Application Commentary of the Gospel of Matthew

The Application Commentary of the Gospel of Matthew is a verse by verse examination of the Gospel of Matthew and should be seriously considered for application in personal/family devotions, group Bible studies and Sunday school classes. It is designed to build up and equip the Christian (new believer or lifelong) in understanding and living out God's Word. Each section concludes with a portion called Summary and Application which discusses how to apply the scripture studied to daily life. James summed up this concept when he wrote:

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” James 1:22

This commentary is committed to Biblical Christianity. That is, a commitment to Biblical inerrancy, and salvation based solely on God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross as the sole payment of a person’s sin. A general list of the fundamentals of Biblical Christianity is set forth after this Preface.

This commentary is designed to be used in many different ways. Do not let its length overwhelm you. It was not created to be read like an ordinary book, but is a verse by verse study of the Gospel of Matthew that is divided into small sections. This method allows the reader to study and reflect on a section (or a part of a section) and then return the next day to do the same for the succeeding section. Each section contains a Summary and Application to help the reader consider how to take the truth of God’s Word and live it out. This format lends itself to work well for personal or family devotions, preaching, as well as teaching a group Bible study or Sunday school. The commentary also has a Topical Index. Finally, it is important that you check out the footnotes/endnotes as you read. Many footnotes/endnotes may simply mention a source, but a considerable number contain in-depth information and commentary.

Let me explain the various applications in a little more detail. As you thumb through the commentary, you will note that the text of the Gospel of Matthew is divided up into smaller sections of the text. A group of sections constitutes an entire lesson. The end of a lesson will have a portion called Summary and Application. An entire lesson would represent something taught in a Sunday school or group Bible Study.

1. Family or Personal Devotions: Each day the family or an individual can study through the Book of Matthew by examining a selection of verses. For example, Dad can take a few minutes beforehand and read the verses and comments he will teach from that day. Since he has reviewed the text, he can decide how to present the lesson in a manner that all the family members can learn something, regardless of age. (Remember that you are daily sharing from just a few verses and not an entire lesson so aim for about 10-15 minutes.)
   
   In addition to teaching from the main text from Matthew, the commentary will have other supporting Bible verses that family members can look up and read. Since Dad has already studied that section, he can explain the Scriptures and then spur on a discussion by asking family members various questions about the verses and how they can apply the lesson to their lives. The family devotions can come to a close by asking family members what they would like to pray about. This becomes a great opportunity to stop and hear what is going on in everyone’s life and heart. Conclude by having some prayer time together, taking turns so that each person in the family prays. If you do this, you will see a family unit that is greatly strengthened as it grows in God’s Word and prays for each other’s needs.
   
   A couple of last thoughts. If you are shaking your head and thinking there is no way you could get everyone together for 15 minutes each day, then you must recognize that your family is out-of-control. Understand that your children’s spiritual lives are being sacrificed by their endless activities and your obsession with work and money. One last word of caution, do not wait until your children are “old enough” to understand the Bible lessons. Sarah and I started having a little family devotion time right away when we brought our first child home from the hospital. I knew that if I did not start that habit right away, it would never happen. Also, it is amazing how even young children pick up on spiritual lessons that I would have considered way above them. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to:
   “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
2. Bible study or Sunday school: As mentioned above, the text of the Gospel of Matthew is divided up into sections of Scripture verses. A group of sections constitutes a complete lesson. The end of a lesson will have a portion called Summary and Application. You can teach an entire lesson at each meeting. Another option is for each member of the group to possess their own copy of the lesson. They can then spend the week reviewing the lesson on their own and then get together as a group to discuss it.
3. Topical Index: This section allows you to look up a particular Bible topics addressed in the commentary. The PDF version should allow you to click on the topic or other verses in that Topic Index and go directly to the text.   

Remember that your chief objective is to walk in the truth of God’s Word which will manifest itself in Holy Spirit born fruit.
    “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” James 1:22

God’s blessings as you study His Word!
John M. Strohman

The most distinguishing feature of the Author is that he is a sinner who, in his early youth, was saved from the judgment to come by the grace of God. He continues to recognize his complete reliance on the mercy, forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ to this very moment.

* Other matters: John M. Strohman is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Business and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law. For over two decades he has served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of South Dakota. As an attorney with 25 years of experience, he has handled a variety of cases, including serving as counsel for more than 150 cases before the South Dakota Supreme Court. John has also held faculty positions as an adjunct professor for Liberty University, South Dakota State University, Northern State University and Colorado Christian University. His teaching experience has spanned both the undergraduate and graduate level. In 2014 he authored The Fake Commission. He has served on mission boards and is the current chairman of Cross Centered Missions. John and his wife, Sarah, share a passion for equipping young people in Christian service through discipleship, Sunday school, Bible studies and leading short-term mission trips.

Oh yes… and at age 53, he can still do a backflip!

Contact John at: john@CrossCenteredMissions.org
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* The author does not receive any royalty or compensation from the sale of this book.