Childers Charles L. - Beacon Bible commentary. Vol. VI, Matthew, Mark, Luke

EDITORIAL BOARD

A. F. Harper, Ph.D., D.D.

Chairman

Ralph Earle, B.D., M.A., Th.D.

New Testament Editor

W. M. Greathouse, M.A., D.D.

Secretary

W. T. Purkiser, Ph.D., D.D.

Old Testament Editor

ADVISORY BOARD

G. B. Williamson

General Superintendent

E. S. Phillips

Chairman

J. Fred Parker

Secretary

A. F. Harper

S. T. Ludwig

M. A. Lunn

BEACON

BIBLE COMMENTARY

COPYRIGHT 1964 BY
BEACON HILL PRESS
KANSAS CITY, MO.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
CARD NUMBER 64-22906

ISBN: 083-410-3052
eISBN: 978-0-8341-2692-3

Printed in the United States of America

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BEACON BIBLE COMMENTARY

In Ten Volumes

Volume

I. Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy

II. Joshua; Judges; Ruth; I and II Samuel; I and I Kings; I and II Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther

III. Job; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon

IV. Isaiah; Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel; Daniel

V. Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi

VI. Matthew; Mark; Luke

VII. John; Acts

VIII. Romans; I and II Corinthians

IX. Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; I and II Thessalonians; I and II Timothy; Titus; Philemon

X. Hebrews; James; I and II Peter; I, II, and III John; Jude; Revelation

Preface

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (II Tim. 3:16-17).

We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Bible. God speaks to men through His Word. He hath spoken unto us by His Son. But without the inscripted Word how would we know the Word which was made flesh? He does speak to us by His Spirit, but the Spirit uses the written Word as the vehicle of His revelation, for He is the true Author of the Holy Scriptures. What the Spirit reveals is in agreement with the Word.

The Christian faith derives from the Bible. It is the Foundation for faith, for salvation, and sanctification. It is the Guide for Christian character and conduct. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Ps. 119:105).

The revelation of God and His will for men is adequate and complete in the Bible. The great task of the Church, therefore, is to communicate the knowledge of the Word, to enlighten the eyes of their understanding, and to awaken and to illuminate the conscience that men may learn to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. This leads to the possession of that inheritance [that is] incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven.

When we consider the translation and interpretation of the Bible, we admit we are guided by men who are not inspired. Human limitation, as well as the plain fact that no scripture is of private or single interpretation, allows variation in the exegesis and exposition of the Bible.

The Beacon Bible Commentary is offered in ten volumes with becoming modesty. It does not supplant others. Neither does it purport to be exhaustive or final. The task is colossal. Assignments have been made to forty of the ablest writers available. They are trained men with serious purpose, deep dedication, and supreme devotion. The sponsors and publishers, as well as the contributors, earnestly pray that this new offering among Bible commentaries will be helpful to preachers, teachers, and laymen in discovering the deeper meaning of God's Word and in unfolding its message to all who hear them.

G. B. WILLIAMSON

Acknowledgments

The writers and editors wish to acknowledge indebtedness to all whose works have been consulted and quoted. Permission to quote from copyrighted material has been received as follows:

Abingdon Press: The Interpreter's Bible; Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible.

Christianity Today: a poem, As in Thy Sight.

Concordia Publishing House: Follow Me: Discipleship According to St. Matthew.

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: The Gospel According to St. Matthew. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries.

Harper and Row: A Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Matthew. Harper's New Testament Commentaries.

Herder and Herder: New Testament Introduction.

John Knox Press: The Gospel According to St. Matthew. The Layman's Bible Commentary.

Macmillan and Company: The Names of Jesus.

University of Chicago Press: A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature.

Scripture quotations have been used from the following sources:

The Amplified New Testament. Copyright 1958, The Lock-man Foundation, La Habra, California.

The Berkeley Version in Modern English. Copyright 1958, 1959, Zondervan Publishing House.

The Bible: A New Translation, James Moffatt. Copyright 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, by James A. R. Moffatt. Used by permission of Harper and Row.

The Bible: An American Translation, J. M. Powis Smith, Edgar J. Goodspeed. Copyright 1923, 1927, 1948 by The University of Chicago Press.

New American Standard Version. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.

The New English Bible. The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, 1961.

The New Testament in Modern English. J. B. Phillips, 1958. Used by permission of The Macmillan Company.

Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible, copyrighted 1946 and 1952 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches.

The Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech. Copyright, Harper and Row Publishers.

Charles B. Williams, The New Testament in the Language of the People. Copyrighted 1937 by Bruce Humphries, Inc., assigned 1949 to The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.

We acknowledge our debt to the many unnamed persons who have given time and counsel in planning for the Beacon Bible Commentary. Special appreciation is due Dr. Richard S. Taylor for assistance to the editors in the preparation of this first volume to be released in the series.

How to Use the Beacon Bible Commentary

The Bible is a Book to be read, to be understood, to be obeyed, and to be shared with others. The Beacon Bible Commentary is planned to help at the points of understanding and sharing.

For the most part, the Bible is its own best interpreter. He who reads it with an open mind and receptive spirit will again and again become aware that through its pages God is speaking to him. A commentary serves as a valuable resource when the meaning of a passage is not clear even to the thoughtful reader. Also after one has seen his own meaning in a passage from the Bible, it is rewarding to discover what truth others have found in the same place. Sometimes, too, this will correct possible misconceptions the reader may have formed.