Becoming a Disciple of the King: A Theology of Matthew

Becoming a Disciple of the King: A Theology of Matthew. New Testament Theology Series. Crossway, 2026.  

Since the earliest days of the church, the Gospel of Matthew has been the "first Gospel." This means that there have been many and varied treatments of this book. Why do we need more? One clear reason is that every generation of believers must submit to the summon of Christ's commission to make disciples and teach them all that he has commanded (Matt 28:18–20). At their best, studies of Matthew equip believers to obey this directive.

In this volume, Pennington provides a wonderful epitome of Matthew's message and gives readers a sense of how Matthew crafts his theological biography of Jesus. In doing so, he notes the canonical function of the book as a means of fulfilling the Great Commission. As he notes, this particular element of Matthew's purpose is "delightfully meta" (3). 

He explains by noting the textual significance of Matthew's closing words: "Jesus commands his disciples to go to all peoples of the world and make disciples by teaching what he has said. Cleverly, the book in which this command is recorded is precisely the means by which Matthew is contributing to its accomplishment. Matthew skillfully retells the story of Jesus himself making disciples; and this story, by the power of the Spirit, is what creates more disciples" (3). 

In his account of Matthew's theology, Pennington examines the importance and nuanced meaning of "fulfillment" and also how the structure of the book serves its purpose. For Pennington, Matthew's narrative provides Christian readers with a "retrospective hermeneutic of wonder." Matthew's pattern of Scriptural quotations "functions primarily retrospectively from a place of awe." This process of grappling with Old Testament texts alongside Jesus's words is what allows a reader to grow in knowledge and character.

Pennington argues that Christology and discipleship should be at the center of our understanding of Matthew's Gospel. These emphases are note new in studies of Matthew, but Pennington shows how these themes are not randomly derived from this biblical book but rather flow directly from Matthew's mosaic of literary, historical, and theological features. Pennington's primer as a whole communicates both the complexity and remarkable coherence of Matthew's theology. Throughout the book, Pennington fashions himself a docent who guides readers through the spacious Matthean museum. There is much to behold, and Pennington is a warm and competent guide.

A few of my favorite statements relate to Matthew's structure and focus on discipleship: 

• "By writing a Gospel that includes five epitomes, Matthew is faithfully doing his part to obey Jesus's Great Commission, passing the baton to the subsequent generations to use his Gospel to do the same." 
• "A disciple is a learner, a student not merely of ideas but of a way of life, a way of inhabiting the world that is consistent with one's worldview commitments . . . Disciples of Jesus follow a person, not merely a precept." 
• "These allusions to Moses, the exodus, and torah are not accidental. Yet there is also a twist. With the Messiah Jesus, the reenactment of these events is a gift to both Jews and Gentiles, a double exodus that now forms one people out of two. The people of God in Christ consists of all who respond with faithfulness to Jesus from both Jews and Gentiles." 
• "With these strong words, Matthew hangs a banner that flies over his biography. The message is this: 'The people of God are now defined as those who respond in faith to Jesus.'"

An excellent resource!

Some Notes:

• See further details about this volume. Cf. my goodreads & reviews of volumes in the ESV Commentary series; Thanks to Crossway for this review copy.
• Read about my latest book, One Grand Story: How the Bible Tells its Story and Why it Matters