Rowman & Littlefield Publishers A Simple Guide to Matthew (Simple Guides to the Gospels): Volume 1

The Gospel writers state they aim to tell the story of Jesus in a clear manner, but throughout Paul McCarren's years in ministry, he has seen that these simple and important messages are too often missed. In his Simple Guides to the Gospels series, McCarren provides a new translation of each Gospel book, leading readers chapter by chapter through the text. Each section includes scripture and a brief, engaging commentary about how readers can relate to the material. The Simple Guides introduce readers to life in early Christianity, describe points of controversy, and show how each section fits with those that went before. The Simple Guide to Matthew highlights many of Jesus' compelling sayings, stories such as the Sermon on the Mount, and key themes of Jesus' ministry, such as trust. The books in the Simple Guides to the Gospels series are available individually or together as a complete set. Review McCarren, a Jesuit priest, attempts to make the gospels more accessible. Here he looks at the Gospel of Matthew, the first in the New Testament (though not the first to be written; that would be Mark). In his introduction, McCarren explains why a simple guide might be helpful, recalling his own frustrations making his way through some of the more confusing aspects of the writing. In the body of the work, readers will immediately note a friendlier translation; the writing may not soar, but it does give a clearer idea of what's going on. This is extended by the commentary after each section. Sometimes the commentary just reiterates what's in the text, but often McCarren goes beyond. For instance, in the parable about the workers in the vineyard who are quarrelsome over their pay, the commentary makes the point that it's easy to understand "the aggrieved response of the all day workers," but then explains the story's broader context. A basic guide, especially for beginners; volumes on Mark, Luke, and John are also available in the Simple Guides series.--Booklist This four-volume set is intended to serve a general audience interested in reflecting on the meaning of the gospels for everyday Christian life. McCarren's reflections are a weave of exegesis of the biblical text and considerations of its meaning for Christian life. This is a form of lectio divina that lay readers will find attractive and nourishing.--The Bible Today With many years of background in ministry, Jesuit author Paul McCarren has simplified each gospel for readers to understand the important messages that often go unnoticed. . . . McCarren provides commentary to each gospel writer's style, how each is engaged in the reader's life today, and how the sections in each gospel relate to each other.--U.S. Catholic Rather than follow the standard form of Bible commentaries, which often don't reproduce the passages under consideration, Father McCarren presents each of the four Gospels piece by piece, accompanied by his helpful explanations to the texts. With a Simple Guide to the Gospels, readers will be able to make their way through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in order, along with the author's insights on every page. Reading these books is like studying the Gospels with a learned, literate, and lively guide who will help you better understand the most important books ever written.--James Martin SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything Written in a lively style with fresh translations and original insights, this guide should appeal to a wide spectrum of contemporary readers and especially to those teaching the Gospels. Readers will be stimulated to think creatively about familiar texts.--John R. Donahue, Raymond E. Brown Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies (Emeritus), St. Mary's Seminary and University Father Paul McCarren's simple guides to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, John, and Luke are exactly what their titles claims they are, clearly written guides to the four canonical Gospels that makes them accessible to th