Matthew (The IVP New Testament Commentary | IVPNTC)

Top Highlights

“If God is calling and empowering you to do something for him (3:16–17), you can expect to be tested (compare comment on 6:13), and you can expect testing commensurate with the seriousness of your call.” (Matthew 4:1–11)

“Faith is not an intricate ritual to get what we want for ourselves; faith is obeying God’s will with the assurance that he will ultimately fulfill for us what is in our best interests. That kind of faith grows only in the context of an intimate relationship of love between the heavenly Father and his children.” (Matthew 6:25–34)

“This narrative underlines the biblical principle that God’s calling must be tested” (Matthew 4:1–11)

“They will find Jesus’ yoke light because he is a Master who will care for them (Mt 11:29). Jesus’ yoke is not lighter because he demands less (5:20), but because he bears more of the load with us (23:4). In contrast to unconcerned religious teachers who prided themselves on their own position, like some religious leaders today (23:4–7, 29), Jesus was going to lay down his life for the sheep (20:25–28).” (Matthew 11:28–30)

“Jesus quotes three texts from Deuteronomy, all of them commandments that Israel failed to obey but that Jesus is determined to obey.” (Matthew 4:1–11)