Matthew (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels)

Rating:
Summary: Solid food for the soul.
Review: J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels is solidly Evangelical and Biblical. The expositions are short, and easy to read in a devotional setting. In Ryle's own words,

"In each Exposition I have generally begun by stating as briefly as possible the main scope and purpose of the passage under consideration. I have then selected two, three, or four prominent points in the passage, singled them out from the rest, dwelt exclusively on them, and endeavoured to enforce them plainly and vigorously on the reader's attention." (From the Preface to the Expository Thoughts on Matthew.)

The Expository Thoughts will give you a good grounding in the Gospels. The Banner of Truth edition is a facsimile reprint and the edition I prefer. It has footnotes that are often left out of some of the more "modernized" abridged reprints. Those footnotes can be a gold mine in themselves.

Rating:
Summary: Solid food for the soul.
Review: J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels is solidly Evangelical and Biblical. The expositions are short, and easy to read in a devotional setting. In Ryle's own words,

"In each Exposition I have generally begun by stating as briefly as possible the main scope and purpose of the passage under consideration. I have then selected two, three, or four prominent points in the passage, singled them out from the rest, dwelt exclusively on them, and endeavoured to enforce them plainly and vigorously on the reader's attention." (From the Preface to the Expository Thoughts on Matthew.)

The Expository Thoughts will give you a good grounding in the Gospels. The Banner of Truth edition is a facsimile reprint and the edition I prefer. It has footnotes that are often left out of some of the more "modernized" abridged reprints. Those footnotes can be a gold mine in themselves.

Rating:
Summary: Working Through the Meat of the Word
Review: J.C. Ryle's Expository thoughts on the gospel of Matthew is indeed a classic in every way. Ryle is not writing to apease the flesh but to kill it (Romans 6:11). He writes with the true passion that so marked the saints of the 19th century. How we need more Ryle's today in the pulpit and on the floors of our churches seeking God in prayer and true worship.

This work focuses on the gospel of Matthew. Ryle doesn't take too much time to dive into the backgrounds of the text or even the Greek structure but his writing is more devotional in nature. Theologically he is a Calvinist but he avoids hyper-Calvinism and maintains an evangelical faith throughout the book. This book is great devotional reading as you work through the gospel of Matthew.

Oh that these expository thoughts on the gospels were in the top lists of Christian's reading today! Great reading from a great Christian.