhere around 250 or so pages. It will be semi-technical, but quite accessible.
Thus, this commentary will be a relatively thorough exegesis of this climactic section in Matthew’s Gospel. I will complete it by the end of 2019. This will not drag out like my Revelation commentary, virtually consuming the thousand year reign of Christ.
Thus, I would still very much appreciate your support — which is greatly needed! If you would like to help see this new project through, please remember that you can give to my research as a tax-deductible donation, if you give through the GoodBirth Ministries website: www.goodbirthministries.com .
Or if you do not need a tax-deduction, or you live outside of the U.S., you may give directly to me for my research by going to my commercial site: KennethGentry.com.
We can take both credit cards and Pay Pal payments. Of course, you may also send a check (made out to "GoodBirth") to:
GoodBirth Ministries
P.O. Box 285
Chesnee, SC 29323