The Middle Years (Part 2 in the Life of Christ series)

This is Part 2 of a 3-volume phrase-by-phrase commentary on the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  These 3-volumes approach the Life of Christ chronologically, harmonizing the Gospel accounts as the various recorded events in Christ’s earthly ministry are studied.

The Middle Years covers the latter portion of Jesus’ great Galilean Ministry, which had begun in AD 28 and eventually expanded into the Gentile regions of Tyre and Sidon and the Decapolis.  The second year of this Galilean ministry strongly emphasized the training and preparation of His twelve apostles.  Following the Feast of Tabernacles in October, AD 29, Jesus and His followers embarked on the Later Judean Ministry, ending at the Feast of Dedication in December, AD 29.  In terms of Scripture passages, this volume includes:

• Matthew 8:18-34, 9:18-11:1, 12:22-13:53, 14:1-18:35
• Mark 3:20-9:50
• Luke 7:36-13:22
• John 6:1-10:39

A variety of attempts at harmonizing the four Gospels have been made, beginning with Tatian’s Diatessaron (“By Four”), compiled c.AD 160-175.  While these harmonies by no means fully agree on the exact arrangement of events, because the main currents of Jesus’ ministry are clear, a chronological, harmonized arrangement of the Gospels sheds much light upon Christ’s life.  For example, the Feeding of the 5000 is included in all four Gospels, but only by approaching the records chronologically do we see its relationship to John the Baptist’s death and Jesus’ walking on the Sea of Galilee.  Further, it is by harmonizing the records that we see how the Sermon on the Bread of Life, recorded only by John, fits into this same time frame.  Or consider Jesus’ discussion with Peter on the payment of the annual temple tax.  Recorded only by Matthew, this conversation's uniqueness causes us to ask why the Holy Spirit prompted Matthew alone to include it as part of his presentation of Jesus and His work.

This commentary is conservative evangelical Christian in its outlook, yet also examines the Scriptures from multiple theological viewpoints.  Because this commentary presumes the God-inspired nature of all Biblical writing, the author seeks to connect the Gospel accounts with other relevant Scriptures, and frequently examines the original language in which the books were written.  Four Special Studies address topics unique to The Middle Years, topics which necessarily impact our understanding of multiple chapters:

• The Interpretation of Parables
• Is the Lord’s Supper in View at John 6:53?
• Luke’s Travel Section – Luke 9:51-17:10
• The Integrity, Genuineness, & Authenticity of John 7:53-8:11 

A Table of Passages Covered is provided to help readers better visualize the flow of events in Christ’s earthly ministry and where those events are found in each Gospel.

This commentary continues the author's series on the New Testament.  Written from the unique standpoint of the Restoration Movement, the author approaches Scripture with no special theological doctrine or dogma to defend an explicate, which offers an unhindered freedom to listen to what the Holy Spirit would tell us within the pages of sacred Scripture.  By deliberately employing the time-honored grammatical-historical method of interpretation, the Word of God is allowed to impress upon our minds the intent the Divine Author had in mind.