{"product_id":"a-simple-guide-to-matthew-9781442218888","title":"A Simple Guide to Matthew","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMcCarren, 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 *\u003cbr\u003eWritten 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\u003cbr\u003eRather 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\u003cbr\u003eFather 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 the everyday reader. Drawing on the best critical resources of New Testament scholarship, McCarren introduces the Gospels without encumbering the reader with an excess of technical exegetical details. These valuable guides may be profitably used for ones' s own spiritual growth and prayer life, or in group study of the Gospels at the parish or catechetical level. They may also serve as a preparation for further exploration of the Gospels. -- Alan C. Mitchell, Georgetown University\u003cbr\u003eWith 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 *\u003cbr\u003eThis 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 *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction Who Needs a Simple Guide to Matthew's Gospel?\t A Simple Message\t Some Big Questions Answered by Matthew's Gospel\t Acknowledgments \t The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 1 – The Ancestry and Birth of Jesus 1:1-7    -  Jesus’ ancestors\t\t 1:8:25  -  Jesus is born \t\t  Chapter 2 - Jesus’ Infancy 2:1-12    -  Visitors from the east\t\t 2:13-23  -  Jesus’ family flees; Herod tyrannizes; the family returns\t\t  Chapter 3 - Baptism 3:1-12    -  John preaches Baptism\t\t 3:13-17  -  Jesus accepts Baptism\t\t  Chapter 4 - Turning to the Father 4:1-11    -  Jesus turns to the Father\t\t 4:12-25  -  Jesus teaches others to turn to the Father—i.e., to repent\t\t  Chapter 5 - Jesus Teaches on the Mountain 5:1-12    -  Reasons to rejoice\t\t 5:13-20  -  Rejoicing should be expressed and taught\t\t 5:21-26  -  How to rejoice in the Covenant\t\t 5:27-37  -  Keeping promises; taking oaths\t\t 5:38-48  -  Loving\t\t  Chapter 6 - On the Mountain, Jesus Continues to Teach about the Covenant 6:1-8      -  What’s the right relationship with God?\t\t 6:9-15    -  How to pray\t\t 6:16-24  -  More advice on keeping a right relationship with God\t\t 6:25-34  -  Anxiety about our relationship with God\t\t  Chapter 7 - On the Mountain, Jesus Continues to Teach about the Covenant 7:1-12    -  Our relationships with others\t\t 7:13-23  -  Accepting the Covenant means acting on it\t\t 7:24-29  -  Jesus concludes his teaching on the mountain\t\t  Chapter 8 - Jesus is Sought as a Healer 8:1-4      -  A healing as Jesus descends from the mountain\t\t 8:5-13    -  Reaching Capernaum, Jesus is again asked for a healing\t\t 8:14-23  -  Healing should lead to trust–but does it?\t\t 8:24-34  -  No trust on a boat trip; no trust in Gentile territory\t\t  Chapter 9 - What Is Healing; Why Do We Need It? 9:1-8     -  Healing the human spirit\t\t 9:9-17   -  Who follows Jesus?\t\t 9:18-26 -  Two more healings\t\t 9:27-38 -  Faith expresses itself in cries for help and healing\t\t  Chapter 10 -  The Mission of a Disciple of Jesus 10:1-4    -  Jesus commissions twelve disciples\t\t 10:5-15  -  Instructions for the disciples\t\t 10:16-23 -  How should disciples deal with opposition?\t\t 10:24-31 -  Giving witness in the face of opposition\t\t 10:32-42 -  Choose to trust—as Jesus does\t\t  Chapter 11 - Jesus Again Teaches Repentance 11:1-11    -  Praise for John the Baptist’s call to wait and watch\t\t 11:11-19  -  Waiting and watching is over; turn to the Good News now\t\t 11:20-30  -  How to receive the Good News now\t\t  Chapter 12 - Despite More Healing, Jesus Meets More Resistance 12:1-14    -  What’s sin - What’s service?\t\t 12:15-29  -  God’s work is healing\t\t 12:30-37  -  Accepting and rejecting God’s Spirit\t\t 12:38-50  -  The signs of believing are repentance and reconciliation\t\t  Chapter 13 - Back in Capernaum, Jesus Keeps Talking about Accepting God’s Word 13:1-15    -  A parable about a richly rewarding idea\t\t 13:16-30  -  Jesus explains one parable and tells another\t\t 13:31-43  -  Jesus teaches the Kingdom will come–slowly, but surely\t\t 13:44-58  -  Jesus advises choosing the Kingdom NOW\t\t  Chapter 14 - After a Flashback, Matthew Describes More Traveling and Powerful Work 14:1-21    -  An example of lack of faith; Jesus’ belief\t\t 14:22-36  -  Do people trust in God’s power?\t\t  Chapter 15 - How Do We See Our Needs - How Does God See Our Needs? 15:1-9      -  Do you need to see yourself as righteous?\t\t 15:10-20  -  Evil comes from the heart\t\t 15:21-28  -  Faith comes from needing it\t\t 15:29-39  -  Back home, Jesus heads up the mountain again, and teaches\t\t  Chapter 16 - Rejecting and Accepting Jesus’ Message 16:1-12    -  No one seems to understand Jesus’ message of repentance\t\t 16:13-20  -  A glimmer of accepting Jesus’ message\t\t 16:21-28  -  Jesus’ message of repentance seems bleak\t\t  Chapter 17 - Lessons in Trusting 17:1-13    -  Divine glory doesn’t look like human glory\t\t 17:14-27  -  Divine power, unlike human power, isn’t pushy\t\t  Chapter 18 - Divine Power is Seen in Humility, Patience, and Forgiveness 18:1-9      -  What it means to be lowly and weak\t\t 18:10-20  -  Patience and forgiveness are divine work\t\t 18:21-35  -  We are called to share the divine work of forgiveness\t\t  Chapter 19 - On the Way to Jerusalem: Meeting Challenges, and Teaching 19:1-12    -  More challenges\t\t 19:13-30  -  Jesus reviews his basic teaching\t\t  Chapter 20 - Reviewing Lessons about the Kingdom, Suffering, Greatness, and Healing 20:1-16    -  What’s the Kingdom like?\t\t 20:17-34  -  Suffering, serving, and healing\t\t  Chapter 21 - First Days in Jerusalem 21:1-17    -  Acclaim; indignation\t\t 21:18-32  -  Jesus teaches again about faith and repentance\t\t 21:33-46  -  Jesus teaches about judgment\t\t  Chapter 22 - In Jerusalem, Jesus Continues Proclaiming Good News 22:1-14    -  Good News for those who seek the Kingdom\t\t 22:15-22  -  Jesus turns a trap into a lesson\t\t 22:23-33  -  Another trap; another lesson\t\t 22:34-46  -  One more confrontation; two more lessons\t\t  Chapter 23 - The Price of Lessons Not Learned 23:1-12    -  Jesus warns against bad example\t\t 23:13-22  -  A lament about bad teaching\t\t 23:23-39  -  The lament continues\t\t  Chapter 24 - Learning More about Repentance 24:1-14    -  Repentance takes a lifetime\t\t 24:15-28  -  Repentance and faithfulness will be necessary right to the end\t\t 24:29-35  -  The teachings of Jesus, the Son of Man, will prove true\t\t 24:36-51  -  So, wait for Jesus’ teaching to prove true\t\t  Chapter 25 - Repentance–i.e., Accepting the Covenant–Will Transform You 25:1-13    -  Do you take the Covenant seriously?\t\t 25:14-30  -  Is the Covenant a good deal?\t\t 25:31-46  -  The Covenant affects all you do\t\t  Chapter 26 - Passover, and the Rejection of Jesus 26:1-16    -  Examples of accepting and rejecting the Good News\t\t 26:17-30  -  Jesus celebrates Passover with his disciples\t\t 26:31-46  -  Jesus feels abandoned by all but his Father\t\t 26:47-56  -  Jesus is arrested; the disciples flee\t\t 26:57-68  -  Jesus is rejected by Jerusalem’s officials\t\t 26:69-75  -  Peter rejects Jesus, then repents\t\t  Chapter 27 - Accomplishing Jesus’ Death 27:1-10    -  Judas regrets his choice\t\t 27:11-26  -  Another pretense at justice\t\t 27:27-44  -  The official sentence is carried out\t\t 27:45-56  -  Jesus dies\t\t 27:57-66  -  Jesus is buried\t\t  Chapter 28 - Jesus is Raised from the Dead; He Sends His Disciples to Proclaim the Good News 28:1-10    -  Risen from the dead\t\t 28:11-20  -  Doubts about the Good News\t\t  Index","brand":"Rowman \u0026 Littlefield","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51039871861079,"sku":"9781442218888","price":23.75,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781442218888.jpg?v=1750945119","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/a-simple-guide-to-matthew-9781442218888","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}